PUEBLO, Colo. (November 12, 2026) – The stage is set for one of the biggest regular-season football games in NCAA Division II this season as third-ranked Colorado State University Pueblo and fourth-ranked Western Colorado University will put their undefeated records on the line here Saturday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. in the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl with the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship and the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Playoffs at stake.
Before Saturday's game, CSU Pueblo will honor 21 seniors during its annual Senior Day festivities at the ThunderBowl. The ThunderWolves' 2026 senior class includes running back
Moosah Alsaffar (Aurora, Colo./Grandview), punter
Regan Baker (Brisbane, Australia/Idaho State), defensive end
Jaylen Booth (Merced, Calif./Merced College), receiver
Bryce Boyd (Shakopee, Minn./St. Thomas), defensive tackle
Eddie DePriest (Fort Morgan, Colo./Fort Morgan), tight end
Jordan Gatewood (Anaheim, Calif./Fullerton College), receiver
Nate Gravagno (Englewood, Colo./Englewood), defensive back
Tre Jordan (Tomball, Texas/Midwestern State), defensive end
Micah Lutu (Kalihi, Hawaii/Saguaro), defensive end
DJ Moore (Carlsbad, N.M./Eastern New Mexico), defensive tackle
Derek Moreland (Fresno, Calif./University of Montana), offensive lineman
Christian Newberry-Jones (Placerville, Calif./Northern Arizona), defensive back
Greg Pressley, Jr. (Tampa, Fla./Johnson C. Smith), tight end
Colton Rose (Castle Rock, Colo./Valor Christian), safety
Kahden Rullo (Denver, Colo./Grandview), kicker
Corbin Shirley (Seneca, S.C./Western Carolina), linebacker
Miles Sprague (Holyoke, Colo./Holyoke), long snapper
Brayden Starmer (Mesa, Ariz./Western New Mexico),
Jaden Stoll (Brighton, Colo./Brighton), receiver
Dedrek Taylor-Akins (Fontana, Calif./Northeastern State) and safety
Sir Churchill Williams V (Houston, Texas/UT-Permian Basin).
Saturday's contest will feature two of the six remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division II football, as both CSU Pueblo and Western Colorado enter the regular-season finale with identical 10-0 overall records and 8-0 marks in RMAC play. The winner will claim the outright conference championship and earn the league's automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Playoffs. At the same time, the losing team will await Sunday's NCAA playoff selections to learn its postseason fate. In the most recent NCAA Division II NPI rankings that were released on Sunday, the Pack is ranked No. 5 nationally and No. 2 in Super Region Four with an NPI of 64.297, while Western Colorado is ranked eighth nationally and No. 3 in Super Region Four with an NPI of 62.837.
The ThunderWolves, who are ranked third in both the AFCA Coaches and D2Football.com polls, are seeking their third consecutive RMAC Championship under fourth-year head coach
Philip Vigil and their 11th all-time RMAC football title. Meanwhile, Western Colorado, which is ranked fourth nationally, is seeking to end the Pack's conference championship reign and capture its 19th all-time league title and first since sharing the 2021 title with Colorado School of Mines.
CSU Pueblo enters Saturday's contest riding a 10-game winning streak this season and an NCAA Division II-leading 33-game RMAC winning streak, which is tied for the longest conference winning streak in school history. The Pack can establish a new school record with its 34th consecutive conference victory on Saturday. The previous 33-game RMAC winning streak was established by CSU Pueblo from 2010-14.
In addition to its conference winning streak, the Pack has won 19 consecutive regular-season games dating to last season and owns the longest active road winning streak in NCAA Division II at 20 consecutive games. The ThunderWolves have also won all five of their home games this season and will be looking to complete an undefeated regular season for the first time under Vigil and the fourth overall since the 2011 season.
Western Colorado enters Saturday's game riding a 10-game winning streak this season and has won 11 consecutive regular-season games dating to last year. The Mountaineers have also won nine straight RMAC contests since suffering a 27-24 overtime loss last season at Chadron State on Nov. 8, 2025.
The showdown will mark the second consecutive season that CSU Pueblo has played for the RMAC Championship in its regular-season finale. Last season, the Pack hosted Chadron State in a winner-take-all conference championship contest and continued its run of league championships with a 30-27 double-overtime win over the Eagles.
The Pack's most recent victory came last Saturday in Rapid City, S.D., as CSU Pueblo used a dominant defensive performance and a strong rushing attack to post a 31-0 shutout victory over South Dakota Mines. The victory marked the second consecutive season that the ThunderWolves have shut out the Hardrockers and helped CSU Pueblo improve to 10-0 on the season for the first time since 2013.
CSU Pueblo finished the game with 417 yards of total offense, including 249 yards rushing on 50 carries, against a South Dakota Mines defense that entered the contest allowing fewer than 100 rushing yards per game.
Defensively, the Pack limited South Dakota Mines to just 193 yards of total offense, including only 29 rushing yards on 24 attempts. CSU Pueblo recorded nine tackles for loss and three sacks and forced three turnovers, including two interceptions, to push its season total to 12. The 12 interceptions are tied for the most in the league.
The ThunderWolves also limited South Dakota Mines running back Dawson Dunbar, who entered the game as the RMAC's leading rusher, to just 11 yards on nine carries. Dunbar entered the game averaging 92.3 rushing yards per game.
"I think again that the thing that keeps showing up on tape is the physicality that our team plays with. Defensively, I thought we looked extremely fast and were flying around to the football," Vigil said about last week's performance. "I think that was one of our best defensive games that we played as a team, and just guys doing their job. We were able to create some turnovers, which was huge for us in that game."
Vigil, who is 38-7 as the Pack's head coach, was equally pleased with the performance of his team's rushing attack against one of the top rushing defenses in the RMAC.
"On the offensive side, I was really proud of the way we ran the football. That was a group that, going into that game, was only giving up 90 yards a game on the ground, and we ended up rushing for 250," Vigil added. "Just really proud of the physicality and our effort and flying around and making plays against a really quality opponent in South Dakota Mines."
Sophomore quarterback
Navi Bruzon (Peoria, Ariz./Highland CC) completed 9-of-21 passes for 138 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 41 yards rushing. Both of his touchdown passes went to Taylor-Akins, who finished with four receptions for 75 yards and scored on touchdown catches of 10 and 23 yards in the first quarter.
The two touchdown passes pushed Bruzon's season total to 30, which is tied for fourth on the school's single-season charts. Bruzon has now thrown at least two touchdown passes in all 10 games this season and enters Saturday's contest leading the RMAC in nearly every major passing category.
Redshirt freshman running back
Jaedon Matthews (Goodyear, Ariz./Cal Poly) paced the Pack's rushing attack with 59 yards on 11 carries, while sophomore quarterback
Evan Powell (San Bernardino, Calif./Chaffey College) added 44 yards on eight carries and Bruzon finished with 41 yards on eight attempts. Sophomore running back
Russell Patton (Denver, Colo./Dr. MLK Jr. Early College) added 35 yards and an 11-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter to give the Pack a 21-0 halftime lead, while sophomore running back
AJ Merrida (Houston, Texas/Adams State) scored on a 22-yard run in the third quarter.
Sophomore linebacker
Carter Daniels (Centennial, Colo./Mountain Vista) led the ThunderWolves defensively with nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, while redshirt freshman defensive back
Nathan Spivey, Jr. (Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe Catholic) finished with six tackles and an interception.
On the season, CSU Pueblo continues to feature one of the nation's most explosive offensive attacks as the ThunderWolves are averaging 43.8 points and 519.0 yards of total offense per game. The Pack is averaging 230.2 yards rushing and 288.8 yards passing per contest and has scored 56 offensive touchdowns, including 33 through the air and 23 on the ground.
Bruzon has completed 156-of-245 passes for 2,664 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. He leads the RMAC in passing yards, passing yards per game (266.4), passing touchdowns, passing efficiency (190.5), total offense (284.7 yards per game), and points responsible for (210). Nationally, Bruzon ranks second in NCAA Division II in passing efficiency and yards per pass attempt (10.87), second in yards per completion (17.08) and third in touchdown passes.
The Pack's receiving corps has been led by junior
Marcellus Honeycutt, Jr. (Aurora, Colo./Eastern Washington) and Taylor-Akins, who rank first and second, respectively, in the RMAC in receiving yards. Honeycutt has collected 824 receiving yards and is averaging 91.6 yards per game, while Taylor-Akins has recorded 792 receiving yards and is averaging 79.2 yards per contest. Both receivers are tied for the conference lead with eight touchdown receptions apiece.
On the ground, Patton, who is 23rd on the school's all-time rushing chart with 1,144 yards, leads the ThunderWolves with 591 rushing yards and is averaging an RMAC-best 6.49 yards per carry. CSU Pueblo has rushed for more than 2,300 yards this season and is averaging 5.4 yards per rushing attempt.
Defensively, the Pack is allowing just 16.4 points and a league-best 288.3 yards of total offense per game, including 124.7 yards rushing and 163.6 yards passing. CSU Pueblo has allowed just seven touchdown passes this season and has recorded 12 interceptions. The ThunderWolves are also holding opponents to a RMAC-best 26 percent success rate on third-down conversions. The Pack's opponents are 37-for-140 on third down.
Daniels and senior defensive end
Jaylen Booth have helped anchor the Pack defense this season. Booth leads the RMAC in sacks per game (0.65), while Daniels ranks second in sacks per game (0.60) and tackles for loss per game (1.15). Rullo ranks among the league leaders in passes defended, while Jordan and junior cornerback
Oliver Welch (Los Angeles, Calif./Venice) are tied for second in the conference in interceptions per game at 0.30.
Saturday's contest will feature an intriguing match-up between the RMAC's top two scoring offenses and two of the league's best defenses. CSU Pueblo leads the conference in scoring offense (43.8 points per game) and total offense (519.0 yards per game), while Western Colorado is second in scoring offense (43.3) and total offense (456.9). The Mountaineers lead the RMAC in scoring defense (14.9 points per game) and rushing defense (87.8 yards per game), while the Pack leads the league in total defense (288.3 yards per game).
Vigil knows his team will face one of its toughest challenges of the season against a Western Colorado squad that has been impressive on both sides of the football.
"What a great opportunity to play for a RMAC championship, on the last regular season game of the year for two consecutive years," Vigil said. "I think everybody in the country is going to try to make this game into the game of the year. We can't approach it that way; we have to approach this game just as we have in the previous 10 games. This game is important because it is the next one on the schedule."
Vigil also has plenty of respect for the Mountaineers and the job Bains and his coaching staff have done in Gunnison.
"We respect what Coach Bains has done there at Western Colorado. It's a very, very quality opponent, and they do a lot of really, really good things," Vigil added. "Offensively, defensively, and special teams, this is the best team that we've seen on tape this year."
The CSU Pueblo head coach believes execution, turnovers, and special teams could play important roles in determining Saturday's outcome.
"An important stat for both teams is winning the turnover battle. But I think some of the things that will maybe go unnoticed are the hidden yardage stuff in special teams and who has the best starting field position," Vigil said. "I know this is going to be a great game against two really, really good football teams, against two really well-coached football teams. It's going to come down to who can execute the best."
Saturday's contest will mark the 33rd all-time meeting between the two schools, with CSU Pueblo holding a 20-12 advantage in the series. The ThunderWolves are 11-5 against the Mountaineers in Pueblo and 9-7 in Gunnison. Since the Pack football program was restarted in 2008, CSU Pueblo has won 13 of the 16 meetings between the two programs.
The ThunderWolves have won the past two meetings against Western Colorado in Gunnison, Colo., including a 24-21 come-from-behind victory last season in Gunnison. In that contest, CSU Pueblo rallied from a 21-0 deficit early in the second quarter and completed the comeback with a walk-off 32-yard field goal from senior kicker
Jackson Smith (Centennial, Colo./Santa Barbara City College) as time expired.
In 2024, the Pack also recorded a victory in Gunnison as CSU Pueblo earned a 44-34 win over the Mountaineers. Prior to those two victories, Western Colorado had won three consecutive games in the series from 2021-23, including a 30-14 victory in the most recent meeting between the schools at the ThunderBowl on Sept. 16, 2023.
Saturday will mark the first meeting between the teams in Pueblo since the 2023 season.
Along with honoring its senior class, CSU Pueblo will also recognize military personnel for Veterans Day during Saturday's game.
"It'll be nice to be home. I think it'll be great for us to honor our military and first responders," Vigil said. "It'll be an awesome opportunity for us to honor our seniors and then play in a really meaningful game as well."
ABOUT WESTERN COLORADO
Western Colorado enters Saturday's RMAC Championship showdown sporting a perfect 10-0 overall record and an 8-0 mark in league play following a 41-20 home victory last Saturday over Colorado School of Mines at the Mountaineer Bowl in Gunnison.
The Mountaineers are ranked fourth in both the latest AFCA Coaches and D2Football.com polls and are one of six remaining undefeated teams in NCAA Division II football this season. Western Colorado has won 10 consecutive games this season and 11 straight regular-season contests dating to last season.
Western Colorado is coached by Jas Bains, who is in his 16th season leading the Mountaineers. Bains has compiled an 85-86 record at Western Colorado and ranks second in school history in career coaching victories. He has guided the Mountaineers to six consecutive winning seasons and four NCAA Division II Playoff appearances in the past five seasons, including trips to the postseason in 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The Mountaineers opened the 2026 season with a 52-21 road victory over West Texas A&M before posting a 23-21 home victory over Angelo State. Since opening conference play with a 30-9 win over Chadron State, Western Colorado has recorded league victories over Colorado Mesa (31-17), Adams State (70-21), New Mexico Highlands (52-24), Fort Lewis (55-0), Black Hills State (42-10), South Dakota Mines (37-6) and Mines (41-20).
Offensively, Western Colorado is averaging 43.3 points and 456.9 yards of total offense per game. The Mountaineers are averaging 194.6 yards rushing and 262.3 yards passing per contest and have scored 50 offensive touchdowns, including 29 passing touchdowns and 21 rushing scores.
The Mountaineers' offense is directed by fifth-year senior quarterback Josiah Roy (Colorado Springs, Colo./Pine Creek), who has completed 172-of-250 passes for 2,131 yards and 23 touchdowns in nine games this season. Roy, who was named this week's NFF Colorado Chapter Player of the Week and is a two-time RMAC Offensive Player of the Week, is also a threat in the running game, having rushed for 201 yards and two touchdowns. He has helped Western Colorado become one of the RMAC's most efficient offenses.
Western Colorado's rushing attack is led by sophomore Damien Nevil, who has rushed for 447 yards and four touchdowns on 87 carries. Nevil has also been a weapon in the passing game, recording 32 receptions for 259 yards and three touchdowns.
The Mountaineers feature several playmakers at receiver, including fifth-year senior DJ Allen Jr., who has recorded 459 receiving yards and six touchdown receptions. Allen has also made an impact on special teams and enters Saturday's game with 815 all-purpose yards, including 341 kickoff return yards, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Adams State.
Defensively, Western Colorado has been one of the top teams in the RMAC this season as the Mountaineers lead the conference in scoring defense, allowing just 14.9 points per game. Western Colorado is also limiting opponents to 291.4 yards of total offense per contest, including a league-best 87.8 yards rushing per game.
The Mountaineers have recorded 33 sacks and have allowed opponents to convert just 33 percent of their third-down opportunities. Western Colorado has also forced 15 turnovers this season and is allowing just 2.9 yards per rushing attempt.
Senior linebacker Ian Loomis (Loveland, Colo./Loveland), who was named this week's RMAC Defensive Player of the Week, has helped anchor the Mountaineers' defense, recording 65 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Western Colorado also features several experienced defensive players, including senior linebacker Kade Musser, junior linebacker Caden Campuzano, and senior safety Easton Peterson.
Musser leads the Mountaineers in tackles with 70 and has had six tackles for a loss, 3.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries, while Campuzano has had 50 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and five pass break-ups and Peterson has tallied 30 tackles on the year.
The Mountaineers have also excelled on special teams this season, particularly in their ability to block kicks and create opportunities in the return game. Western Colorado has recorded seven blocked kicks, which is the most in the RMAC and third nationally in Division II. Senior defensive back Jevon Young leads the way with four blocks.
In addition to their ability to block kicks, junior kicker JT Miller, who is a two-time RMAC Special Teams Player of the Week, is one of the top kickers in the league, as he leads the league in points scored with 103 points. He is 18-for-20 on field goals, including being 2-for-2 on field goals over 50 yards, and is 49-for-50 on extra points.
Senior Zac Grable averages 44.7 yards per punt and has put 15 punts inside the 20-yard line and has tallied 10 punts of 50 or more yards, including a 69-yard punt against Colorado Mesa.
The Mountaineers are averaging 12.5 yards per return, with Peterson leading the way with an average of 12.1 yards per punt return, while Allen is averaging 28.4 yards per kickoff return.
Vigil believes Western Colorado's offensive efficiency, defensive pressure, and special teams play make the Mountaineers a difficult opponent to prepare for.
"When you look at their offense, I think you see a team that is very efficient in what they do. Their quarterback is athletic; he can throw it, and they've got playmakers at receiver and running back," Vigil said. "They've been very opportunistic. When they need to make a play, they go and make a play."
Vigil also praised Western Colorado's aggressive defensive approach.
"Defensively, this is a team that operates in organized chaos. They are very good at what they do," Vigil said. "They are going to be an odd structure, but they're going to bring a lot of pressure, and they have guys that can cover in the back end. They're leading the conference in scoring defense for a reason."
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