Rashaun Greer (84) tips the second ball to a BYU defender, then gets pulled.
The CSU Rams came into their first MWC game undefeated at 3-0. Only TCU was also undefeated in the MWC before the game, and likely the best team in the Mountain West in BYU (No.19) was 2-1 coming off a tough home loss to Florida State University. Almost everyone believed the Cougars would come out hungry and would win the game, and even the most loyal Rams fan knew the team needed to play excellently and some luck to take home this huge upset.
CSU started the game with the ball, and on what seemed to be a first down pass from Grant Stucker to Rashaun Greer, the ball was tipped off of Greer’s hands and into the mits of a running BYU defender for an interception. The Cougars punched in the ball for a touchdown two plays later and took the 7-0 lead. Colorado State and Stucker then produced a very methodical drive, marching down the field only to be stopped on Brigham Young’s 14 yard line. The 11-play 66 yard drive which mixed runs and passes well, brought the Rams no points as kicker Ben DeLine missed the 32-yard field goal wide left.
The Cougars got the ball back but were held and forced to punt by CSU. On the very next play though, Stucker threw a 20-yard dart to Greer, which went through the receiver’s usually sure hands and to yet another defender for Stucker’s second pick of the day. After the second tip-interception off the hands of Greer, head coach Steve Fairchild sat the team’s leading receiver for the rest of the game. The Cougars made sure to capitalize on the Rams turnover once again as QB Max Hall tossed a sweet pass to O’Nei Chambers for 37 yards and down to the CSU two-yard line. Hall punched the ball in to give his team the 14-0 lead.
Then came what seemed like a game-deciding play. The Rams went three-and-out and after being forced to punt from their own 40 yard line, the kick was blocked and BYU recovered on CSU’s 18 yard line. Running back Harvey Unga capped the short two-play drive off with yet another touchdown and the 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. Some Rams fans were ready to call the game over, but the team showed they will not quit, even when the game seems out of reach.
As the second quarter began, CSU went into an almost pass-only offense, as Stucker completed 6-7 passes for 62 yards on the drive, including the three yard touchdown pass to Dion Morton to give the Rams their first points of the day 21-7. The rest of the second quarter was filled with six straight defensive stops and CSU remained down by 14 at half time.
In the third quarter, BYU passed repeatedly, for 75 yards on one drive alone and a touchdown to again stretch the Cougars lead to 21 points over the Rams 28-7. CSU struck back, and kept with their balanced game plan to score a touchdown in eight plays over 64 yards an in just under four minutes. Leonard Mason finished the drive with a five yard touchdown to bring the Rams back to 28-14.
Then it seemed Colorado State might really have a chance to pull of the upset, as linebacker Michael Kawulok intercepted a pass from Hall and the Rams had the momentum in the game. CSU then drove 40 yards in two minutes but were stopped on the BYU 21 yard line and this time DeLine made the field goal kick. The Rams were then down only 11, 28-17, but they really needed to put the ball into the end zone so they could have been down only one score.
The Cougars seemed to sense that they needed a huge drive to start the fourth quarter and they produced just that. In this drive, BYU knew also to run the clock by running the ball more than they had all game. Harvey Unga ran eight times for a total of 34 yards and the drive-ending score to put the Cougars up 35-17.
CSU again answered on the shoulders of their quarterback Stucker, and he hooked up with Tyson Liggett constantly, a sophomore that got his chance to shine due to Greer’s benching. The Rams got their final score of the day on a Stucker to Liggett pass, but missed on the two-point conversion and were down 35-23. BYU added another score quickly on a Hall pass to Spencer Hafoka to increase their lead to the final 42-23. CSU didn’t give up when they were down as they drove all they way down to the Cougars eight yard line only to be stopped once again.
In all, the Rams played up to their competition and fought long and hard only to lose in the end. Grant Stucker went 30-50 passing with 372 yards, and two touchdowns to go with his two interceptions. He easily out-passed his much more known and hyped Maz Hall who passed for a decent but not outstanding 241 yards, two touchdowns, and two picks as well. The Rams leading rusher was Leonard Mason with 51 net yards and a touchdown. John Mosure was close behind with 41 yards on the day. For the Cougars, Pitta ran for 59 yards and a score, and Chambers added 70 yards as well. Liggett led CSU with 11 receptions and 156 yards and the final score of the game.
Steve Fairchild called a great game and had his team up to play against better opponent in the Cougars. The Rams never gave up even when they were buried 21-0 after silly costly mistakes, and this game should act as a confidence builder for CSU overall. Now CSU sits behind No. 14 TCU(3-0), and are tied for second in the Mountain West at 3-1with Air Force, BYU, and Utah. The 3-1 mark is the first time the Rams have started that well since 2006, and they hope to continue the same winning ways as that '06 year and win their fifth game as well to go 4-1.
Next up for CSU is the Idaho Vandals on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. on ESPNU in Moscow, Idaho. Idaho is coming off of two straight wins against San Diego State University (34-20) and Northern Illinois (34-31). The Vandals’ only loss of the season came in week two against the University of Washington 42-23. Idaho has a strong defense at No. 44 in the nation, and their offense is ranked a solid No. 42 as well. This should be a more even match up than it would first seem when seeing that Idaho comes from the WAC and Colorado State the MWC.
For a preview of the upcoming game and more Rams new including volleyball wins, check the CSU Examiner page here.
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