The Colorado State Rams (3-5, 0-4 MWC) came ready to play Saturday against the San Diego State Aztecs (3-4, 1-2 MWC) on a sunny but windy day in Fort Collins. And CSU started strong, jumping out to a 21-7 lead at half, but were outscored 21-7 in the second half and ultimately lost their fifth straight game 42-28.
The Rams first score was put in by running back John Mosure, as he capped off a short drive with an electrifying run to the left, and the exclamation was a leap into three Aztecs as he reached the ball over the plane of the goal line. CSU was up 7-0 with 6:34 left in the first quarter.
The next drive, after CSU forced a three and out, Michael Kawulok was injured on a hard block to his leg. He couldn’t put any weight on the leg and it was a big blow since the linebacking corps for the Rams is hurt by injuries and missing Ricky Brewer who was suspended by the team.
The next CSU drive showcased Grant Stucker’s arm. On one play, Stucker forced a ball into Rashaun Greer, who was surrounded by three SDSU defensive backs. A few plays later, on a third and seven, Stucker tossed a beautiful ball to Tyson Liggett, who had to make a one-handed reception. After making the catch, Liggett quickly turned up the field and streaked to the end zone. CSU led 14-0 with 3:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Mychal Sisson made his presence felt on the defensive end, as he had three straight tackles, one for a loss, on one drive. But, even with Sisson’s great play, the defense started looking soft, were getting run all over, and allowed the 20-yard pass touchdown from a backing up Ryan Lindley. CSU’s lead was cut to 14-7 with most of the second quarter remaining.
The Rams started their next drive by controlling the clock and the ball. Mosure took two runs for a total of 15 yards to start the drive. But, Greer couldn’t stretch the ball quite far enough on 3rd-and-10 so CSU had to punt. On SDSU’s subsequent drive, Lindley hit Demarco Sampson for a 25-yard pass down the left sideline as the Aztecs marched down the field. But, as SDSU was stopped by the Rams defense, they attempted a field goal and missed it horribly to the left.
CSU then got somewhat creative in play-calling; as the Rams ran on a wildcat play, Mosure gained 25 yards on a big time run, and Stucker kept the ball on consecutive plays. But the most creative play was a reverse that started the ball with Mosure and it ended up in Dion Morton’s hands, who could basically walk into the end zone as SDSU’s defense completely overcommitted to the run. The Rams led 21-7 after the score, and went into the half up 14 points.
But, like almost every other week so far this season, the Rams gave up a huge drive to their opponents to start the half. Dominique Sandifer, a freshman receiver for the Aztecs, was wide open running down the field for SDSU and scored a touchdown to pull his team back within seven points at 21-14. But the bleeding didn’t stop for CSU, as QB Grant Stucker threw an interception while trying to hit a very covered Greer. The next play, San Diego State threw the ball up deep and Sampson came down with it for another touchdown and the Aztecs were tied with the Rams at 21 with nine minutes left in the third quarter.
Fairchild showed some more great play calling though on CSU’s next drive, as the Rams lined up in the Wildcat formation, and Mosure actually passed the ball to fullback Zac Paunga who was completely uncovered for a touchdown. The score was then 28-21 CSU with half of the third quarter to go, but it would turn out to be the final points the Rams scored on the day.
San Diego State again answered, as they marched down the field with pass after pass until Sampson caught a 35-yarder down to the two yard line. Though, on first down CSU drove the Aztecs back two yards, and on second down Nick Oppenneer had a chance to intercept the ball in the end zone. On third down however, receiver Preston King came wide open in the end zone and scored, but SDSU was unable to tie the game as James Morehead blocked the extra point and CSU led 28-27 at the end of the third period.
To start the fourth quarter, the Rams sputtered and had to punt after only three plays. SDSU followed with a huge drive scoring a touchdown. As the Rams sent a safety blitz, Sampson came open against DeAngelo Wilkenson and he scored his third touchdown of the day. The Aztecs went for two and got it, went up 35-28 with 9:30 left in the game.
After another poorly executed drive by the Rams, the Aztecs attempted to put the game away. SDSU ran the ball to run the clock and set up a huge play by Alston Umuolo, their tight end. On a third-and-10 play, the tight end faked outside and went inside, caught the ball across the middle and took the ball 60 yards to the house for a touchdown and the 42-28 lead with less than three minutes in the game. CSU attempted to strike back, but their offensive day ended fittingly on Stucker’s second interception of the game. The Aztecs beat the Rams 42-28, a big upset for SDSU and a large disappointment for the Rams.
Following the loss, head coach Steve Fairchild showed his disappointment in the Rams and gave the Aztecs their due saying, "For the most part we kept the ball in front of us in the first half but in the second half we just didn't play the ball. That thing's hanging up there. Their guy went and got it and our guy didn't. Offensively our guy couldn't go get it. I mean there was no scheme; their guys just outplayed us."
Aztecs quarterback Ryan Lindley outplayed the Rams by the largest margin as he threw for 459 yards and six touchdowns on the day.
So, after five straight losses, the Rams look forward to their next contest, versus Air Force (4-4, 2-2 MWC) at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. And if CSU can’t find a way to win against the Falcons next week, their bowl game hopes may be all but over in 2009.
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