PUEBLO, Colo. (December 6, 2014) – The No. 8 Colorado State University-Pueblo ThunderWolves (12-1, 8-1) edged No. 9 Ohio Dominican University (11-2, 9-1) 31-28, Saturday, in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals to advance to its first ever appearance in the national semifinals.
The victory moved CSU-Pueblo's NCAA Playoff record to 3-4 since 2010 and advanced the Pack to the semifinals for not only the first time in program history, but also the Division II era of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. The ThunderWolves can now look forward to Dec. 13's opponent, West Georgia University. The sixth-seed in NCAA Super Region Two, WGU defeated Valdosta State University, 31-17 Saturday. The NCAA Selection Committee determined the ThunderWolves will host West Georgia Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m. at the Neta & Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl.
The game-winning score came on an 83-yard punt return for a touchdown by, no not the No. 1 punt returner in the nation, senior Stephan Dickens (CB, Aurora, Colo.), but junior wide receiver Daniel Wise (Arlington, Texas). Wise, typically a kick returner, had fielded just four punts all season long, but Dickens needed a breath after a defensive stand and Wise trotted out to take the punt. He broke one tackle and then it was off to the races, as the junior handed the Pack a 31-21 lead with 10:52 remaining on the fourth quarter clock.
With 6:54 left in regulation, ODU needed only 56 seconds to march three plays and 53 yards to the end zone to cut the CSU-Pueblo lead to 31-28.
Ohio Dominican had two chances with the ball after cutting the lead to three, but one of the best defenses in the nation answered the bell and cored the Panthers back 10 yards on the first drive and broke up a pass on 4th-and-10 with under a minute left.
Speaking of the outstanding play of the defense, the Pack scored 14 points as a result of turnovers. The Pack held the Panthers to 327 yards, 127.3 yards below the team's season average. CSU-Pueblo forced three turnovers, which included two interceptions to increase its Division II-best total to 28. The ThunderWolves have now gained 42 turnovers (entered the game 2nd nationally) and have now scored 162 points off turnovers this season.
The ThunderWolves went up against a Panthers defense that ranked 15th in the country in scoring defense, allowing 18.1 points per game and 30th nationally in total defense, allowing 331.4 yards. The Pack were limited to 263 total yards throughout the game, but running back Cameron McDondle (Jr., Littleton, Colo.) still found a way to eclipse the 100-yard mark for the 10th straight game. He finished with 103 yards on 26 carries and one touchdown.
Senior quarterback Chris Bonner (San Diego, Calif.) probably faced the most pressure he has seen this season, but was an efficient 20-for-30 (66.7%) for 172 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. He was flushed from the pocket on numerous occasions and was sacked three times (tied the most this season), after finishing the regular season being sacked just once. The Pack entered the game ranked 23rd nationally in least sacks allowed.
Senior wide receiver Paul Browning (Widefield, Colo.), who spent the majority of the season out on injury, made a recovery just in time for the NCAA Division II playoffs. He was Bonner's favorite target for the second straight week, as he totaled seven receptions for 64 yards and a score. The seven receptions brings his career total to 144 to match the all-time school record at CSU-Pueblo.
Wide receiver Kieran Duncan (Jr., Goodyear, Ariz.) brought in five receptions for 75 yards and a score.
In the first possession of the game, the Pack posted a 12-play drive for 68 yards, which was capped with a 20-yard field goal by junior kicker Greg O'Donnell (Moument, Colo.).
Bonner targeted Browning's hands in the second scoring play for the ThunderWolves after a six-play drive that ended with a 23-yard pass with 1:24 left in the first.
Bonner was a perfect 9-for-9 in the first quarter and targeted four recievers for 101 yards.
After an interception by junior linebacker Joe Rosenbrock (Brush, Colo.) put the Pack in prime scoring position, McDondle found himself in the end zone on a two-yard run, boosting the ThunderWolves' lead to 17-0 over Ohio Dominican with 13:06 in the half.
Defensive efforts limited the Panthers' time of possession in the first half, aided by a senior defensive end Darius Allen (Pueblo, Colo.) fumble recovery. Four plays later, Bonner connected with Duncan on a 17-yard pass and sprint to the end zone.
The Pack's 24-0 was stunted within the last five minutes of the second quarter when a Panthers' defensive lineman sacked Bonner for a ThunderWolves' loss of eight yards. In the next play, a rattled Bonner fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the Panthers' defense on the home 49-yard-line. Ohio Dominican took advantage of the gained possession and scored in four plays (converted fourth-and-three).
The ThunderWolves were forced to a three-and-out in their next possession in which Ohio Dominican blocked the punt and returned it 16 yards to the end zone for another Panthers' touchdown, closing the score gap to a mere 10 point difference. The blocked punt was the first by the ThunderWolves all season.
The Pack escaped the rest of the first half with the lead, but Ohio Dominican came out for the third quarter with the same torque, driving 75 yards in nine plays for a touchdown with 10:23 in the quarter.
The Pack defense found their second wind, holding the Panthers for the remainder of the third quarter, while the ThunderWolves offense struggled a bit and the horn to end the third quarter had the score 24-21.
In the first offensive play of the fourth quarter by the Panthers was interceted by senior corner LeVon Floyd (Boynton Beach, Fla.), turning the momentum back in favor of the Pack. Unfortunately the offensive possession ended on the ODU 10-yard-line as a result of a fumble.
The defense held and set up a punt return chance for Wise that he broke off for an 83-yard touchdown enhancing the lead 31-21.
The Panthers later answered with a touchdown of their own, cutting the lead to 31-28.
That would be the last scoring drive of the game Bonner took a knee to signify the end of the game, and a ThunderWolves' win over the Ohio Dominican Panthers.
CSU-Pueblo will host a NCAA Division II Semifinal game, Dec. 13 at 4:30 p.m. against West Georgia Unviersity. WGU was the sixth-seed in NCAA Division II Super Region Two and defeated Valdosta State University, 31-17 Saturday to advance to the semifinals. The Wolves are 12-2 overall and went 5-2 in the Gulf South Conference.