PUEBLO, Colo. – Fourth-ranked Colorado State University Pueblo football continued its unbeaten start to the 2026 season here Saturday afternoon as the ThunderWolves used an explosive offensive performance, a school-record tying six touchdown passes from sophomore quarterback
Navi Bruzon (Peoria, Ariz./Highland CC)and a dominant defensive effort to roll to a convincing 77-17 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference victory over New Mexico Highlands in front of 6,390 fans on Homecoming 2026 and Hall of Fame Day at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl.
With the victory, the ThunderWolves improved to 7-0 overall and remained perfect in RMAC at 5-0, while extending their winning streak to seven games to open the season, while New Mexico Highlands fell to 3-4 overall and 1-4 in RMAC play.
Along with winning its seventh straight game, the Pack also won its 16 straight regular season game and extended its RMAC win streak to 30 consecutive games, which is the longest active conference win streak in Division II football. The Pack also improved to 18-0 in homecoming games since the program was rebooted in 2008 and 34-6 overall all-time in homecoming games since 1963.
The 77 points were a season-high for the Pack, the most in a homecoming game in school history as CSU Pueblo and the second-most points scored in game in program history as the Pack set a school record with 85 points at Fort Lewis in 2023. Additionally, the 60-point victory margin is fourth-largest in school history.
For the game, the Pack scored a season-high 11 touchdowns, including a single-game school record eight through the air, two on the ground and one on a 91-yard kickoff return late in the third quarter by sophomore receiver
Nyir Jones (Camden, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas). CSU Pueblo scored touchdowns on each of its first three possessions, built a commanding 35-3 halftime advantage and erupted for 28 points in the third quarter before adding 14 more in the final period. The 35 first half points were a season high for the ThunederWolves.
The Pack finished the contest with a season-high 616 yards of total offense, including 370 yards through the air and 246 yards on the ground. CSU Pueblo averaged 8.3 yards per offensive play, recorded 31 first downs and converted 10 of its 13 third-down opportunities. The ThunderWolves also finished 1-for-1 on fourth down and scored touchdowns on seven of their eight trips inside the red zone.
"We were able to get our offense going early today, and our defense did a great job of stopping their offense," CSU Pueblo head coach
Philip Vigil said following the victory. "I was proud of our special teams. We finally got a return to break for a score, which was fun to see.
"It was also nice to be able to get everybody involved. Everybody on this team practices so hard, so when we can reward those guys with meaningful minutes, it goes a long way as the season progresses."
Bruzon continued his impressive sophomore campaign by completing 18-of-26 passes for 283 yards and a school-record tying six touchdown passes without an interception. His six scoring strikes went to six different receivers as the Pack spread the ball around throughout the afternoon. For the game, 11 different receivers caught a pass in the game.
The six touchdown passes tied the school's single-game record of six that was originally set by Rex Dausin against Black Hills State in 2016. In addition, the eight total touchdown passes tied an RMAC single-game record and bettered the old school record mark of seven at Adams State in 2024 and at Fort Lewis in 2023.
Through seven games this season, Bruzon is completing 65.4 percent of his passes as he is 125-for-191 for 2,081 yards and has tossed 24 touchdowns and thrown just three interceptions and is averaging 297.3 passing yards per game and 313.4 yards of total offense per game. He has had a hand in 28 of the Pack's 44 offensive touchdowns.
In addition to Bruzon's performance, sophomore quarterbacks
Evan Powell (San Bernardino, Calif./Chaffey College) and sophomore quarterback
Cam McGuire (Dallas, Texas/Woodrow Wilson) combined to complete all but two of their six pass attempts for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Powell finished 2-for-4 passing for 58 yards and a score and added 60 yards rushing on two carries and tallied 118 yards of total offense, while McGuire completed both of his attempts for 29 yards and a touchdown.
CSU Pueblo's defense was equally impressive as the Pack limited the Cowboys to 317 yards of total offense, including just 95 rushing yards on 36 attempts. The ThunderWolves forced three turnovers, intercepted two passes, recovered a fumble and turned those takeaways into 21 points. NMHU entered Saturday's game second in league behind the Pack in total offense as they were averaging 445.2 yards per game, but were held 128.2 yards under their season average. The Pack did not commit a turnover in the game for the first time this season and now holds a plus-6 turnover margin on the season.
The Pack wasted little time taking control of the contest as its defense stopped Highlands on fourth-and-one at the Cowboys' 19-yard line on the opening possession. On CSU Pueblo's first offensive snap, sophomore running back
Jaedon Matthews (Goodyear, Ariz./Cal Poly) raced 19 yards into the end zone to give the ThunderWolves a 7-0 lead just 1:45 into the game.
Following another three-and-out by the Cowboys, CSU Pueblo marched 77 yards in eight plays to extend its lead to 14-0. Bruzon connected with senior receiver
Dedrek Taylor-Akins (Fontana, Calif./Northeastern State) on an eight-yard touchdown pass with 8:34 remaining in the opening quarter. The drive featured a 37-yard completion to Jones and a 17-yard connection with Taylor-Akins. Taylor-Akins finished the game with four catches for 43 yards and his fifth receiving touchdown of the season.
Highlands answered with its first points of the afternoon on a 28-yard field goal by Daniel Estrada with 4:10 remaining in the first quarter. The Cowboys moved 67 yards in 10 plays before settling for the field goal, cutting the Pack's advantage to 14-3.
The ThunderWolves responded immediately as Bruzon connected with junior receiver
Marcellus Honeycutt, Jr. (Aurora, Colo./Eastern Washington) on a 60-yard touchdown pass to cap a four-play, 70-yard scoring drive. The touchdown, which came with 2:24 remaining in the opening quarter, pushed CSU Pueblo's lead to 21-3.
After neither team scored on its first possession of the second quarter, CSU Pueblo put together its longest scoring drive of the afternoon, marching 88 yards in 15 plays and consuming 7:15 off the clock. The drive ended when Bruzon found junior tight end
Dominic Cesario-Scott (Aurora, Calif./Cherry Creek) for a one-yard touchdown pass with 2:41 remaining before halftime to extend the lead to 28-3. The touchdown reception was the first of Cesario-Scott's collegiate career.
The Pack defense then came up with another key play late in the half as junior safety
Tre Jordan (Tomball, Texas/Midwestern State) intercepted a Highlands pass and returned it 13 yards to give CSU Pueblo possession at its own 43-yard line with 1:18 remaining.
Following the interception, Bruzon directed the ThunderWolves on a seven-play, 54-yard scoring drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown pass to sophomore running back
AJ Merrida (Housto, Texas/Adams State) with just 11 seconds left in the half. The touchdown sent the Pack into the locker room with a commanding 35-3 advantage.
In the first half, the Pack ran 39 offensive plays and gained 307 yards and averaged 8.1 yards per play and held Highlands to just 151 yards on 33 plays.
CSU Pueblo carried that momentum into the second half as the ThunderWolves received the opening kickoff of the third quarter and promptly marched 75 yards in six plays. Bruzon capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown pass to Jones with 12:12 remaining in the quarter to extend the lead to 42-3.
On the ensuing Highlands possession, junior cornerback
Oliver Welch (Los Angeles, Calif./Vencie) intercepted a pass to give the Pack another short field at the Cowboys' 47-yard line.
Five plays later, Bruzon connected with junior tight end
Colton Rose (Castle Rock, Calif./Valor Christian) on a 25-yard touchdown pass with 10:28 remaining in the third quarter, pushing the ThunderWolves' advantage to 49-3. The touchdown was Bruzon's sixth scoring pass of the afternoon.
New Mexico Highlands ended CSU Pueblo's run of 35 unanswered points when Ashton Bradford scored on a one-yard touchdown run with 4:47 remaining in the third quarter. The score capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive and trimmed the Pack's lead to 49-10.
However, CSU Pueblo needed just four plays and 1:24 to answer as Merrida scored on a four-yard touchdown run with 3:23 remaining in the quarter. The 75-yard scoring drive extended the ThunderWolves' lead to 56-10.
The Cowboys added their final touchdown of the afternoon on their next possession as quarterback Collin Stucki connected with Kerya Powell on an eight-yard scoring pass with 1:17 remaining in the third quarter. The touchdown capped a four-play, 52-yard drive and cut the deficit to 56-17.
The ThunderWolves immediately responded with one of the game's most electrifying plays as Jones returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown with 1:03 remaining in the third quarter. The return gave Jones his second touchdown of the game and extended CSU Pueblo's lead to 63-17 heading into the final period. The 91-yard kickoff return for a score is the ninth-longest in school history and the first since senior running back
Moosah Alsaffar (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) returned a kickoff a school-record tying 100 yards during the 2023 season against Black Hills State.
The Pack continued to add to its lead in the fourth quarter as Powell directed a five-play, 52-yard touchdown drive that ended with a 28-yard scoring pass to Alsaffar with 12:53 remaining. Senior kicker
Corbin Shirley (Seneca, S.C./Western Carolina) added the extra point to make the score 70-17.
Following a forced fumble by junior safety
Maliek Jamison (Aurora, Colo./Cherokee Trail) that was recovered by redshirt freshman linebacker
Landen Holloway (Denver, Colo./East) at the Highlands' 33-yard line, CSU Pueblo needed five plays to score its final touchdown of the afternoon.
McGuire connected with redshirt freshman receiver
Braylon Evans (Frisco, Texas/Frisco Reedy) on a 21-yard touchdown pass with 10:17 remaining to account for the final margin of 77-17. Shirley added his second extra point of the quarter after senior kicker
Jackson Smith (Centennial, Colo./Santa Barbara City College), who was named the RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week following the Adams State game, had successfully converted all nine of his extra-point attempts through the first three quarters.
The Pack then forced another turnover on downs and controlled the football for the final 6:48 of the contest to close out its seventh consecutive victory, which is tied for the third-longest active win streak in Division II football.
CSU Pueblo's offensive production was spread throughout its lineup as 12 different players caught at least one pass, while 10 players recorded rushing attempts.
Junior
Rashawn Jackson (Venice, Calif./UNLV) led the ThunderWolves' receiving corps with four receptions for a game-high 87 yards, while Honeycutt finished with two catches for 68 yards and a touchdown and Jones caught two passes for 38 yards and a touchdown to go along with his 91-yard kickoff return.
Jones finished the afternoon with a game-high 143 all-purpose yards, including 105 yards on two kickoff returns.
Rose added two receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown, while Evans caught two passes for 29 yards and a score. Alsaffar finished with one reception for 28 yards and a touchdown, while Merrida and Cesario-Scott each caught a touchdown pass.
On the ground, Powell led the Pack with 60 yards on two carries, while Matthews added 54 yards on seven attempts and scored CSU Pueblo's first touchdown. Sophomore running back
Russell Patton (Denver, Colo./Dr. MLK Jr. Early College) rushed for 54 yards on 10 carries and added a 21-yard reception, while Merrida gained 42 yards on three rushing attempts and scored once on the ground and once through the air.
With his 54 yards rushing, Patton moved within four yards (996 in his career) of becoming the 23rd player in school history to rush for 1,000 career yards.
The ThunderWolves finished with 246 rushing yards on 42 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per attempt.
Defensively, Holloway paced CSU Pueblo with six total tackles, including two solo stops, and added a fumble recovery. Sophomore linebacker
Carter Daniels (Centennial, Colo./Mountain Vista) continued his strong season with five tackles, including four solo stops and a seven-yard sack.
Jamison and sophomore linebacker
Nate Sandy (Elizabeth, Colo./Legend) each finished with four tackles, while Jamison also forced a fumble. Senior safety
Kahden Rullo (Aurora, Colo./Grandview), senior safey
Jason Thome (Arvada, Colo./South Dakota State) and junior linebacker
Josh Pastrana (Little Egg Harbor, N.J./Keiser University) each recorded three tackles. Pastrana made his Pack debut in Saturday's contest.
The ThunderWolves registered five tackles for loss and two quarterback sacks, with Daniels recording one sack for seven yards and freshman defensive tackle
Sione Vaea (Lubbock, Texas/Lubbock Cooper) adding an 11-yard sack. Senior defensive end
Jaylen Booth (Merced, Calif./Merced College), senior safety
Adam Saleh (Dearborn, Mich./Northern Michigan) and sophomore safety
Nathan Spivey, Jr. (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic) also recorded tackles for loss in the victory.
Welch and Jordan each collected an interception, while the Pack defense limited Highlands to just four rushing first downs and held the Cowboys to a 3-for-11 performance on third down and an 0-for-2 effort on fourth down.
The Cowboys were led offensively by Stucki, who completed 10-of-20 passes for 222 yards and one touchdown with one interception. Maurice Collier Jr. led Highlands with four receptions for 87 yards, while Brian Spotwood II added two catches for 51 yards and Powell caught two passes for 44 yards and a touchdown.
Kadyn Parr led the Cowboys' rushing attack with 39 yards on seven carries, while Bradford scored the team's lone rushing touchdown.
Kaleb Sells led the Highlands defense with seven tackle, while Damon Mayberry finished with six stops.
For the game, CSU Pueblo held a 616-317 advantage in total offense, a 370-222 edge in passing yards and a 246-95 advantage in rushing yards. The Pack also controlled the time of possession, 31:47 to 28:13, and recorded 31 first downs compared to 14 for the Cowboys.
CSU Pueblo was particularly effective in the first half, converting six of its seven third-down opportunities while scoring touchdowns on five of its six offensive possessions. The Pack also scored touchdowns on five of its six second-half possessions before running out the clock on its final drive.
The ThunderWolves finished the contest without committing a turnover, while their three defensive takeaways helped produce 21 points.
CSU Pueblo will seek its eighth straight victory to open the 2026 season next Saturday, Oct. 24 as the ThunderWolves travel to Durango, Colo., for a 12 p.m. RMAC contest against Fort Lewis (2-3 overall, 1-3 RMAC). The Skyhawks played a night game on Saturday in Gunnison, Colo., against sixth-ranked Western Colorado.
