PUEBLO, Colo. (October 22, 2026) – Looking to extend its NCAA Division II-leading conference winning streak to 31 consecutive games, the nationally fourth-ranked Colorado State University Pueblo football team returns to the road this Saturday, Oct. 24, as the ThunderWolves travel to Durango, Colo., for a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference match-up against Fort Lewis College.
Saturday's game, which will serve as Fort Lewis' Homecoming, is scheduled to kick off at 12:05 p.m. at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
The ThunderWolves, who are ranked fourth in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches' Poll and fifth in the D2Football.com Top 25 Poll, enter Saturday's contest sporting a perfect 7-0 overall record and a 5-0 mark in the RMAC following last weekend's 77-17 Homecoming victory over New Mexico Highlands at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl.
Meanwhile, Fort Lewis enters its Homecoming contest with a 2-4 overall record and a 1-4 mark in RMAC play after suffering a 55-0 road loss last Saturday against Western Colorado in Gunnison.
The game will mark CSU Pueblo's fourth road contest of the season, as the Pack has already earned road victories over then-No. 25 Fort Hays State (35-17), Chadron State (33-6) and Adams State (72-7). The ThunderWolves have won 18 consecutive road games dating back to the 2023 season and will look to extend that streak to 19 on Saturday. The 18-game road win streak is currently the longest active road win streak in Division II football.
Under fourth-year head coach
Philip Vigil, CSU Pueblo has continued its dominance in RMAC play, as the Pack has won 30 consecutive conference games dating back to the 2023 season. The streak is the longest active conference winning streak in Division II football.
Vigil, who has guided the ThunderWolves to back-to-back RMAC championships and NCAA Division II Playoff appearances in 2024 and 2025, enters Saturday's game with a 35-7 record at CSU Pueblo and a 42-22 career record in six seasons as a collegiate head coach.
Saturday's contest also marks the beginning of the final four-game stretch of the regular season for the ThunderWolves, who are seeking their third consecutive RMAC championship and another appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.
The Pack enters the game following one of the most impressive offensive performances in school history, as CSU Pueblo scored 77 points, accumulated 616 yards of total offense and scored 11 touchdowns in its 60-point Homecoming victory over New Mexico Highlands in front of 6,390 fans at the ThunderBowl.
The 77 points were the second-most scored in a single game in program history, while the ThunderWolves scored six passing touchdowns, four rushing touchdowns and one kickoff return touchdown. CSU Pueblo also improved to 18-0 in Homecoming games since the football program was restarted in 2008.
In the victory over the Cowboys, CSU Pueblo recorded 31 first downs and finished with 341 passing yards and 275 rushing yards while averaging 8.3 yards per play. The ThunderWolves also converted 10-of-13 third-down opportunities and scored touchdowns on seven of their eight trips inside the red zone.
Sophomore quarterback
Navi Bruzon (Peoria, Ariz./Highland CC) continued his outstanding first season with the ThunderWolves in the win over New Mexico Highlands, completing 17-of-25 passes for 282 yards and a career-high five touchdowns without an interception. Bruzon also scored on a one-yard touchdown run to account for six touchdowns in the victory and was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday for the third time this season.
Through seven games this season, Bruzon has completed 124-of-190 passes (65.3 percent) for 2,080 yards and 23 touchdowns while adding five rushing scores. He leads the RMAC in passing yards, passing yards per game (297.1), passing touchdowns, passing efficiency (194.0), total offense (313.4), and points responsible for (168). Nationally, Bruzon is tied for second in Division II in touchdown passes and points responsible for, seventh in passing yards per game and eighth in passing yards and total offense.
Bruzon, who continues to make a strong case for consideration for the Harlon Hill Trophy, has thrown at least two touchdown passes in all seven games this season, including three games with four or more touchdown passes. He has also thrown for more than 280 yards in five of his seven starts and has accounted for 28 of the Pack's 46 touchdowns this season.
The ThunderWolves have been equally impressive as a team offensively this season, as they enter Saturday's game averaging 48.7 points, 561.9 yards of total offense, 324.9 passing yards and 237.0 rushing yards per game.
CSU Pueblo has scored 341 points through seven games and has recorded 189 first downs while averaging 7.6 yards per offensive play. The ThunderWolves have scored 46 touchdowns this season, including 44 offensive touchdowns (26 passing and 18 rushing).
Two of Bruzon's primary targets in the passing game are senior receiver
Dedrek Taylor-Akins (Fontana, Calif./Northeastern State) and junior receiver
Marcellus Honeycutt, Jr. (Aurora, Colo./Eastern Washington). Those two have combined for 65 catches for 1,224 yards and 11 touchdowns. Honeycutt is tied for the league lead with six receiving scores and has caught 32 passes for 619 yards, while Taylor-Akins has caught 33 passes for 605 yards and has caught five touchdown passes.
Overall, 17 different Pack players have caught a pass this season, and 12 of those receivers have caught at least one touchdown pass, with seven players hauling in two or more touchdown receptions.
The Pack has also been highly efficient on third down, converting 48-of-85 opportunities for a 56.5 percent success rate, while controlling the football for an average of 31 minutes and 58 seconds per game.
That offensive production will be tested Saturday against a Fort Lewis defense that has been particularly effective against the pass and in third-down situations.
Vigil noted that the Skyhawks have been aggressive defensively and have done a good job limiting opponents' passing attacks and getting off the field on third down.
"They're a team that is flying around to the football," Vigil said. "They are going to bring some pressure and are sound in what they do."
While CSU Pueblo's offense has attracted national attention this season, the ThunderWolves defense has also played a significant role in the team's unbeaten start.
Through seven games, the Pack is allowing just 16.0 points and 316.0 yards of total offense per game, including 135.6 rushing yards and 180.4 passing yards. Opponents are converting just 27-of-98 third-down opportunities, a success rate of 27.6 percent.
CSU Pueblo has also recorded 20 quarterback sacks and nine interceptions this season while holding opposing quarterbacks to seven touchdown passes.
Against New Mexico Highlands, the ThunderWolves held an offense that entered the contest ranked second in the RMAC in total offense and first in rushing offense to just 316 total yards, including 94 yards on the ground. The Pack also forced three turnovers while committing none, helping CSU Pueblo control the game from the opening quarter.
"I think just overall, I'm really proud of our team and putting two weeks of a complete game together, offense, defense and special teams," Vigil said. "When you looked at Highlands, I was really concerned with their offense. They were number two in the conference in total yardage behind us and number one in the conference in rushing offense. Our defense held them to 96 total yards rushing on Saturday and did a really good job of getting them off the field and getting the ball back to our offense."
Leading the way for the Pack defense is sophomore linebacker
Carter Daniels (Centennial, Colo./Mountain Vista), as he has tallied 55 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, four sacks, and one of the team's nine interceptions. In addition to Daniels, senior safety
Kahden Rullo (Aurora, Colo./Grandview) has had 30 tackles, one interception and four pass break-ups, while senior defensive end
Jaylen Booth (Merced, Calif./Merced College) leads the RMAC in both tackles for a loss (9.5) and sacks (5.5), and senior cornerback
David Houston III (Austin, Texas/South Alabama) has had two interceptions and leads the team with five pass break-ups.
Vigil also credited his team's depth, chemistry, and willingness to support one another for the success the ThunderWolves have enjoyed this season.
"One of the most encouraging things that I see on the sideline is the excitement and pure joy that the people have on the sideline rooting for their teammates," Vigil said. "It doesn't matter if the ones, twos, threes, or fours are in the game. Everybody's excited and cheering on their teammates.
"One of our core values is serve, and one of our core values is love. The connection on this team and their willingness to put aside what they want for the betterment of the team, I think, is showing out every single weekend."
The ThunderWolves have also received contributions from all three phases of the game this season, including a special teams touchdown in last Saturday's win when sophomore receiver
Nyir Jones (Camden, N.J./St. Thomas Aquinas) returned a kickoff 91 yards for a score late in the third quarter.
The touchdown was part of a 28-point third quarter for CSU Pueblo, which built a 63-17 lead heading into the final 15 minutes before adding two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
The Pack will look to carry that momentum into Durango, where CSU Pueblo has enjoyed considerable success against Fort Lewis since the football program returned in 2008.
Saturday's game will mark the 39th all-time meeting between the two programs and the 18th meeting since CSU Pueblo restarted football in 2008.
The ThunderWolves hold a commanding 31-7 advantage in the all-time series and have won seven consecutive meetings since Fort Lewis earned a 35-24 victory in Durango during the 2017 season. The Skyhawks also handed the Pack its lone loss during its 2014 National Championship season, defeating the ThunderWolves 23-22 in Durango.
CSU Pueblo is 15-5 all-time against the Skyhawks in Durango and 15-2 against Fort Lewis since 2008.
The ThunderWolves have dominated the last five meetings, outscoring the Skyhawks by a combined 340-47, including last season's 49-13 victory at the ThunderBowl.
In the Pack's most recent trip to Durango in 2024, CSU Pueblo earned a 58-24 victory, while the ThunderWolves scored a program-record 85 points in an 85-7 road victory over the Skyhawks in 2023.
Despite that recent success, Vigil knows his team must remain focused on its preparation and execution against a Fort Lewis team that will be playing in front of its Homecoming crowd.
"For us, it's another opportunity to continue to improve this week in practice and find ways to get better," Vigil said.
The CSU Pueblo head coach identified protecting the football, finishing drives with touchdowns and continuing to execute defensively as important factors in Saturday's game.
"They are opportunistic defensively, so we have to take care of the football on offense," Vigil said. "We have to find ways to finish with touchdowns instead of field goals. They've done a really good job in the red zone of holding teams to field goals.
"We have to find ways to continue to get our playmakers the touches that they need, and finding ways to get them in space will be important for us on Saturday."
Vigil also stressed the importance of defensive discipline and execution.
"Defensively, it's a do-your-job type of game where we have to continue to hone in on understanding what we're supposed to do, how we're supposed to do it and doing it to the best of our ability," Vigil said.
ABOUT FORT LEWIS
Fort Lewis enters Saturday's Homecoming contest looking to snap a four-game losing streak after opening the 2026 season with consecutive victories over Arizona Christian and New Mexico Highlands.
The Skyhawks, who are coached by fifth-year head coach Johnny Cox, opened the season with a 27-9 home victory over Arizona Christian on Sept. 5 before earning a 31-28 overtime victory against New Mexico Highlands in their RMAC opener on Sept. 12.
Since that 2-0 start, Fort Lewis has suffered four consecutive conference losses, falling 34-3 at Colorado School of Mines, 28-20 at Black Hills State, 30-16 at home against South Dakota Mines and 55-0 last Saturday at Western Colorado.
Fort Lewis is averaging 16.2 points and 272.8 yards of total offense per game, including 229.5 passing yards and 43.3 rushing yards. The Skyhawks have scored nine touchdowns this season, including seven passing touchdowns and two rushing scores.
Defensively, Fort Lewis is allowing 30.7 points and 371.5 yards of total offense per game, including 202.8 rushing yards and 168.7 passing yards. The Skyhawks have recorded 15 sacks and seven interceptions while forcing 13 turnovers, a total that is tied with CSU Pueblo for the RMAC lead.
One of the strengths of the Fort Lewis defense has been its ability to get off the field on third down, as opponents have converted just 22-of-83 opportunities, a 26.5 percent success rate.
The Skyhawks have also been effective in the red zone, allowing opponents to score touchdowns on just 11-of-23 trips inside the 20-yard line.
Fort Lewis has utilized multiple quarterbacks this season, with fifth-year senior Sam Jones listed as the starter on the Skyhawks' two-deep depth chart for Saturday's contest.
Jones has completed 83-of-133 passes for 767 yards and two touchdowns with six interceptions in four games this season. Senior Jacob Morris has also seen action, completing 38-of-68 passes for 434 yards and five touchdowns with two interceptions.
Sophomore Hayes Dwyer has appeared in two games and has completed 10-of-25 passes for 100 yards.
The Skyhawks' leading receiver is junior Solomon Latimer, who has caught 32 passes for 475 yards and four touchdowns. Latimer is averaging 79.2 receiving yards per game and 14.8 yards per reception.
Sophomore tight end Michael Collins has also caught 32 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns, while junior Kamrin Joyce-Fairley has added 18 receptions for 186 yards and one touchdown.
On the ground, freshman KhaVontae Paul leads the Skyhawks with 140 rushing yards on 42 carries, while junior Baylor Seabolt has gained 99 yards on 31 attempts.
Defensively, the Skyhawks are led by a group of experienced players, including fifth-year senior linebacker Trenton Sullivan, sophomore linebacker Drennan Dowell, and fifth-year senior defensive end Walter Stauffer.
Sullivan leads the team in tackles with 57 and has tallied 4.5 tackles for a loss and a sack, while Dowell has had 50 tackles, 4.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks and has also picked off two passes and recovered two fumbles. Stauffer leads the Skyhawks in both tackles for a loss (7.5) and sacks (3.5) and has four quarterback hurries.
On special teams, Fort Lewis has relied on junior kicker Lucas Schmitten, while sophomore Ethan Kercher handles the punting duties. Schmitten is 11-for-14 on field goals, including being 2-for-3 on field goals over 50 yards, and is 8-for-8 on extra points, while Kercher is averaging 42.7 yards per punt and has had 11 50-plus-yard punts and has downed six punts inside the 20-yard line.
Schmitten's 11 field goals are tied for third-most in the league, while his 41 kicking points rank eighth in the league as he is averaging 8.2 points per game.
Cox, a 1994 Fort Lewis graduate, is in his fifth season leading the Skyhawks and has compiled a 7-42 overall record and a 4-36 mark in RMAC play.
A former standout receiver for the Skyhawks, Cox was a two-time All-American and twice a finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy. He was inducted into the Fort Lewis Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999 and returned to his alma mater as head coach prior to the 2022 season after spending eight seasons as an associate head coach at UNC Pembroke.
Following Saturday's game, the Pack will return home to the ThunderBowl to close out the month of October with a 1:05 p.m. game on Halloween Saturday, Oct. 31 against Black Hills State.
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