PUEBLO, Colo. – It took overtime but the Colorado Mesa football team couldn't convert on a fourth down in the second overtime and fell 19-13 to the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves here at the ThunderBowl.
 
CSU Pueblo scored first in the game with a 35-yard Dean Faithfull field goal with 6:04 to play in the first quarter. The field goal capped an 11-play, 73 yard drive where a heavy portion of the yardage came on the ground.
 
The Mavericks answered back with 12:52 to play in the half when Lucas Ruiz Diaz connected on a 38-yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3. That drive went 11 plays for 61 yards and chewed up 3:44 second of clock time.
 
Colorado Mesa took their first lead of the game with 3:25 to play in the half when Karst Hunter found Lionell McConnell from just three yards out for a touchdown. The drive went 14-plays and began at the CSU Pueblo 1-yardline.
 
The lead held until 7:49 was left in the game when CSU Pueblo scored a touchdown to tie the game at 10-10 and would stay that way until the overtime period.
 
The ThunderWolves had an opportunity late in the game but Deeandra Ervin intercepted a Steven Croell pass near the sideline to thwart the opportunity.
 
Both teams kicked field goals in the first overtime period.
 
CSU Pueblo scored a touchdown on third down on a 17-yard catch and run but they failed to convert the two-point conversion.
 
Colorado Mesa earned a first down but then couldn't convert inside the 10-yardline as the game ended.
 
Penalties were a large issue in the game as the Mavericks were flagged for eight penalties for 89 yards while the ThunderWolves were flagged for just one penalty for five yards.
 
The defense limited the ThunderWolves to just 220 yards in the game including 89 yards on the ground. They forced two turnovers and had four sacks.
 
Damar'ren Mitchell led the defense with 11 tackles while Torren Calhoun and Logan Bayus each had a sack and a half.
 
Hunter finished the game 29-for-45 for 227 yards and a touchdown. He found Elijah Lilly eight times for 68 yards while McConnell had seven catches for 58 yards and the lone touchdown.
 
The Mavericks will be back in action next weekend at home when they take on the Adams State Grizzlies at 6pm at Stocker Stadium. The Grizzlies fell 45-42 to South Dakota Mines in Alamosa on Saturday.