ST. GEORGE, Utah-Saturday, Dixie State football commences its last season as an NCAA Division II member by hosting fellow Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference foe Colorado State-Pueblo at Trailblazer Stadium.
The Trailblazers are 2-11 all-time in season openers. This weekend commemorates the fifth time in their Division II history that Dixie State has started the season at home. The Trailblazers are 2-3 all-time in such games.
The Trailblazers also welcome new head coach Paul Peterson, who went 18-4 at Snow College in three seasons at Ephraim.
The Thunderwolves come into this season following an 11-2 campaign, which saw them go 9-1 in RMAC play en route to a conference title.
They come into Saturday’s game at St. George as the No. 9 team in the nation in the Division II AFCA coaches poll.
In July, at RMAC media day, the Thunderwolves were the media’s choice to repeat as conference champions.
Symmetrically, Colorado State-Pueblo welcomes back 12 starters, six apiece on both offense and defense, from last season.
Among the Thunderwolves’ returning statistical leaders from last season are senior tailback Austin Micci (873 rushing yards, 8 TD’s in 2018), senior linebacker Kyle Rosenbrock (17.5 tackles for a loss, 6 sacks, 2 interceptions in 2018) and senior defensive lineman Jackson Wibbels (11.5 sacks in 2018).
The Trailblazers finished 2018 with a 7-4 record, including a 7-3 mark in RMAC play and return nine starters on offense, seven on offense and two on defense.
Among Dixie State’s returning stars are senior tailback Sei-J Lauago (a team-best 1,132 all-purpose yards along with eight touchdown runs) and redshirt senior Dejuan Dantzler (46 rec, 932 yards, 7 TD’s in 2018).
