PUEBLO, Colo. – The sixth-ranked Colorado State University Pueblo football team will close out the road portion of its 2025 regular season schedule this Saturday, Nov. 8, as the ThunderWolves travel to Golden, Colo., for a 12 p.m. Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference contest against Colorado School of Mines in Marv Kay Stadium.

Saturday's game will feature a match-up of the two winningest football programs in the RMAC since 2008, as the two schools have combined to win 316 games and have posted a 316-91 overall record and have won a combined 15 RMAC titles, as the Pack has won eight titles and Mines has won seven league titles over that time frame.

The Pack, who is tied with Chadron State for first place in the RMAC standings with two weeks left in the regular season, comes into Saturday's game sporting an 8-1 overall record and a 7-0 mark in the RMAC following its 24-21 come-from-behind win last Saturday at then sixth-ranked Western Colorado, while Mines comes into the game with a 6-3 overall record and a 4-3 mark in the RMAC following its 48-21 win last Saturday at home against New Mexico Highlands.

CSU Pueblo, which is ranked No. 4 in this week's second edition of the NCAA Division II Super Region Four rankings, has won seven straight overall games, 23 straight RMAC games, and 14 straight road games. The Pack's 23-game conference win streak and 14-game road win streak are the longest active streaks in Division II football, while the seven-game win streak is also tied for the eighth-longest active win streak in Division II.

In the win last Saturday at Western Colorado, the Pack trailed 21-0 just seven minutes into the second quarter, before rallying to outscore the Mountaineers, 24-0, including 17-0 in the second half, and capped the victory with a 32-yard walk-off field goal from junior kicker Jackson Smith (Centennial, Colo./Santa Barbara City College), who was named this week's RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week. The win marked the largest comeback victory in school history for the Pack.

"We talked all week long about a zero-zero mindset. When you play an outstanding team like Western Colorado, they're going to force you into some mistakes, and the team that can get over those mistakes faster is going to be the team that wins the game. I thought our guys stayed in the fight and understood it was going to be a sixty-minute game," CSU Pueblo third-year head coach Philip Vigil said. "They kept chopping wood one after another, and then all of a sudden, you look up and it's a tie game in the fourth quarter. I was really proud of their resilience and competitive maturity to be able to overcome the adversity we had in the first quarter against the No. 6 team in the country at their place. I was really proud of our effort last Saturday."

The Pack offense, which was held to 143 yards of offense in the first half, exploded in the second half as it scored on three of its six second-half possessions and gained 279 yards after halftime, and finished the game with 422 yards of offense as they rushed for 105 yards and passed for 317 yards.

"Look at the first quarter, we had just six plays for eight yards, and from that point on, after the first quarter, we had 415 yards and three touchdowns," the Pack coach added. "Once again, credit to Western Colorado with what they were doing on defense, but we've got to find a way to start faster, and we can't allow our defense to be on the field as much as they were in the first quarter. I thought that after the first quarter, we settled into the game and our guys never quit."

Senior quarterback Roman Fuller (Decatur, Texas/University of Tulsa) finished the game 14-for-28 passing for 317 yards and had one touchdown pass and added 16 yards rushing, and tallied 333 yards of total offense. The touchdown pass was an 88-yard connection to junior receiver Marcellus Honeycutt, Jr. (Denver, Colo./Eastern Washington) that pushed the Pack within 21-14 with 9:18 left in the third quarter. The 88-yard pass was the longest offensive play of the season for the Pack and tied for the seventh-longest pass play in school history.

On the season, Fuller continues to lead the RMAC in passing yards (2,512), passing yards per game (279.1), and passing yards per completion (13.29), and is tied for first in touchdown passes (23) and is second in total offense as he is averaging 278.0 yards per game. Fuller is 189-for-304 passing with 23 touchdown passes and three interceptions and is completing 62.2 percent of his passes and has had three straight games with 300 or more passing yards.

Honeycutt, Jr., had a career day against the Mountaineers as he caught three passes for 144 yards and averaged a school-record 48.0 yards per reception. In addition, redshirt senior receiver Reggie Retzlaff (Corona, Calif./Riverside City College) added three receptions for 89 yards in the win.

On the rushing front, redshirt senior running back Kiahn Martinez (Denver, Colo./Idaho State University) paced the Pack with a game-high 52 yards on 14 carries and scored the Pack's other two touchdowns, including a 1-yard run from the wildcat formation with 1:22 left in the third quarter to help the Pack tie the game at 21. With his 52 yards, Martinez pushed his career rushing total to 1,490 yards, which is 16th on the school's career rushing chart.

The Pack offense comes into Saturday's game with Mines leading the league in scoring (40.6 ppg), passing (290.6 ypg), and total offense (446.4 ypg). During its current seven-game win streak, the Pack is averaging 41.0 points and 448.3 yards of offense (2,008 passing, 1,130 rushing) per game. In addition, the Pack has scored 40 or more points in four of its last five games, including two games of scoring 50 or more points.

Smith's game-winning field goal was keyed by a drive that began with 4:02 left in the game after junior nose tackle Jusiah Sampleton (Giddings, Texas/Giddings) blocked a 47-yard field goal attempt from WCU's Zach Grable. After the blocked field goal, the Pack drove 58 yards in 10 plays, including keeping the drive alive on a 20-yard pass from Fuller to junior receiver Dedrek Taylor-Akins (Fontana, Calif./Northeastern State) on a third-and-18 play from the WCU 35-yard line. In addition to Taylor-Akins' catch, the other big plays on the drive were a 12 yard run by Martinez and a 30-yard run by senior running back Devin Cross (Pflugerville, Texas/Midwestern State).

"We were able to get a blocked field goal by (Jusiah) Sampleton and took over the ball at the 27-yard line with just over four minutes left and they (WCU) had only one timeout left. So for me, the thought process going into that situation, once we got into field goal range, we wanted to end the game with a kick, and that is exactly what we were able to do, win the game on a walk-off kick with no time on the clock," said Vigil when asked about his team's game-winning drive. "When we needed to run the ball the most, we were able too. In the fourth quarter, we averaged over five yards per carry, and in a four-minute situation like we had, when you're able to do that, that goes a long way. DC had a 30-yard run, and Kiahn added a 12-yard run, both of which were huge in that final drive, along with Taylor-Akins' catch on that third-and-16 conversion."

While the Pack offense finished with 422 yards of offense, the Pack defense held Western Colorado to a total of 317 yards as they rushed for 112 yards and passed for 205 yards. After gaining 193 yards in the opening half, the Mountaineers were limited to zero points and 124 yards of offense. The Pack also had two sacks and five tackles for a loss in the win.

"I thought our defense was able to settle in after the first quarter and did a really good job of limiting Drew Nash. We were also able to keep them out of the end zone after the opening 15 minutes of play," added Vigil. 

After scoring two touchdowns in the first quarter, the Mountaineers added their third and final touchdown after blocking a punt by Pack junior punter Regan Baker (Brisbane, Australia/Idaho State University) and returning it 23 yards for a touchdown midway through the second quarter to give WCU a 21-0 lead.

The Pack defense enters this week's action second in the RMAC in scoring defense (16.9 ppg), second in rushing defense (106.4 ypg), fourth in passing defense (205.2 ypg), and third in total defense (311.7). In addition, the Pack is second nationally in turnovers gained (23), third in both defensive touchdowns (4) and interceptions (15), and fourth in turnover margin (+12).

Vigil said that Saturday's game is another challenge for his team, and two of the big keys defensively will be to control Mines' running game and create turnovers.

"We need to be able to stop the run. This year, they've (Mines) has really relied on their run game, so if we can slow down their running backs and contain their quarterback, I think that will go a long way for us," Vigil added. "We also need to find ways to create turnovers. If we can win the turnover battle on Saturday, that will also go a long way."

Meanwhile, on offense, Vigil says his team needs to be efficient and also start fast.

"We need to be efficient offensively, and I think we also need to start fast. We also need to be able to execute in our pass game to loosen them up a little bit, and we need to be able to run the ball and dictate the game from that standpoint," the Pack coach stated.

Saturday's game with Mines will mark the 36th all-time meeting between the two schools and the fifth meeting since the beginning of the 2022 season as the two schools met twice in 2022 – once in the regular season and once in the first round of the NCAA Playoffs and will meet for the first time in Golden since that 2022 first round playoff game. The Pack leads the all-time series, 20-15, but Mines has won five of the last six games in the series with the Pack earning a 28-13 last season in the ThunderBowl. The Pack are 13-4 at home in the series, while Mines leads 11-7 on its home field. Since restarting football in 2008, the Pack are 8-10 against Mines.

"We are playing a really good opponent on Saturday on their home field. I expect it to be a great atmosphere against two good teams in the RMAC and we're going to have to play our best football on Saturday," said Vigil, who is 26-6 as the Pack's head coach.

Following Saturday's game with Mines, the Pack will close out the regular season with a 1 p.m. Senior Day game in the ThunderBowl on Saturday, Nov. 15, against Chadron State (7-2 overall, 7-0 RMAC).

ABOUT MINES
Mines, who were the NCAA Division II National Runners-up in both 2022 and 2023, comes into Saturday's game having won three of its last four games, with the lone loss being a 40-17 loss at then No. 6-ranked Western Colorado two weeks ago. In that game, the Orediggers led 17-13 at the half before being outscored 27-0 in the second half. Mines, though, rebounded last weekend with an impressive 48-21 home win over New Mexico Highlands.
 
Along with its loss to Western Colorado, Mines has also lost RMAC games this season at home to Chadron State (34-28) and at home to Colorado Mesa (28-24). The Orediggers have now lost three RMAC games in a season for the second consecutive year, as they were 6-3 in RMAC play a season ago.
 
Since the beginning of the 2018 season, Mines, who is coached by Bob Stitt, has posted a 75-15 overall record and a 55-8 mark in RMAC and has posted 18 straight winning seasons since going 4-7 during the 2016 season.
 
Stitt is in his second tenure as the Orediggers coach, as he has compiled a 114-65 record in 16 seasons overall and is in his 19th season overall as a collegiate head coach, as he spent three seasons (2015-17) at the University of Montana. His career coaching record is 135-79. In his first stint at Mines (2000-14), Stitt led the Orediggers to three RMAC titles, three NCAA playoff appearances and was a three-time RMAC Coach of the Year.
 
"Mines is an outstanding program with a lot of great history. Coach (Bob) Stitt and I go back a long way. He actually gave me my first opportunity to be a coach in college. In 2009, I was a volunteer assistant for that entire year at Mines, and I have a lot of respect for who he is as a person and who he is as a coach," Vigil said. "They're going to be a well-coached team that believes not only in their abilities, but they know what it takes to win."
 
The Orediggers come into Saturday's sporting on the top offensive units in the RMAC as they are second in the league in total offense (444.1 yards per game), third in rushing offense (222.9 yards per game), fourth in passing offense (221.2 yards per game), and third in scoring as they are averaging 35.9 points per game. Additionally, Mines is fourth in the league in red zone offense (82.9 percent), and third in time of possession (31:30).
 
Mines' offense is directed by the play of redshirt sophomore quarterback Joseph Capra. On the season, Capra is third in the league in passing yards (1,901) and passing touchdowns (22), and is fourth in passing yards per game (211.2) and is third in total offense (252.6). Capra is 169-for-253 passing with 22 touchdowns and three interceptions and is completing 66.8 percent of his passes and has had a hand in 26 of Mines' 40 touchdowns.
 
In last weekend's win over New Mexico Highlands, the Orediggers finished with 527 yards of total offense as they ran for 292 yards on 32 carries and passed for 235 yards. Mines scored six offensive touchdowns in the game, including two touchdown passes from Capra.
 
On the ground, Mines, who lost their leading returning rusher from last season Landon Walker to injury four weeks into the season, is paced by the running of redshirt sophomore Max Barnes, who has gained 492 yards on 54 carries and has scored three touchdowns and is averaging 9.1 yards per carry and 123 yards per game. Against Highlands, Barnes, who was named this week's RMAC Offensive Player of the Week, rushed for 172 yards and scored a touchdown.
 
In addition to Barnes, redshirt junior running back Braelon Tate has gained 450 yards on 105 carries and has scored three touchdowns and is averaging 4.3 yards per carry and 56.3 yards per game, while Capra has gained 372 yards on the ground and has scored four rushing touchdowns.
 
After losing one of the top receivers in the country, Flynn Schiele, in the season opener, the Orediggers' top receivers this season have been redshirt sophomore receiver Pierre Richards and redshirt junior receiver Nick Stone. Richards has caught 47 passes for 466 yards and is averaging 9.9 yards per reception and has caught six touchdown passes, while Stone has caught 33 passes for 392 yards and has also caught six touchdown passes and is averaging 11.9 yards per reception. On the season, six Mines receivers have caught 11 or more passes.
 
"Their quarterback is a good athlete. Their backs do a great job of carrying the football and they have some excellent receivers who can go out and make plays down the field," added Vigil.
 
Defensively, Mines is allowing 387.0 yards and 26.2 points per game and is fourth in the league in sacks per game (2.11) and is third in the league in third-down defense (36.0 percent). The Orediggers have forced 13 turnovers and has had 19 sacks, 44 tackles for a loss, and have picked off seven passes, which is fourth in the league.
 
Among the leaders defensively for Mines is redshirt senior linebacker Hall Edmonds, who has recorded 42 tackles, three tackles for a loss, one sack, and one interception. In addition to Edmonds, redshirt senior defensive lineman Dominic Caggiano has tallied 35 tackles, six tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks, while redshirt senior Jackson Zimmerman has had 30 tackles, broken up three passes, had two interceptions, and leads the league and is seventh nationally in blocked kicks with two.
 
"Defensively, they are going to overload the box, and they have some tremendous athletes with a lot of talent that can make plays," the Pack coach added.
 
Perhaps the biggest strength for Mines is their punt return game as they lead the RMAC and are ninth nationally in punt returns as they are averaging 14.6 yards per return. In addition to punt returns, Mines is averaging 22.7 yards per kickoff return.
 
Redshirt freshman punter Lucas LsSieur is averaging 43.3 yards per punt and has put 12 punts inside the 20-yard line and has had nine punts of 50 or more yards. The kicking game is led by redshirt freshman Preston Kyle, who is 13-18 on field goals and is a perfect 38-for-38 on extra points. Kyle is third in the league in scoring with 77 points.
 
PACK FOOTBALL NOTES

• The Pack Football Show will once again be held this season to the ThunderZone, which is located across the street from the ThunderBowl. The 10th show of the 2025 season aired on Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 6 p.m., with the next show scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. 
• In the second edition of the 2025 NCAA Division II Super Region 4 rankings that was released on Monday, the Pack was one of three RMAC schools ranked as the Pack was ranked fourth, while Western Colorado was ranked No. 6 and Chadron State is ranked No. 7.
• In the Preseason RMAC Coaches' Poll, the Pack was tabbed to finish tied for first with Western Colorado, as the Pack and the Mountaineers each earned 76 points, including each team earning five first-place votes, four second-place votes, and one third-place vote.  
• The Pack's football game on Saturday at Mines will be broadcast on Fox Sports Pueblo (1350 AM) with CSU Pueblo Class of 2025 Hall of Famer Jim Brooks, Joe Cervi and former Pack football coach John Wristen on the call. The broadcast will begin with a pregame show 30 minutes before the opening kickoff. Saturday's pregame show with Mines will begin at 11:30 p.m. MT. 
• Saturday's game marks the Pack's second of three regular-season games in November, as the Pack has posted a 66-41-1 record in the month since 1963, including being 38-11 in the month since 2008.
• Saturday's game will mark the 203rd game played since the restart of the Pack football program in 2008. Since 2008, the Pack has posted a 159-43 overall record, including a 131-24 record in RMAC games.
• The Pack's 23-game RMAC win streak is the longest active conference win streak in Division II and the second-longest RMAC win streak in school history behind its league-record 33-game RMAC win streak that spanned from 2010 to 2014. 
• The Pack is the winningest football program in the state of Colorado, boasting a winning percentage of nearly 65.6 percent since its inception in 1963. The Pack has posted a 273-142-4 record in football since 1963. Colorado is the second-winningest team in the state, as Colorado has won 56.9 percent of its games all-time, as the Buffs have posted a 736-554-36 record.