Pack earns Homecoming win over Highlands

CSU-Pueblo's first homecoming in 24 years had all the required ingredients - a homecoming court, the return of notable alums, and even the pregame appearance of the Flight For Life helicopter at midfield (for pleasure, not business).  All that was missing was a win. 

And the Pack football team delivered.

Led by the return of a ball hawk defense that had been vacant for its past few games, recording four intereceptions, the ThunderWolves had control all night long, logging a 21-14 win.

The win halted the Pack's four-game losing streak and vaulted the ThunderWolves to fifth place in the 10-team RMAC, behind the four teams that started their recent losing streak - Chadron State, Mesa State, Colorado Mines and Nebraska-Kearney.

The Pack was able to draw first blood, taking the opening kickoff and undertaking a 14-play, 75-yard scoring drive, culminating in a 32-yard touchdown pass from Bobby Washington (RSo., Colorado Springs, Colo.) to David Massullo (So., Fountain, Colo.), giving the Pack a 7-0 lead. 

Washington, the ThunderWolves' opening-night starter who had missed all four games during the Pack's losing streak with an arm injury, had no problem getting back into the swing of things, going 12-for-31 for 123 yards with two TDs and no interceptions.

In 62 attempts in 2008, Washington has not tossed an interception, and is boasting a 3-0 record when he starts. 

The Pack's second score came late in the first quarter when New Mexico Highlands, choosing to abandon its running game for its spread offense passing attack, saw a Lucas Sanchez pass go directly into the hands of Marco Macaluso (Fr., Pueblo, Colo.), which he promptly returned for a 56-yard touchdown, giving the Pack a 14-0 lead 15 minutes into the game.

From the point, the defense took over, look to preserve their two-touchdown margin.  Led by Jerry McWilliams (Jr., Fountain, Colo.), the Pack forced two fumbles and pressured Sanchez into tossing three more interceptions.  McWilliams also recorded two sacks, and led the team in tackles with 10.  He was joined in the sack column by Chase Vaughn (Jr., Aurora, Colo.), who stretched his RMAC-leading sack total to 7.5.

On the night, the ThunderWolves recorded 138 yards on interception returns, just seven yards off the team record for most interception yards in a single game (145, set in 1967 against Colorado Mines).  The four interceptions was also one off of an all-time team record (set on four different occasions).

Highlands did threaten, going in for a touchdown with 4:12 remaining in the game.  Highlands got the ball back after a flat offensive possession by the ThunderWolves, but the Pack defense ratched it up, forcing a four-and-out and eventually forcing a fumble on the ensuing punt to take over on downs and secure the game.

The Pack's record improved to 3-4 with the win, 2-4 in conference play.  The ThunderWolves will go on a two-game road trip next week, first with Western State next Saturday in Gunnison, then a long trip to Silver City, N.M. to take on Western New Mexico before closing their season with a home matchup with Adams State on Nov. 8.