The Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves ran away with another victory Saturday, putting up 35 points in a lopsided win against Fort Lewis on homecoming.
The ThunderWolves improved to 5-0 on the season after scoring 21 second half points, bringing their regular season win streak to 31.
While the offense was able to move the ball for over 300 yards in the first two quarters, the real story was the ThunderWolves defense, who held the Skyhawks to 113 total yards and 1-for-10 on third down conversions in the first half alone.
The rushing attack for CSU-Pueblo quickly found their groove after the first quarter, as Cameron McDondle broke the game open with a 68-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter, giving the ThunderWolves a 14-0 lead at the time.
“We’re run-first,” head coach John Wristen said. “We want to make sure that we have our backs and everybody on the offensive line targeted right, and we did that right at times.”
Ben Estica continued his dominance from the linebacker position, totaling six tackles and three sacks, leading the way for a ThunderWolves’ defense that forced 10 total sacks on the day, a school record. The Pack defense also recorded 13 tackles for loss in one game, setting another school record.
“(Ben) is very athletic, and he (and Darius Allen) are learning how to play this game,” Wristen said. “They are weapons, and I’m glad they’re on our team.”
Offensive threat Kieren Duncan accumulated over 150 all-purpose yards on the day, further building his resume as a playmaker with a big 43-yard run in the first quarter and a 54-yard reception in the third quarter.
“Kieren is really turning into a weapon for us,” Wristen said. “We are very, very fortunate to have him on our team.”
Quarterback Chris Bonner also continued his outstanding junior campaign, throwing for a career-high 300 yards with four touchdowns, including an 18-yard strike to DeVaughn Thornton early in the fourth quarter to put the ThunderWolves up 28-3.
Stehly Reden, a transfer from Division I Brigham Young University, added two touchdowns to the assault, including a 49-yard reception in the fourth quarter to put the Skyhawks away 35-3.
The victory brings the ThunderWolves’ homecoming win streak to six, and it’s Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference win streak to 25, two shy of the RMAC record set by Chadron State from 2006-09.
The ThunderWolves now get ready for arguably their biggest game of the season as they travel on the road to Chadron State to take on the archrival Eagles.
