PUEBLO, Colo. – The Colorado State University Pueblo football team will look to win its third straight game this Saturday as the ThunderWolves travel to Las Vegas, N.M. for a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game against New Mexico Highlands University. Kickoff for Saturday's game is set for 12 p.m. at Sanchez Family Stadium.
 
CSU Pueblo comes into the game having reeled off two consecutive victories to push its record back to .500 on the season at 3-3 overall and 2-2 in the RMAC following its 43-10 homecoming win last Saturday against Adams State. The Adams State win followed an 85-7 win two weeks ago at Fort Lewis.
 
In last Saturday's homecoming game with Adams State, the Pack scored on seven of its first 10 offensive possessions, including scoring touchdowns on their first three drives of the game to lead 21-0 after the opening quarter. For the game, the Pack offense finished with 482 yards of offense as they rushed for 193 yards on 34 carries and were 25-for-42 passing for 289 yards. In addition, the Pack had 198 return yards, including 172 yards on three kickoff returns.
 
Over its last two games, the Pack, who are playing its third road game this season, are averaging 64 points and 623 yards of offense (301 rushing yards, 322 passing yards) per game, and have allowed no sacks. Meanwhile, defensively, the Pack are allowing 8.5 points and 202 yards of offense (71 rushing yards, 131 passing yards) per game and have recorded 11 sacks and have forced three turnovers.
 
"I think a big key for us this year is being able to start fast, and we did that again last Saturday. We stopped them on their first three drives defensively and then offensively, we scored touchdowns on our first three drives and that included our second drive of the game where we were backed up to the five-yard line and drove 95 yards," CSU Pueblo head football coach Philip Vigil said. "I was pleased we were able to start quick and we really rolled from there and our guys didn't let up. They kept doing their jobs and playing for each other and that was fun to watch."
 
On offense, graduate student quarterback Chance Fuller (Arlington, Texas/Fort Hays State) was 22-for-37 passing for 272 yards and he tossed two touchdown passes to push his career total to 82, which is fourth among active Division II players. Fuller top target in the passing game was redshirt sophomore receiver Zack Rakowsky (Loveland, Colo./Loveland) as he caught eight passes for 115 yards, while junior running back Howard Russell (Phoenix, Ariz./Eastern New Mexico) had 95 yards rushing on 11 carries and scored a touchdown. Junior running back Kiahn Martinez (Denver, Colo./University of Idaho) added 68 yards rushing as the RMAC rushing leader scored his fourth touchdown of the season.
 
Martinez comes into Saturday's game leading the RMAC in both rushing yards (476) and rushing yards per game (79.3), while Russell is seventh in the league in both rushing yards (327) and rushing yards per game (54.5).
 
One of the big things defensively that was impressive last week was the Pack defense holding Adams State to just 39 yards rushing.
 
"I thought everyone on the defensive side of the ball did a good job stopping the run. Anytime you can hold a team under 40 yards rushing, that's a big deal. I think equally as impressive was getting off the field on third down as they (ASU) were just 1-for-13 on third downs," added Vigil.
 
One of the Pack's biggest strengths this season defensively has been their third-down defense as they're second in the RMAC and 19th nationally in Division II in third down defense as teams are converting just 29.9 percent (26-for-87) of their third downs. In addition, the Pack have also been strong in red zone defense as their foes are converting just 70 percent (16-for-23) of their red zone chances.
 
Along with scoring four touchdowns on offense, the Pack special teams also got into the scoring column in Saturday's game as sophomore receiver/return specialist Dorion McGarity (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins) returned three kickoffs for 172 yards, including returning a kickoff 72 yards for a touchdown to give the Pack a 42-10 lead late in the third quarter. The kickoff return for a score was the first for a Pack player since senior receiver Nigel Mitchell (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank Regional) returned a kick 92 yards for a score in last year's game against Adams State.
 
For his efforts on special teams, McGarity was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday as along with his 172 kickoff return yards, he finished with 205 all-purpose yards and averaged 57.3 yards per kickoff return.
 
"I was pleased with our offense and defense on Saturday, and we scored on special teams. Our return game was good," Vigil said. "Dorion obviously got Special Teams Player of the Week, which was a great accolade for him and that really goes to the entire kickoff return team. We could've had more return yards had we not had a block in a back. There are some things we've got to clean up and we've got to continue to improve and that's our goal heading into this week's game with New Mexico Highlands."

Along with last Saturday's game being Homecoming, it was also Hall of Fame Weekend for CSU Pueblo Athletics and the Hall of Fame welcomed nine new inductees this year, including former football player and current Tampa Bay Buccaneer center Ryan Jensen (2009-12) and former football coach Mike Friedman (1974-83). Jensen, who is sitting out this season due to a knee injury, served as the honorary team captain for Saturday's game and also spoke to the Pack football team prior to the game. 

"It is something that makes CSU Pueblo so special is how important this place is to people, to the alumni, the fans and the community. It was awesome to see that we were able to take care of business in front of a season-high crowd and then you have a guy like Ryan Jensen, who, realistically, is living everyone on this team's dream playing in the NFL," Vigil said about last weekend's Homecoming and Hall of Fame activities. "He was a guy that gets drafted, finds a way to play in the NFL for nine years and becomes a Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl Champion and at one point was the highest paid center in the NFL. To have him come back and talk to the team and what he talked about it just honestly played into what we talk about all the time - Make the most of your opportunities and controlling what you can control and being extremely intentional in the moment you have." 
 
The Pack's opponent on Saturday, New Mexico Highlands, comes into the game as one of the top rushing teams in the RMAC as they are averaging 181.3 rushing yards per game. In addition to being second in the league in rushing, the Cowboys offense line has allowed just four sacks in six games and are fourth in the league in time of possession at 31:56.
 
"They've (Highlands) switched what they do a little bit offensively as they are doing more of a triple option, Coastal Carolina type offense. They are one of the top running teams in the country and one of the top teams in the league in time of possession," Vigil said about New Mexico Highlands. "We've got to be able to make the most of our opportunities on offense and defensively, we've got to be very disciplined and be able to stop the run and that's going to be a tall task against a team that's built around running the ball."

Another strength of New Mexico Highlands is their ability to force turnovers as they have forced 11 turnovers and have committed just five turnovers as they are second in the league in turnover margin (+6).
 
"Ball security will be important in Saturday's game and that is something we've talked about with our running backs about after the Adams State game as I thought they were a little bit too loose with the football," Vigil added. "I think the more efficient we are on offense, the less the chance to turn the ball over. We've got to be efficient, protect the football and make the most of our opportunities and finish with touchdowns and not field goals this weekend."
 
Since not getting a sack in the season opener against Midwestern State, the Pack defense has recorded 20 sacks over its last five games and are now leading the RMAC and are 10th in Division II in sacks as they are averaging 3.33 per game. Among those 20 sacks over the last five games was an NCAA Division II season-high tying eight sacks two weeks ago at Fort Lewis.
 
Vigil says that the style of offense that New Mexico Highlands runs could help negate the Pack's ability to get pressure on their quarterback this Saturday.
 
"They run the ball very efficiently and are good on first and second down, which allows them to get into short yardage situations on third down. They don't take a ton of deep drop back passing as they use a lot of quick and intermediate pass game that allows them to get the ball out of their hands quickly and that nullifies your blitz," said the Pack coach. "We've got to make sure we're handling our business this weekend."
 
One of the big keys for the Pack on Saturday is to continue to get better and to improve from the previous week.
 
"I'm proud of our team as I feel like every single week we've gotten better and better and have been improving. It's great to see guys taking it to heart in practice and then it's showing up on Saturdays," Vigil stated. "We've got to continue to improve this week and not take a step back. Offensively, we've got to be efficient and end our drives with touchdowns and not field goals and defensively, our focus must be to be able to stop the run and get off the field on third down."
 
Saturday's game will mark the 26th all-time game in the series with the Pack holding a 21-5 all-time lead in the series. The Pack has won 16 of its last 17 games in the series with Highlands' lone win coming in 2021 as the Cowboys earned a 28-21 win on their home field. Since 2008, the Pack are 13-1 against New Mexico Highlands, including being 10-3 in Las Vegas, N.M.
 
"Las Vegas is a tough place to play. We've got stay focused and focus on the things that we can control and be ready to play come Saturday at noon," Vigil added.
 
Following Saturday's game with New Mexico Highlands, the Pack will remain on the road for a 12 p.m. RMAC game on Oct. 21 in Chadron, Neb., against Chadron State College.
 
ABOUT NEW MEXICO HIGHLANDS
New Mexico Highlands comes into Saturday's game having lost three straight games since opening the season with two wins in its first three games. The Cowboys latest loss in this streak came at Black Hills State as Highlands fell 34-24 in Spearfish, S.D. Highlands is sporting a 2-4 overall record and are 1-3 in the RMAC.
 
As team, New Mexico Highlands, who is coached by Ron Hudson, is scoring 25.0 points per game, and is averaging 314.3 yards per game as they are rushing for 181.3 yards per game and are passing for 133.0 yards per game. The Cowboys have scored 12 rushing touchdowns and have thrown five touchdown passes.
 
"Coach Hudson has done a good job of getting his guys to play hard and they do that," Vigil said. "They do a good job running the ball and protecting the ball on offense and forcing turnovers on defense."
 
In last Saturday's 10-point loss at Black Hills State, New Mexico Highlands was outgained, 397-356 offensively as the Cowboys rushed for 168 yards and passed for 188 yards. They also held a 93-53 edge in return yards in the loss and held onto the ball for a little over 30 minutes.
 
The Cowboys have played two quarterbacks this season with junior Joey Cave being the main starter under center. Cave is 54-for-84 passing for 584 yards and has tossed three touchdown passes and one interception and has gained 214 yards rushing on 41 carries and is averaging 5.2 yards per carry and has scored one rushing score. The other quarterback is senior quarterback Jonathon Jerry, who is 9-for-21 passing for 136 yards and has had two touchdown passes and has gained 103 yards rushing and has scored one time on the ground.
 
Senior running back Shawntay Mills, Jr., leads the Cowboys in rushing as he has gained 344 yards on 78 carries and is averaging 4.4 yards per carry and has scored three touchdowns. Junior running back Malik Norman has gained 200 yards on 46 carries and has scored a team-leading five rushing touchdowns.
 
Junior receiver Teneil Nichols leads the receiving corps as he has caught 16 passes for 224 yards and is averaging 14.0 yards per reception and has had four touchdown catches. Freshman receiver Tyreeq-Styles Obichere has also caught 16 passes for 155 yards and is averaging 9.7 yards per reception.
 
Defensively, the Cowboys have recorded six sacks, 30 tackles for loss and have recovered nine fumbles and has picked off two passes. Leading the way for the Cowboys defense is senior linebacker Devin Coney, who has recorded 50 tackles, including 26 solo stops, and has had 6.5 tackles for loss, one sack and two quarterback hurries. In addition to Coney, senior linebacker Ethan Simley has had 26 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, one sack and had recovered an NCAA Division II-leading three fumbles.
 
On special teams, sophomore defensive back Tevion Massey has returned five kickoffs for 120 yards and is averaging 24.0 yards per return and has returned one kick for a touchdown, while senior kicker Will McDaniel is 4-for-6 on field goals and a perfect 18-for-18 on extra points. McDaniel leads the team in scoring with 30 points and has had a long field goal of 37 yards at Black Hills State. McDaniel is also the team's punter, and he is averaging 40.3 yards per punt and has put seven of his 24 punts inside the 20-yard line.
 
PACK FOOTBALL NOTES