Box Score PUEBLO, Colo. – No. 8 Colorado Mesa and No. 17 CSU-Pueblo went toe-to-toe in the NCAA Division II Showcase game and fans were not disappointed. Penalties and turnovers cost the Mavericks in a 30-24 loss to the ThunderWolves at the Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.
The two juggernauts played to a scoreless first quarter and traded field goals in the opening minutes of the second quarter.
Ryan Sheehan connected on a 43-yarder followed by a CSUP 47-yard field goal.
Senior
Virnel Moon took the ensuing kickoff 97-yards to the house to give Colorado Mesa their second lead of the day at 10-3. Moon took it from the three and knifed through the coverage team for the touchdown.
Just before halftime, CSU-Pueblo connected on the hail mary from 43 yards out. Pack receiver Josh Smith was able to out leap three Maverick defenders giving CSUP the 13-10 lead at the half.
After the break, the ThunderWolves took three plays and went 68 yards in three plays, capped by a Marche Dennard 13-yard touchdown run. The touchdown gave CSU-Pueblo their largest lead of the game at 20-10.
On the next drive,
Eystin Salum scored from six yards out. Salum sold a good play fake to
Daryl Hawkins and scampered in from the left side to cut the Pack lead to 20-17 with 3:17 to play in the quarter.
The Maverick defense got another three-and-out setting up the Colorado Mesa drive.
On the first play, Salum found a streaking
Virnel Moon down the sideline for a 56-yard score. Moon broke the final two tackles and dove into the endzone to give CMU a 24-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
CSU-Pueblo added a pair of scores in the fourth quarter to seal their victory. Marche Dennard scampered in from 16 yards out and kicker Mitchell Carter booted an 18-yard field goal after the Maverick defense stuffed CSUP on the goaline.
The Mavericks opened a drive with 9:31 on the clock and on second down a bad mesh between Tann and Salum resulted in a fumble setting up CSUP's field goal.
Salum finished with 102 yards rushing to lead the Mavericks while CSUP's Dennard led all rushers with 152 yards.
David Tann added 98 yards on the ground for CMU.
Josh Brown led the Maverick receiving corps with four catches for 39 yards while Moon finished with two catches and 68 yards.
Darian Turner and
Tom Saager finished the game with 10 tackles a piece.
Colorado Mesa was penalized eight times for 67 yards. Two of those wiped out defensive stops and another two negated first downs by the offense.
The Mavericks will return home next weekend for a showdown with Black Hills State at Stocker Stadium. Next weekend will also be Parent's Weekend at Colorado Mesa.
