The CSU-Pueblo football team had a playoff victory within reach Saturday afternoon, but watched it slip away in a heartbreaking final minute in the ThunderBowl in Pueblo.

Minnesota State’s Matthew Jaeger made two field goals in the final 60 seconds, the second after a costly CSU Pueblo interception on his side of the field, to give the Mavericks a 26-23 victory in the second round of the NCAA Division II football playoffs.

The RMAC champion ThunderWolves (11-2) had a big day with junior quarterback Roman Fuller, who completed 24 of 33 passes for 273 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Howard Russell V added 158 total yards, while receiver Zack Rakowsky had nine catches for 82 yards.

Fuller’s 16-yard scoring pass to Russell gave CSU Pueblo a 23-20 lead with 4:02 left – the second lead change in a closely contested affair. But the Mavericks marched right back down the field to set up Jaeger’s game-winning field goal from 40 yards out, then Fuller was picked off on the second play of the ThunderWolves’ next possession, setting up the game-winning score.

The kick was Jaeger’s fourth field goal of the day and the Mavs’ fourth straight game-ending score.

Junior Jacob Willig’s third field goal gave CSU Pueblo a 16-6 lead with 5:22 left in the third quarter, but the Mavericks scored touchdowns on their first two drives to take a 20-16 lead and set up the dramatic final period .

Bemidji State 20, Western Colorado 19: As the Mountaineers were coming off their second playoff win in as many weeks, fate took a cruel turn.

Sophomore running back Josiah Roy fumbled at the Bemidji State 25-yard line and Gabe Ward gained 75 yards and the go-ahead score with 4:30 left to eliminate Western Colorado (11-2) for good.

Junior quarterback Drew Nash ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns, the last of which was a 52-yard dash that gave the Mountaineers a 19-7 lead with 4:36 left in the third quarter. But Bemidji State quarterback Jayden Washington found Sam McGath for a 3-yard scoring pass on the Beavers’ next possession to get within five, and Western Colorado did not score again.

Originally published: November 30, 2024 at 8:13 pm MST