PUEBLO, Colo. — Any momentum the Colorado Mesa football team hoped to carry over from its homecoming victory into their rivalry game at CSU Pueblo was dashed by halftime Saturday in a 59-20 loss to the ThunderWolves.
CSU Pueblo (6-3, 5-2 RMAC) scored 21 points in the final 4 minutes, 49 seconds of the second quarter — the Mavericks (4-5, 3-4 RMAC) had only a 23-yard field goal by Henry Katelman in that span — turning a 17-10 deficit to 25 points at halftime, 38-13.
After quarterback Gavin Herberg scored on a 29-yard run with 9:26 to play in the half to pull within seven points, the Pack used a pair of touchdown passes by Chance Fuller to build the lead, but it was a special teams score after Katelman's field goal that swung the game completely to the ThunderWolves.
Moosa Alsaffar took the kickoff at the 4, found a seam up the middle and then cut outside for a 96-yard return for a touchdown.
Herberg lost a fumble on the first play of the ensuing drive and three plays later, CSU Pueblo was back in the end zone.
Down only six points late in the first quarter, a disputed turnover turned what appeared to be a big play for the Mavericks into another chance for the ThunderWolves.
With 36 seconds left in the quarter, it appeared Jack Horsford was on the seat of his pants with the ball on the CSU Pueblo 32-yard line. Donyai Dixon snatched the ball out of Horsford's hands and took the ball back to midfield.
The play was ruled an interception, which was upheld after CMU head coach Miles Kochevar challenged the call.
Fuller threw one of his five touchdown passes on the fifth play of the ensuing drive. The Pack's quarterback completed 26 of 38 passes for 360 yards and the five TDs and backup Steven Croell added a shovel pass score in the waning minutes of the game.
Herberg, who was shaken up on a run inside the red zone late in the third quarter, was 11 of 22 for 119 yards and one interception. Kia'i Keone replaced Herberg and immediately threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to David O'Connell to cap a 15-play, 75-yard drive that chewed up 7:21 in the third quarter. It drew the Mavs to within 45-20, but the ThunderWolves, coached by former Mesa quarterback Phil Vigil, added a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.
Keone finished out the game, completing three of six passes for 30 yards, with the one TD and one interception.
Mesa's defense gave up 563 total yards, 364 passing and 199 rushing, and CSU Pueblo scored on all six trips into the red zone — CMU was 2-for-2 inside the red zone. The Mavericks finished with 285 yards on offense, 149 passing and 136 rushing. Gianni Hurd had 48 rushing yards and Herberg 47, and O'Donnell caught four passes for 59 yards and one touchdown.
Mesa's offense had only two drives of more than nine plays, resulting in 10 points, and its first touchdown was set up by Kash Bradley's third interception of the season. Bradley led CMU with eight total tackles, five solo, and broke up two passes. JaCari Williams who had five tackles, broke up five passes, helping take up the slack from losing safety Liban Shongolo, who was called for targeting in the first quarter.
The Mavericks have low lost six in a row to the ThunderWolves and fell to 7-16-1 all-time in the series.
Two games remain in the season for CMU, including the Mavs' final home game at 1:05 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 against Chadron State (4-5, 3-4 RMAC). It's Military/First Responders Appreciation Day at Stocker Stadium, and the Mavericks will celebrate Senior Day before kickoff.
