CSU Pueblo football shatters records in 59-27 win at No. 24 Midwestern State in opening game
Quarterback Steven Croell led the Colorado State University Pueblo football team to its highest scoring season-opening win in program history Saturday with the team emerging victorious 59-27 at No. 24 Midwestern State University Texas. Croell accumulated a program-best 396 yards through the air and five touchdowns. The ThunderWolves and Mustangs started off even from the beginning, each punting on the opening drive. With 11:03 left in the first quarter, MSU Texas broke the stalemate with a 27-yard touchdown pass and took an early 7-0 lead on the Pack. The ensuing drive by the ThunderWolves saw a quick and aggressive offense. Steady rushes by Kiahn Martinez and Jordan Jones marched the Pack slowly down the field. On a third and two from the Mustangs' 27 yard line, the Pack were able to even up the contest with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Croell to Andrew Cook. The Pack defense held strong and kept the offense energized for its next drive. On the first play from scrimmage, Croell found a new target, this time connecting with a speedy Dorion McGarity for a 77-yard touchdown pass to give the ThunderWolves their first lead of the game. Through a quarter, the Pack had found a rhythm on offense and a way to shut down a hungry Mustangs offense. With CSU Pueblo already driving to start the second quarter, the Pack struck again. This time, the offensive line flexed its muscle and cleared a hole for Jones, allowing him to punch his way into the end zone and further the Pack lead to 21-7. The Pack defense continued to stifle the Mustangs offense and Cory McLellan halted a promising drive with an athletic interception on the MSU Texas 8-yard line. Austin Bacher enjoyed a run-heavy drive and broke off a 33-yard run to get the ThunderWolves in MSU territory. Unfortunately for CSU Pueblo, the Mustangs defense wanted a piece of the action and rushed a throw from Croell. MSU Texas returned an interception to the end zone and shrunk the ThunderWolves' lead to 21-14 midway through the second. Croell needed only three plays to respond. The sophomore quarterback connected with Cook once again, but the speedy receiver did the work with his legs, breaking a tackle and then sprinting by the secondary for a 70-yard touchdown, his second score of the half. The 28-14 lead held through most of the remainder of the half until the Pack defense struck again. The Mustangs bobbled a pitch and Max Gonzales was there to scoop the ball and run it back to the MSU Texas 2-yard line. The Pack were unable to get into the end zone, but freshman Sullivan Moon drilled a 20-yard field goal and sent CSU Pueblo into the locker room ahead 31-14. Cook highlighted the receivers with 140 yards and two touchdowns off six receptions thanks to a 12-22 first half performance that featured 252 yards through the air.
The Pack started the third quarter with the ball and pulled off a slow and methodical drive. CSU Pueblo took care of the ball and chipped away at the Mustangs with modest passes to Max Fine and strategic rushes by Martinez, Croell and Nick Bingham. Finally with 6:35 to go in the quarter, Bacher got the nod on first and goal and punched it in from six yards out to extend the ThunderWolves’ advantage to 38-14. The ThunderWolves dominated possession in the third quarter and after forcing the Mustangs to punt in just over a minute, the Pack closed out the period with the ball, possessing it for nearly 13 minutes in the frame. On the opening play of the fourth quarter, CK Poulos went up for a Croell pass and pulled in the fourth receiving touchdown of the evening. The Poulos touchdown reception all but sealed the Mustangs' fate and fed an already energized Pack squad. Midwestern State soon showed strong signs of life. Quickly after gaining possession, the Mustangs drove and scored on a 41-yard touchdown reception with 13:40 on the clock, and then scored once more with 10:03 to go. The surge whittled the Pack lead to 45-27 with 10 minutes to go in the game. The Pack were not deterred.
Looking to completely shut down doubt, a 4th-and-8 swing pass from Croell to Martinez led to a 23-yard touchdown and silenced the remaining MSU Texas crowd. With the pass, Croell broke a 10-year-old school record by passing for 396 yards and was the first player since 2016 to pass for five touchdowns. With 42 seconds to play, the defense reminded the Mustangs who leads the nation in defensive touchdowns over the past three years. Eli Pittman snagged a parachute-type pass and returned it 45 yards for the Pack's first pick-six of the season.The 59-27 statement score would stand and the Pack sealed the program's most lopsided victory in history. Croell finished with 396 yards and five touchdowns to lead and command the game. Cook finished with 140 yards and two first half touchdowns while Bacher led the ground attack with 94 yards rushing.Trey Botts and Gonzales accounted for the lone tackle for loss on defense while McLellan and Pittman accumulated the two interceptions.CSU Pueblo netted 568 total yards of offense to the Mustangs' 307 while netting 172 rushing yards and 396 in the air. The Pack limited the Mustangs to just 12 first downs all game.After the dominating win, the Pack heads home for the annual RED OUT game vs. No. 5 Grand Valley State (1-0). The ThunderWolves kickoff at 6 p.m. in the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl.
This article was submitted to the Chieftain by the CSU Pueblo Athletics department. For stats and additional information from this game, visit gothunderwolves.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: CSU Pueblo football shatters records, dominates Midwestern State 59-27
