By Jake Levin
In a rivalry game between CSU Pueblo and Colorado Mesa, the nationally-ranked ThunderWolves got the best of their rival 38-14, which kicked off earlier than at the ThunderBowl in Pueblo expected due to rain.
With Devin Larson not throwing for a touchdown for the first time this season after passing for 11 scores in the first three games, the rushing attack was featured in the CSU Pueblo win this week. The Pack rushed for a season-high 211 yards and four touchdowns, posting their third win in four starts in 2024.
Larsen completed 19 of 30 passes for 149 yards and did not throw an interception. Pack running back Howard Russell V rushed for over 100 yards for the second time this season as he posted three career bests with 18 carries for 143 yards and three touchdowns.
The ThunderWolves jumped to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter as two Russell V scoring runs of one- and 18-yards came at the end of 75- and 87-yard drives. Sandwiched between the two Russell V romps was a Shallum Peters’ blocked punt that was returned 23 yards for a touchdown by Matteus Buggs.
Mesa cut the lead to 21-7 at intermission when Brandon Belgrave scored on a 28-yard run with 11:34 left in the second period. Belgrave rushed for 52 yards on six carries. Maverick quarterback Liu Aumavae passed for 236 yards and one score in the game’s final two minutes.
Russell’s third touchdown run of 11 yards in the third quarter pushed the Pack lead to 28-7, with fourth-quarter scores by Korien Burrell (one-yard run) and Evan Lyons (35-yard field) closing out the scoring.
In posting their seventh-straight win over Colorado Mesa, the ThunderWolves are now 2-0 in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference play. The Mavericks are 1-2 on the season and were playing their first league game after a victory at Texas A&M Kingsville and a home setback to nationally-ranked Central Washington.
Ranked 22nd in the American Football Coaches Association poll this week, CSU Pueblo plays at Adams State next week in Alamosa. Colorado Mesa hosts Chadron State next Saturday in Grand Junction.
CSU PUEBLO GAME ARTICLE / COLORADO MESA GAME ARTICLE
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Travis Hunter Colorado 38, Baylor 31 (overtime) – Colorado rallied from a 31-24deficit to tie the game on the final play of regulation, scored first in overtime, and then had Travis Hunter force a fumble at the goal line to secure the Buffs’ third win this season and first in their return to the Big 12 Conference. Shedeur Sanders directed a 72-yard touchdown drive, completing the touchdown pass to Wester as time expired. CU scored first in overtime on Micah Welch’s one-yard run. Baylor’s running back Dominic Richardson appeared ready to score for the Bears on their OT possession, but Hunter forced a fumble that rolled out of the end zone to secure the win for Colorado. The Buffs played at Central Florida next Saturday READ MORE
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Blake Doud Colorado Mines 13, at Chadron State 12 – Nationally-ranked Colorado Mines relied on its defense and special teams to post a 13-12 win over the Eagles in the opening RMAC game for both schools. Ranked fourth and fifth in the national polls, Mines is now 3-0 on the season as the Oredigger defenders held Chadron State to a touchdown and two field goals on 223 total yards of offense. All-American punter Blake Doud averaged 41.8 yards per punt on five tries, with three inside the 20. Kicker Matthew Eich hit a pair of field goals in a tricky crosswind. Evan Foster passed for 235 yards and ran for Mines’ lone touchdown. Braelon Tate led all rushers with 51 yards, and Max McLeod had five catches for 79 yards, while Flynn Schiele had nine receptions for 65 yards. With a 23-game regular-season winning streak, Colorado Mines hosts Black Hills State next Saturday in an RMAC featuring two schools that won their opening league games. READ MORE
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Jacob Morris at Black Hills State 33, Fort Lewis 7 – The host Hornets held visiting Fort Lewis to 175 yards on offense while gaining 373 total yards in the 31-7 win in the opening RMAC game for both schools. Black Hills State improved to 2-1 this season, with the Skyhawks dropping to 1-2 a week after Fort Lewis snapped a 40-game losing streak with a win over Arizona Christian. Skyhawk quarterback Stone Walker was held to 82 total yards (32 yards passing and 50 yards rushing) after averaging 191 total yards in the first two games. BHS led 33-0 with 10:13 left in the game. The Skyhawk’s lone score was a one-yard pass from freshman backup quarterback Jacob Morris to freshman running back Orlando Guevara to complete a 14-play, 80-yard drive with 1:52 remaining in the game. Fort Lewis hosts South Dakota State next Saturday. READ MORE
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Avery Morrow at Colorado State 27, UTEP 17 – Avery Morrow ran for a career-high 156 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Rams to victory and even the CSU record at 2-2 this season. Morrow opened the Ram scoring with a two-yard run in the first quarter and a 73-yard run in the second period to give CSU a 14-3 edge at halftime. The Rams added 13 points in the second half on a 5-yard scoring pass from Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to Armani Winfield and two field goals by Jordan Noyes (37 and 39 yards). CSU is idle next week and plays at Oregon State on October 5. READ MORE
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Braeden Hogan at Western Colorado 38, Adams State 0 – After allowing 50 points and 733 total yards in their first two games, the Western Colorado defense stymied Adams State in the Mountaineers’ 38-0 win over their RMAC rivals. The home-standing Mountaineers gave up 100 yards as the Grizzles were held to -12 yards rushing. Offensively, Western Colorado scored thrice on the ground and twice through the air and had 332 yards. Braeden Hogan paced the winner’s attack with 85 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Western Colorado plays at New Mexico Highlands next week, while Adams State hosts CSU Pueblo. WCU READ MORE / ASU READ MORE
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Darius Stewart at Stephen F. Austin 48, Northern Colorado 7 – The Bears controlled the ball for over 33 minutes and rushed for 224 yards, but host Stephen F. Austin amassed 509 total yards and allowed only 18 passing in the first meeting between the two schools. Kia’i Keone and Darius Stewart combined for 150 yards and one score. Winless in four games this season and mired in a 16-game losing streak, UNC opens Big Sky Conference play next week by hosting Cal Poly for homecoming. READ MORE
| September 21 | RECAPS | Series |
| at CSU Pueblo 38, Colorado Mesa 14 | CSUP now leads 18-6-1 | |
| Colorado Mines 13, at Chadron State 12 | CSM RECAP | Series tied 23-23 |
| at Black Hills State 33, Fort Lewis 7 | FLC RECAP | FLC now trails 3-9 |
| at Colorado State 27, UTEP 17 | CSU RECAP | CSU now leads 26-10 |
| at Western Colorado 38, Adams State 0 | WCU RECAP / ASU RECAP | WCU now leads 44-32 |
| at Stephen F. Austin 48, Northern Colorado 7 | UNC RECAP | SFAnow leads 1-0 |
| Baylor at Colorado, 6 p.m . (FOX) | CU RECAP | CU leads 9-7 |
