Box score
DURANGO, Colo. – Colorado State University-Pueblo (4-0 overall, 2-0 RMAC) blew open a close game with key second half turnovers and a huge ground game to defeat Fort Lewis College (1-2, 1-1) 49-14 in
Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference football action today at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
The ThunderWolves took a 21-14 lead with just 52 seconds remaining in the first half on a three-yard run by Jamaal Johnson and then outscored the Skyhawks 28-0 in the second half.
CSU-Pueblo gained 212 of its 324 rushing yards in the second half and returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
Jesse Lewis gained 178 yards on 13 carries and scored a pair of touchdowns – a three-yard run to start the scoring with 9:29 remaining in the first quarter, and on a two-yard plunge with 9:05 remaining in the second as CSU-Pueblo retook the lead to 14-7.
Johnson added 135 yards on 12 carries with a pair of scores. His 41-yard burst with 5:25 left in the second quarter extended the lead to 35-14.
The Skyhawks twice tied the game on long pass plays to keep pace in the first half. Quarterback
Tim Jenkins found wide receiver
Deric Davis wide open across the middle for a 45-yard strike that knotted the score at 7-7 with 9:05 remaining in the second quarter. He later found senior All-American
Justin Johnson at the front right flag from 41 yards out with 5:47 remaining in the first half to level the score at 14-14.
Jenkins finished the game with 284 passing yards, completing 29 of 49 attempts. His yardage, though, was offset by three interceptions, of which the last two were returned for touchdowns by the ThunderWolves. One was picked off by Jason Campbell at the FLC 42 yard line, then lateralled to teammate Grant Grunkleton, who raced the last 40 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 35-14. Mark Sterling thwarted a late FLC drive by intercepting a Jenkins pass at the CSUP three yard line and scampering down the west sideline untouched for a 97-yard return.
“Our kids still felt like they could come back and win,” said FLC head coach
Cesar Rivas-Sandoval. “When you have a turnover and then another big play allowed on defense, it sucks the life out of you. We need to get our minds right that when one bad play happens, it doesn't mean a slew of them will follow. But it takes the entire group to do that.”
When Jenkins was on, he distributed his passes well, finding 10 different Skyhawks. Johnson led all receivers with seven catches for 102 yards and a touchdown, while
Doyle Bode caught four passes for 21 yards. Davis,
Justin Garman,
Blaise Cuban and
Zach Moisey all had three catches for FLC.
“Tim spread the ball well today,” said Rivas-Sandoval.
Justin Peters led the Skyhawk ground game with 45 yards on seven carries, while
A.J. Miko had eight rushes for 37 yards, including a long of 27.
“We rushed for over 100 yards, which was a modest improvement for us,” said Rivas-Sandoval.
Eddie Vega led FLC defenders with eight tackles (six unassisted). Lee Meisner led the ThunderWolves with 12 tackles (six unassisted) and a pass breakup.
CSU-Pueblo outgained FLC 481 yards to 373, and also benefited from a strong return game, running back three kickoffs for 112 yards and three interceptions for 144.
Fort Lewis hosts Colorado Mines (3-1 overall, 2-0 RMAC) at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2 at Ray Dennison Memorial Field.
