Box Score PUEBLO, Colo. (Sept. 10, 2022) – No. 21 Colorado State University Pueblo (1-1) football hosted No. 4 Grand Valley State University (2-0) Saturday evening for the program's 2022 home opener and fell to the Lakers 35-10. The ThunderWolves fall to 1-1 following the home opening loss while the Lakers will now look to climb even higher in the polls following their second-straight win over a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference team.
 
The night started off in the Lakers' favor after Grand Valley started will a quick, yet methodical drive which was capped by a 19-yard rush and put the Pack in an early 7-0 hole. The Pack wanted to strike back quickly.
 
Some quick strikes and a long Steven Croell rush energized the Pack crowd, but it was not enough to get on the board. The Lakers defense came out aggressive, shut down the promising drive and forced a missed Pack field goal to leave CSU Pueblo scoreless.
 
The Pack defense did not relent, nor back down. The drive following the stall, the ThunderWolves had to punt it away again, but the ThunderWolves coverage was tight. The Lakers' returner struggled holding onto the ball in slick conditions and coughed up the ball, allowing the Pack to take over on the 9-yardline.
 
Again, the ThunderWolves struggled moving the ball and had the slick ball play a part in another stall. This time, Sullivan Moon was able to kick it through the uprights from 21 yards and narrow the Grand Valley lead to 7-3.
 
The Lakers scored one more time on the ground however and punched it in from 13 yards. The 14-3 GVSU advantage carried into the second quarter despite CSU Pueblo being on the charge during the quarter transition.
 
After the second quarter began with the Pack in need of offensive momentum, quarterback Steven Croell was able to take matters into his own hands. Croell first energized the team midway through the drive with a heads-up option run around the right-side. The first down quarterback keeper was good for 34 yards and setup the ThunderWolves in Lakers' territory.
 
Croell soon took advantage of his weapons at wide receiver and delivered a perfectly placed ball downfield to Andrew Cook to pull the Pack tighter, still behind 14-10 early in the second quarter. The 34-yard strike from Croell to Cook is the quarterback's fourth touchdown pass of the year over 30 yards and is third time the pair hooked up for a score this season.
 
The Croell to Cook connection reinvigorated the chilly Pack crowd and pulled the ThunderWolves within striking distance with plenty of time remaining in the half. The Pack defense was able to shut down the Lakers' offense but were not able to turn it into points on the other end.
 
Grand Valley State was eventually able to break through again for its third score of the opening half. A long drive, capped off by a powerful quarterback keeper, out the Pack in a 21-10 deficit.
 
The 21-10 Lakers' advantage carried into the halftime break and the Pack looked to make a dent in the third quarter.
 
The ThunderWolves were unable to move the ball effectively to begin the period, but the defense was able to hold the Lakers at bay for the time-being. Eventually, to the dismay of the Pack, the Lakers were able to chip away during a lengthy drive and punch their way into the end zone midway through the third quarter. The 28-10 Grand Valley State lead stretched thru the end of the third and into the final quarter of play.
 
The Pack defense held strong to kick-off the fourth and cleared the way for the offense. The Pack showed promise in a couple trips early in the frame, but an interception, on top of already-slick conditions, forced the drives came up empty for the ThunderWolves and keep the Lakers on top 28-10.
 
Grand Valley State squashed any Pack hopes of a comeback 4:57 to go in the fourth, as the Lakers added on one more score to put CSU Pueblo behind 35-10. A fumble just 20 seconds into the ensuing Pack drive gave the Lakers the ball back quickly.
 
Luckily, a hard-nosed and stubborn Pack defense held strong and stood up the Lakers on fourth down. It was not enough for the ThunderWolves and No. 4 Grand Valley State finished off No. 25 CSU Pueblo 35-10.
 
CSU Pueblo begins the season 1-1 and will look to bounce back at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl Sept. 17 at 2 p.m., as the Pack host another strong opponent. This time, Western Colorado heads to Pueblo with the Pack looking for revenge after a heartbreakingly hard-nosed loss in Gunnison, Colo. last fall.