PUEBLO, Colo. – The fifth-ranked Colorado State University Pueblo football team saw its late-game rally fall short here Thursday evening as the ThunderWolves fell 36-36 to Fort Hays State in a non-conference, Super Region Four contest on Throw Back Night at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl.

With the setback, the Pack fell to 1-1 overall on the season and saw its nine-game regular season win streak snapped, while Fort Hays State improved to 1-1 on the season. It was the Pack's first regular-season loss since suffering a 24-21 setback at home to No. 3-ranked Grand Valley State on Sept. 14, 2024.

In Thursday's game, the Pack trailed 36-29 with 1:47 left in the game following a 10-yard touchdown by Travis Dixon to give the Tigers a 36-29 lead. On the Pack's ensuing possession, which came following a 35-minute lightning delay, they drove 75 yards in six plays and capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass in the corner of the end zone from senior quarterback Roman Fuller (Decatur, Texas/University of Tulsa) to sophomore receiver Marcellus Honeycutt, Jr. (Aurora, Colo./Eastern Washington) to pull within 36-35 with 27 seconds left in the game. On the extra point attempt by junior kicker Evan Lyons (Superior, Colo./Erie), FHSU's Taderian Partee jumped up and blocked the kick to keep the Tigers in the lead.

On the ensuing kickoff, Lyons' onside kick went 14 yards and was recovered by the Tigers to seal the non-conference victory.

Despite the loss, the Pack offense finished the night with 483 yards on 75 plays as they rushed 30 times for 132 yards and Fuller was 34-for-45 passing for 351 yards and had three touchdown passes and scored a touchdown on a 20-yard run just 12 seconds into the fourth quarter to give the Pack a 29-21 lead. On the season, Fuller has completed 71 percent of his passes as he is 57-for-80 for 582 yards and has tossed five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Following Fuller's 20-yard touchdown run, the Tigers came right back and drove 75 yards in five plays and capped the drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Dixon to tie the game at 29. The big play on the drive was a 59-yard pass from Caleb Heavner to Tariq Logan.

After holding FHSU to a 3-and-out on the first drive of the game, the Pack scored on its opening drive for the second consecutive game as they drove 70 yards in seven plays and capped the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Fuller to redshirt senior receiver Reggie Retzlaff (Corona, Calif./Riverside City College). The touchdown reception was the third this season for Retzlaff and the 27th of his collegiate career. The extra point, though, by Lyons was wide left to give the Pack a 6-0 lead.

Retzlaff finished the game with four catches for 55 yards and is now tied for third in career receptions (126) and is third in career receiving yards (2,187) and holds the school's career mark for touchdown receptions (27).

FHSU, who is now 9-8 all-time against the Pack, answered right back following Retzlaff's score as the Tigers drove 75 yards in nine plays and capped the drive with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Heavner to Ethan Hilliman to take a 7-6 lead following the extra point by David Arriaga.

The first quarter shootout continued following FHSU's touchdown as the Pack came right back and capped a 57-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run by redshirt freshman running back Russell Patton (Denver, Colo./MLK Jr. Early College). The ensuing two-point conversion attempt failed to give the Pack a 12-7 lead with 5:49 left in the opening quarter. On the drive, Fuller was 3-for-3 passing for 39 yards.

In the opening quarter, the two teams combined for 19 points and 200 yards of offense as the Pack gained 121 yards to FHSU's 79 yards. Fuller was 9-for-9 passing the quarter for 101 yards.

The Pack pushed its lead to 15-7 just five minutes into the second quarter as Lyons drilled a 27-yard field goal to cap a 14-play drive that covered 60 yards.

Following Lyons' field goal, the Tigers moved the ball to the Pack's 47-yard line before the Pack used an eight-play, 85-yard drive to push out to a 22-7 lead. The drive was capped by a 2-yard touchdown pass from Fuller to senior receiver Reece Robinson (Los Angeles, Calif./Antelope Valley) with 3:08 left in the quarter. The big play on the drive was a 29-yard pass from Fuller to Honeycutt, Jr. Honeycutt, Jr., finished the night with five catches for 74 yards.

FHSU, though, would respond as they pulled within 22-14 following a 43-yard touchdown pass from Heavner to Cale Cormaney with 1:39 left in the opening half.

On the following possession, the Pack was forced to punt after three plays and on the punt, Ryan Allen muffed the punt at his own 45-yard line, and junior safety Kahden Rullo (Denver, Colo./Grandview), who was named this week's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week, recovered the ball to give the ball to the Pack with 50 seconds left in the quarter.

The Pack, though, would give the ball right back to the Tigers as Fuller was sacked and on the play, he fumbled the ball, and the Tigers recovered it at the Pack's 47-yard line.

Seven plays following the strip sack fumble, the Tigers scored on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Wyatt Spexarth to Noah McDoulett with no time left on the clock to cut the Pack's lead to 22-21 at the half.

After combining for 19 points and 200 yards in the first quarter, the two teams combined for 24 points and 278 yards of offense as the Pack gained 131 yards on 24 plays and FHSU had 147 yards on 18 plays.

The teams combined for five possessions in the third quarter, and neither team was able to score as the Pack led 22-21 heading into the final period. The Pack had 102 yards of offense in the quarter, and FSHU was held to 27 yards on offense.

Redshirt senior receiver Andrew Cook (Tucson, Ariz./Ironwood Ridge) paced the Pack receiving corps as he caught six passes for 90 yards and is now seventh in career receptions (114), eighth in career receiving yards (1,664), and third in career touchdown receptions (21).

The Pack ground attack was paced by 64 yards in 17 carries by Patton.

In the win, Heavner was 19-for-27 passing for 226 yards and added 70 yards rushing on 13 carries to finish with 296 yards of total offense. Dixon, who scored two rushing touchdowns, added 57 yards rushing on 14 carries.

Logan caught three passes for 90 yards, while Hilliman caught four passes for 26 yards, and Cormaney added three receptions for 49 yards.

Both teams had two fumbles, with each team losing one, and combined for 21 penalties totaling 207 yards. The Pack had 10 penalties for 104 yards, and FHSU was flagged 11 times for 103 yards.

In addition, the Pack was 6-for-6 in the red zone, but just 5-for-12 on third down, while FHSU was 4-for-4 in the red zone and was 6-for-12 on third down.

After recording seven sacks in its 43-0 season-opening win at home against South Dakota Mines, the Pack had one sack in Thursday's game. FHSU also had one sack in the contest.

Junior linebacker Gary Seidenberger (Fredericksburg, Texas/Fredericksburg) paced the Pack defense with nine tackles, including five solo stops, and added both a sack and tackle for a loss, while Rullo added eight tackles, a tackle for a loss, and a fumble recovery.

The Pack, which has won nine straight road games dating to the 2023 season, will look to rebound next Thursday, Sept. 11, as they travel to Warrensburg, Mo., for a 7 p.m. CT non-conference, Super Region Four contest at the University of Central Missouri (0-1). The nine-game road win streak is currently the second-longest active streak in Division II football.