DURANGO, Colo. – Colorado State University Pueblo football played perhaps its most complete game of the 2023 season here Saturday afternoon as the ThunderWolves scored seven first half touchdowns en route to posting an 85-7 victory over Fort Lewis College in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play at Ray Dennison Memorial Field. 
 
With the win, the Pack, who led 50-0 at the half, snapped a three-game losing skid and moved its record to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the RMAC, while Fort Lewis falls to 0-5 and 0-3 in the league and extended its losing streak to 33 consecutive games dating to the 2019 season.
 
The 85 points set a new school record for points in a game as the Pack bettered their own mark of 75 set last season at home against Fort Lewis as the Pack won that game, 75-3. Over the last three seasons, the Pack have outscored the Skyhawks, 226-10. In addition, the 85 points scored were the fifth-most points scored in a game in Division II this season. 
 
Along with setting a school record for points in Saturday's game, the Pack also set new single game school records for total yards (764), touchdowns (12), touchdown passes (7) and extra points (11) and tallied season highs in rushing yards (409), passing yards (355), sacks (8), fewest points allowed (7), and fewest yards allowed (200). 
 
"This was the first time this season that we played a complete game in all three phases of the game – offensively, defensively and special teams," CSU Pueblo head coach Philip Vigil said following the game. "Our guys took care of business today and that was nice to see. Our offensive line took another step today and I thought the running backs ran hard and I was proud of Chance for getting back on track today."
 
CSU Pueblo scored on 12 of its 16 possessions in the game as they gained a school record 764 yards of offense and held Fort Lewis to just 200 yards, in which 88 of them came on FLC's lone touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter. 
 
The 12 touchdowns established a school record as the Pack also scored 11 touchdowns in last year's game against Fort Lewis. In addition, the 764 yards of offense bettered the old yardage mark of 659 yards against Black Hills State in 2018. 
 
For the game, CSU Pueblo rushed 35 times for a season high 409 yards as five Pack players rushed for 55 or more yards in the game. Additionally, the Pack were 21-for-28 passing for 355 yards and tossed a school record seven touchdowns. The Pack also did not turn the ball over in Saturday's game. 
 
In the opening 30 minutes of play, the Pack ran 31 offensive plays and gained 384 yards and scored touchdowns on seven of its eight possessions as graduate student quarterback Chance Fuller (Arlington, Texas/Fort Hays State) threw five touchdown passes as he was 10-for-16 for 174 yards. The Pack also rushed for 210 yards as junior Kiahn Martinez (Denver, Colo./University of Idaho) gained 125 yards on seven carries and junior running back Howard Russell (Phoenix, Ariz./Eastern New Mexico) added 87 yards on eight carries. 
 
Junior receiver Reggie Retzlaff (Corona, Calif./Riverside City College) caught three passes, all of which went for touchdowns in the first quarter, in the game. He finished with 105 receiving yards, including gaining 100 of those yards after contact. Freshman receiver Shane Young (Victorville, Calif./Oak Hills) had three receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in the second half. 
 
The 50 first half points were the most for the Pack in a game since scoring 53 against Fort Lewis in 2021. The Pack won that game, 73-0 in Durango. 
 
CSU Pueblo's starters did not play in the second half as all but one of the players in uniform saw action in the game. 
 
The Pack offense struck first in Saturday's game as Fuller connected with Retzlaff for a 71-yard touchdown pass on its third offensive play of the game to give the Pack a 6-0 lead. On the ensuing point-after attempt, the Pack went for two and redshirt sophomore tight end Tyler Dvorak (Englewood, Colo./Cherry Creek) took the pitch and scored on a two-point conversion. The scoring began after FLC drove 46 yards in 13 plays and held the ball nearly seven minutes, but the drive was stalled on a fourth-and-five play from the CSU Pueblo 29-yard line. 
 
After FLC's second offensive drive stalled, the Pack got the ball back near midfield following a 31-yard punt return by redshirt junior receiver Andrew Cook (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Prep) and three plays later, Retzlaff scored on a 30-yard touchdown pass from Fuller. The extra point from junior Jacob Willig (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) was good to give the Pack a 15-0 lead with 4:40 left in the first quarter. 
 
The Pack extended the score to 22-0 on a third receiving touchdown in the opening quarter by Retzlaff as Fuller connected with him on a 4-yard pass with eight seconds left in the quarter. 
 
Retzlaff caught three passes for 105 yards in the first quarter and had 70 yards after contact, while Fuller was 3-for-4 passing. The Pack offense gained 181 yards in the quarter, while FLC was held to 35 yards. 
 
The Pack added its fourth score of the game on a 20-yard run by Russell to give the Pack a 29-0 lead with 7:12 left in the second quarter. Martinez got into the end zone on an 80-yard touchdown run with 3:16 left in the second quarter. Martinez's score and ensuing point-after by Willig gave the Pack a 36-0 lead. The 80-yard run was the second longest rushing play this season for the Pack. 
 
The Pack pushed its lead to 43-0 following a 21-yard touchdown pass from Fuller to Cook with 2:17 left in the opening half and then added another score with 19 seconds left in the first half as Fuller connected with Dvorak for an 8-yard touchdown pass to give the Pack its 50-0 lead at the half. 
 
CSU Pueblo's lead grew to 57-0 on its second possession of the third quarter as redshirt junior quarterback Steven Croell (Broomfield, Colo./Broomfield) hit redshirt sophomore receiver Nate Gravagno (Englewood, Colo./Englewood) for a 55-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown reception was the first of Gravagno's collegiate career. 
 
Redshirt freshman running back Moosah Alsaffar (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) gave the Pack a 64-0 lead following his 36-yard touchdown run with 5:23 left in the third quarter. The touchdown run was the first of Alsaffar's collegiate career. The score was set up by a 24-yard pass from Croell to freshman receiver Shane Young (Victorville, Calif./Oak Hills). 
 
Croell called his number for a score early in the fourth quarter as he scamped 27-yard untouched for a touchdown to give the Pack a 71-0 lead. The rushing score by Croell was his second of the season. 

Junior running back Ty Virgin (San Diego, Calif./Azusa Pacific) added the Pack's 11th touchdown of the game as he scored on a 3-yard run to give the Pack a 78-0 lead. Virgin's run was set up by his 30-yard run earlier in the drive. 
 
FLC would prevent a Pack shutout as Croix Burney scored on an 80-yard touchdown run to make the score 78-7 in the Pack's favor. 
 
The Pack added its 12th touchdown on a 47-yard touchdown pass from redshirt junior quarterback Blake Short (Flower Mound, Texas/Stephen F. Austin) to Young. The touchdown pass by Short and the touchdown reception by Young were the first of each player's Pack careers. The touchdown gave the Pack an 85-7 lead. 
 
Defensively, the Pack held the Skyhawks to 103 yards rushing on 41 carries and limited them to 97 yards passing as FLC's quarterbacks were 15-for-29 passing with an interception in the game. 

Junior defensive end Makeah Scippio (Colorado Springs, Colo./Harrison) and redshirt junior defensive end Cody Ramming (Littleton, Colo./Columbine) each had two sacks in the game. The eight sacks were the most in a game for the Pack since tallying six last season against Colorado Mesa. 
 
"We really wanted that shutout on defense, but I thought the effort we gave on defense for four quarters was great. They got one big play on us the entire game and that is college football," Vigil added about the play of his defense.
 
Burney paced the Skyhawks offense with 109 yards rushing on 12 carries. FLC's two quarterbacks combined to go 14-for-27 passing for 94 yards and had one interception.
 
The Pack will return to action next Saturday, Oct. 7 as they host Adams State for its annual Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl. Kickoff is set for 2:02 p.m. Adams State improved to 3-2 overall and 2-1 in the RMAC following its 21-14 road win Saturday at New Mexico Highlands.
 
"We've got get back home, watch film, get healthy and get ready to face Adams State next Saturday," the Pack coach said.