CSU-Utah: Rams lose a heartbreaker on homecoming weekend 24-17 due to turnovers

The Rams (3-3, 0-2 MWC) came into their homecoming game against the Utah Utes (4-1, 1-0 MWC) as a huge underdog, as many believed they would be beaten handily by the Utes. CSU lost 24-17 to Utah in a bitter cold day in Fort Collins, but they hung in until the end against a better opponent. Contrary to what many thought, CSU came out ready to play, on the defensive end that is.

Utah is usually an explosive offensive team, scoring more than 28 points per game on average, but the Utes were only able to manage three points in the first half, which came on their second drive of the game.

CSU’s only points of the first half came on their first drive of the second quarter. The drive was run heavy as Leonard Mason rushed four times for 18 yards. The big play of the drive was a 30-yard pass from Grant Stucker to Dion Morton who ran deep and across the field and found himself wide open. But the Rams got bogged down after four first downs in the drive, and couldn’t move deeper than the Utah 26. Ben DeLine converted on the 43-yard field goal and CSU found themselves tied with the Utes 3-3 at halftime.

Things were seemingly going the Rams way, as even though their offense was struggling to put together first downs, the defense helped them hang tough. Coach Steve Fairchild

tweeted at halftime, “Our defense is keeping us in this game. We’re making too many mistakes on offense.” The second half has been CSU’s bugaboo all season though, as the team seems to get tired.

But this week, the Rams started with the ball and Fairchild dialed up an amazing play from deep within his playbook. After running conventionally on five of six plays in the drive, CSU found themselves with a first down on the Utah 46.

Fairchild came out with a formation that had yet to be seen all year, with two receivers to the right, one to the left, and two running backs, one on either side of Stucker who was around three yards behind the center. Stucker handed the ball to Leonard Mason, the running back, who pitched the ball to receiver Dion Morton, who quickly pitched it to his receiving buddy Rashaun Greer—it was a quick and explosive double reverse. Greer was sprung by the misdirection and a huge two-player block by Mason, and took the ball all the way to the Utes’ one-yard line before being pushed out of bounds. Mason punched the ball in a play later and CSU led 10-3 just after half.

On Utah’s subsequent drive, quarterback Terrance Cain attempted a pitch to running back Eddie Wide which was fumbled and picked up by linebacker Mychal Sisson. The Rams started with the ball on their 39 and made sure to capitalize on Utah’s mistake. Fairchild again used the run to set up the big play on this drive, as Mason ran four times for 25 yards that set up a huge play by Stucker and Morton. CSU went for a fourth-and-one and got the first down, and immediately after Fairchild called a timeout to get exactly the right play in to the offense. Stucker faked a handoff to Mason, dropped back, and for the first time all day didn’t under throw his receiver, Dion Morton. Morton made a great play on the ball, jumping on the inside of the defensive back, then turned towards the goal and shook two more defenders and got into the end zone. So, with less than five minutes to go in the third quarter, CSU found themselves up 17-3 against Utah, and it was the first lead the Rams had over the Utes since October 8, 2005.

But apparently CSU’s second touchdown was the one that woke the Utes up and they scored in only 29 seconds to pull back within seven points of the Rams. After a 10-yard run by Cain, he dropped back, avoided a sack, and unleashed a beautiful 47-yard pass to David Reed. Still though, CSU led 17-10 with 4:17 left in the game.

Then things started to get ugly for the Rams, and in particular Stucker. He over threw Morton and the ball was intercepted on the Utah 27. The Utes were the ones that made sure to capitalize on a mistake this time, as they took the ball 73 yards on 17 plays and milked 8:45 off of the game clock before scoring a touchdown and tying the game up at 17.

On CSU’s next drive, instead of keeping the ball on the ground, Stucker dropped back on a third-and-three and uncorked a deep ball again to Moron who was slightly over thrown and one of the two Utah defenders picked the ball off again. The Utes mixed their play-calling well on their next drive, and again marched 73 yards for a touchdown and took the lead 24-17 with 3:40 left in the game.

The Rams were set up with a chance to win the game, and enough time to make it down the field, but again Stucker faltered. After two big passes that picked up 35 yards, it seemed as if CSU’s QB was capable of making the comeback, but on his third pass in a row, Stucker was intercepted for the third time on the day. Freshman running back Lou Greenwood ran wide open down the sideline but Stucker aired the ball out too much which was grabbed by Robert Johnson, as he had all three interceptions for Utah in the contest. The game was over after that, as the Utes ran the clock out on a victory that was likely much more close than they expected.

The downfall of the Rams was on the offensive side of the ball today, as they started ineffective, dazzled for a few plays but then gave the game away in the end. In all, Stucker’s 184 yards were decent, but his numerous mental mistakes in the fourth quarter took away CSU’s chance of winning. The player of the game for the Rams was Leonard Mason, as he gained 130 yards on 24 carries including one touchdown. The overall player of the game though was no doubt Utah’s Terrance Cain, as he passed for 248 yards and two scores, while running for 70 yards on the day as well.

Overall, the improvement of the CSU football team could be seen today, even though the team didn’t win as Fairchild wished at halftime. The Rams talent is better on both sides of the ball, the play-calling was well designed on offense, and the defense is playing physically while flying all over the field. Sure, CSU didn’t win today, nor did they against other conference contender BYU, but they are showing they can actually hang in games with those bigger programs, a good sign of things to come. As Fairchild recruits his own players and builds off of his own winning tradition, the Rams could one day be an elite Mountain West team.

Next up for the Rams is an away game against the class of the MWC, No. 9 TCU. The Horned Frogs are fresh off a 17-10 win against Air Force today, and are the final MWC team to remain undefeated. It will be an almost impossible task for CSU to beat TCU in Fort Worth, Texas, and they may end up 3-4 overall after beginning 3-0.

 

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