Dixie State dropped a 24-13 decision to Colorado State-Pueblo in the Trailblazers 2016 road finale at The ThunderBowl in Pueblo, Colo.

The Trailblazers (5-5, 5-4 RMAC) outgained the ThunderWolves, amassing 313 yards of total offense while holding CSU-Pueblo to 268 yards, nearly 150 yards below its season average. However, DSU could not overcome two turnovers, including a fumble returned for a touchdown just before halftime.

Dixie State opening the scoring early in the first quarter after freshman defensive back Mike Jones (San Diego, Calif./Mount Miguel HS) intercepted CSUP quarterback Rex Dausin on the game's opening drive. DSU marched to the CSU-Pueblo 28-yard line, but the drive stalled. Sophomore kicker Anthony Reyes (Queen Creek, Ariz./Dobson HS) nailed a 38-yard field goal to give the Trailblazers an early 3-0.

CSU-Pueblo returned the ensuing kickoff 62 yards to the DSU 39-yard line and scored six plays later on a 15-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-3 lead with 5:50 remaining in the first quarter.

The Trailblazers saw another promising drive stall early in the second quarter. After marching to the CSU-Pueblo 18-yard line, DSU lost yardage on two of its next three plays and settled for another field goal. This time, Reyes split the uprights from 40 yards out to cut the lead to 7-6 with 7:07 remaining in the second quarter.

The ThunderWolves responded with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, taking 5:44 off the clock, and pushed the lead back to 14-6 on a 28-yard touchdown run with 1:27 remaining until halftime.

With two timeouts and plenty of time to work with, Dixie State looked to add points before the halftime break. The Trailblazers quickly picked up 17 yards in three plays and moved to their own 35-yard line.

DSU appeared to pick up its second first down of the drive on the next play as freshman quarterback Josh Thompson (Ontario, Calif./Colony HS) found redshirt freshman running back Clifford Simms (Compton, Calif./St. John Bosco HS) on a 6-yard screen pass. Simms was upended into a flip at the end of play, and the ball squirted out after Simms crashed to the ground. CSU-Pueblo defensive back Emery Taylor picked up the ball and ran 39 yards to end zone, and after a discussion by the officials, the touchdown call was upheld to give the ThunderWolves a 21-6 lead at halftime.

Dixie State put together its best drive of the game midway through the third quarter and marched 68 yards in 10 plays to set up a scoring play on 3rd-and-11 from the CSUP 12-yard line. After being forced out of the pocket, Thompson scrambled to the right sideline and fired a 12-yard strike to freshman receiver Taj Broomfield (El Cajon, Calif./West Hills HS) in the back right corner of the end zone to cut the lead to 21-13 with 4:20 remaining in the third quarter.

CSU-Pueblo tacked on a 22-yard field goal late in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 24-13 with three minutes remaining in the game.

Trailing by two scores, Dixie State drove to the CSUP 17-yard line with less than a minute to play, but the drive stalled and a 40-yard field attempt was blocked with 15 seconds remaining in the game.

Dixie State finished the game with 186 yards passing as Thompson completed 17-of-23 passes for one touchdown and an interception. DSU finished with 127 yards rushing as senior running back DeJon Coleman (Los Angeles, Calif./Arleta HS) rushed for 71 yards on 19 carries.

Defensively, the Trailblazers held the ThunderWolves to just two offensive touchdowns. Redshirt junior linebacker Noe Perez (Santa Ana, Calif./Los Amigo HS) led the attack with a team and career-high 12 tackles, while Jones finished with nine tackles and an interception, and junior linebacker Shiloh Pritchard (American Samoa/Leone HS) recorded eight tackles.

Dixie State returns to Legend Solar Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 12, to host Fort Lewis in the 2016 season finale at 1 p.m. The game will serve as Senior Day, and each of the departing seniors will be honored prior to the game.