PUEBLO, Colo.— Despite playing the best defensive game of the season and forcing the ThunderWolves to miss three field goals, the CSU Pueblo ThunderWolves were able to escape a game with the Adams State University Grizzlies on Saturday afternoon inside the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl. The home team escaped with a 35-28 win.

Adams State was able to amass 397 yards of offense while the ThunderWolves had 523.

The Thunderwolves scored the game's opening touchdown on their second drive as they connected on a catch-and-run play to open the drive that went 60 yards to the promised land for a 7-0 lead with 8:18 showing on the clock.

Bradley Smith quickly rallied the Grizzlies back, and with the use of his feet, he rushed up the middle and broke one tackle on his way to the endzone to tie the game up with 4:01 left to go. The play capped off a 9-play, 66-yard drive that ate up 4:08 of the clock.

Hampton continued his defensive no-fly zone tactics as he ended a drive by the ThunderWolves with his sixth interception of the season on the two-yard line.

Adams State then capitalized on an unsportsmanlike penalty on CSU Pueblo and drove down the field. They closed out the drive with Hampton on the receiving end of a 20-yard strike to the back of the endzone with 11:03 left in the second to give the Grizzlies their first lead since their Week 4 game at Black Hills State.

The ThunderWolves tied the game with 7:28 remaining in the first half on a five-yard tun before they retook the lead with 4:08 on a 49-yard rush up the middle.

Elijah Harper stunned the ThunderWolves with the third play in the third quarter as he was on the receiving end of a 70-yard catch-and-run play that tied the game at 21 with 13:43.

Just three plays later, however, the ThunderWolves struck back as they scored 41-yards out to make the score 28-21. They then scored a one-yard touchdown run to lead by two possessions 35-21 with 8:08 left in the third.
Harper cut the lead back down to one touchdown after he reached paydirt with a four-yard touchdown early in the fourth. Adams State was able to stop on the ThunderWolves' next drive, but a turnover doomed the Grizzly attempt to tie the game.

The Grizzlies then stood tall in the special teams play as the Grizzlies blocked a 29-yard field goal attempt. The Grizzlies could capitalize, however, as they turned the ball over on downs.

CSU-Pueblo went backwards due to a tackle for loss and a personal foul forcing the ThunderWolves to punt the ball with 2:47 left in the game.

With 2:35 left to go in the game the Grizzlies had to go 96 yards.

Bryce Hampton was the man of the game for the Grizzlies as he played both sides of the field. He had one interception, his sixth of the season, on defense. He had 53 all-purpose yards, 48 receiving yards, and five rushing yards, including a 20-yard touchdown.

Elijah Harper had five catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns including a 70-yard strike while quarterback Brad Smith was 27-of-41 on pass attempts for 311 yards. He also carried the ball 11 times for 40 yards and one touchdown.

The Grizzlies will stay on the road next week as they travel to Las Vegas, N.M. to take on the Cowboys on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.