GUNNISON, Colo.  Now ranked No. 14 in the AFCA Division II football poll, Western Colorado University looks to continue its rise up the national rankings—and extend a five-game win streak—with a win Saturday in its Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference regular-season finale against visiting Colorado State University Pueblo.

The game is of heightened importance for the Mountaineers, who are pushing for their first postseason berth since the 1997 campaign. If Western earns a win Saturday, it would be guaranteed of at least a share of the RMAC title.

MOUNTAINEERS HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2021 STATS

• Western dominated Lincoln (Calif.) University, 72-6, in its last outing (Nov. 6), however the big story of the game was a Mountaineer defense that generated 28 points in the rout.
• A Jeremiah Nunnery blocked punt turned into a one-play touchdown drive for Western's second TD of the game. Then midway through the second quarter, Jaden Armbrust pounced on a fumble in the end zone—following an Anthony Johnston strip-sack of Lincoln quarterback Lamar Housely—to increase Western's lead to 27-6.
• Nearing the final minute of play in the second quarter, Joey Dill scooped up a fumble by the Oaklanders' punter and rumbled 17 yards for a TD that allowed the Mountaineers to head into the half leading 41-6.
• In the third quarter Ethan Sanchez-Maxwell made Lincoln's Housely pay for an errant throw while scrambling, picking off the pass along the right sideline and returning it 13 yards for a pick six.
• Though Lincoln registered a 40:08 to 19:52 advantage in time of possession, Western still dominated in nearly all other statistical categories, including:
  • Rushing yards: Western 115, Lincoln 6
  • Passing yards (net): Western 167, Lincoln 28
  • Total offense: Western 282 yards, Lincoln 34
  • Red-zone scores-chances: Western 7-7 (6 TD, 1 FG), Lincoln 1-1 (TD)
  • Turnovers: Lincoln 5, Western 1

THUNDERWOLVES HEADING INTO THE WEEK | 2021 STATS

• CSU Pueblo enters the contest with a 6-2 record within the RMAC, and a 6-4 mark overall.
• The Pack had won two in a row before a Nov. 6 loss to visiting Colorado Mines (28-12).
• Pueblo has won the last 12 meetings against Western, embarking on that streak following a 46-10 loss to Western in 1984 (the teams did not play each other between 1985 and 2007).
• Scoring 30.1 PPG, the Thunderwolves are fourth in scoring, yet second to last in the league in total offense (360.6 YPG).
• Defense has kept the Pack in games, as they are fourth in yards allowed (304.9), using a workmanlike stinginess to limit offenses while coming away with 12 interceptions but just 25 sacks.
• Running back Michael Roots is the workhorse for the offense averaging  90.4 on the gournd, standing at second most in the conference, while his 101.9 all-purpose yards per game are fifth most.
• Quarterback Devin Williams is averaging 103.4 yards passing per game, has tossed six TDs, and posts an efficiency rating of 113.6.

2021 WESTERN COLORADO NOTES
PLAYOFF PUSH

• Western, ranked No. 5 in NCAA D-II Super Region IV rankings, is chasing a berth in the D-II football championship bracket.
• The top seven teams in each of four regions will qualify for the national bracket, with the top team in each region earning a first-round bye.
• The region teams ranked Nos. 2-4 could potentially host opening-round games, but the NCAA can alter host sites due to considerations such as travel distance, travel cost, or even available local accommodations.
• Should Western defeat CSU Pueblo, they will be assured of at least playing in a first-round game on Saturday, November 20. To gain the possibility of hosting that contest, the Mountaineers would have to first step ahead of region No. 3 Augustana (S.D.) University, No. 2 Angelo State (Texas) University or region leader Colorado School of Mines.
• Even with a loss, a fall from No. 5 in the region to a spot lower than No. 7 would be unexpected. The way to ensure joining the conversation to host a game, though, is by defeating the visiting Pack.

MOUNTAINEER'S WITHIN THE RMAC

• At 35.7 points per game, Western's offense leads the conference in scoring, despite ranking eighth in total offense at 361.1 yards per game.
• The Mountaineer defense has been a perfect complement, ranking second overall in scoring defense (13.8 PPG) and first in yards allowed (269.6 yards per game). It's 41 sacks ties Western's D for most in the league.
• Lane Farris is first in the RMAC in solo tackles for loss (15), a figure which includes 7 solo sacks.
• The offense is spurred by running back Josh Cummings' 88.4 yard per game, third best in the league, and his 13 rushing TDs (second most).
• Quarterback Connor Desch posts an efficiency rating of 137.8, third in the conference, and he has tossed 20 TDs, fourth most.
• Kicker Alex Fonseca has converted nine field goal attempts during the season, including a league-long of 49 yards.
• Another special-teams player, Elijah Garcia Gillespie, is averaging 14.7 yards per punt return, second best in the RMAC.