ALAMOSA – Adams State University's football team will travel to Pueblo to take on No. 14-ranked CSU-Pueblo, the top-ranked team in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. For the third time this season, the Grizzlies will take on the top-ranked defense in the conference, coming out of such occasions with an even 1-1 record. The last Adams victory in Pueblo came in 2008, the first year of reinstatement for CSU-Pueblo's football program.
 
The Grizzlies come into this matchup with a 3-2 record this season. The top-ranked offense in the conference will go up against the top-ranked defense. More importantly, the second-best air attack and 13^th best scoring offense will face off with a defense that is ranked top-25 in the nation in scoring defense, turnover margin and red zone defense. Additionally, the Thunderwolves are top-25 in rushing, fourth-down conversions and red zone offense.
 
The Grizzlies are coming off of a high-scoring affair with S.D. Mines that came down to a single yard and a goal line stand. Time of possession and keeping the score in striking distance is the key to victory for Adams State.
 
Quarterback Nick Rooney and his trio of top-ranked receivers will look to continue the magic that has led to Rooney leading the conference in touchdowns with 16, while his trio of receivers in Jimmy Holtrop, Chad Hovasse and Marquese Surrell all lead the conference with six touchdown receptions each.
 
On the defensive side of the ball, the Grizzlies welcome back Garrett Jackson, who was unavailable for the last game on a reviewed targeting call. Jackson ranks third in the nation in solo tackles per game, and is joined by RMAC Defensive Player of the Week Nick Bundy in the category. Bundy is 11^th in the nation in solo tackles with more than six per game. The final part to the defensive trio is Brandon Baker, who is tied for first in the nation in passed defended with 2.2 breakups per game.
 
The Thunderwolves are vulnerable to the air attack, letting up 210 yards per game passing. When it comes to the ground game, Pueblo allows 120 yards rushing per game. The Thunderwolves have turned to senior quarterback Rex Dausin, who threw for more than 300 yards last week against Mesa. The true attack to watch comes at running back, as Marche Dennard and Austin Micci split carries and have combined for more than 700 yards this season. Dennard has three straight games of 100 yards rushing and two touchdowns, while Micci was held to only nine yards last game, but has six rushing touchdowns this season.
 
Linebacker Brandon Payer is the defensive leader for the team, with 52 total tackles, nearly double the next individual. Payer also has eight tackles for loss, three and a half sacks and a pair of forced fumbles. Darius Williams and crew in the defensive backfield will be a part to watch, as the secondary has eight interceptions this season with Williams taking three of those.
 
CSU-Pueblo comes into this game with a perfect conference record, and a lone loss coming on the road to West Texas A&M where the team let up a 21-point lead. In conference play, Pueblo has beat both Colorado Mines and Colorado Mesa when both teams were ranked nationally. The most recent toppling came against then-ranked eighth Colorado Mesa, with the team escaping with a 30-24 victory.