Colorado State University Athletics
Rams Grab Victory in San Diego
10/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
CSU defensive end Terrance Carter recovered a San Diego State fumble deep in Aztec territory with just under two minutes to go in the game setting up a game-winning touchdown by San Diego native Jimmy Green two plays later to give CSU a 21-17 victory and its first Mountain West win of the season on Saturday night in San Diego.
SDSU earned the first points of the contest on a 48-yard field goal by Garrett Palmer in the first quarter but the Rams? defense would respond when CSU linebacker Luke Adkins intercepted a pass and took it back 71 yards to put Colorado State on top 7-3 late in the period.
The CSU defense would continue to be tough for the remainder of the second half, holding the Aztecs to just a field goal in the second quarter while the offense padded its lead when true freshman Caleb Hanie, filling in for injured starter Justin Holland, led the Rams on a 12-play, 80 yard drive capped by a four-yard pass to H-back Joel Dreessen putting CSU on top 14-6 heading into the halftime break.
SDSU would get back in the game when, on the first play of the fourth quarter, quarterback Kevin O?Connell found Jeff Webb on a 58-yard touchdown strike and, with the addition of a successful two-point conversion, tied the game at 14-14.
The Aztecs tacked on a field goal with 5:36 to go in the game and forced the Rams to punt on the next drive when SDSU gave the ball back to CSU on a fumble with 1:51 to play in the game. The Rams would capitalize when runningback Jimmy Green found paydirt with 1:10 to play.
The Aztecs were unable to get in the endzone in the final minute as the Rams preserved their first Mountain West victory of the season, 21-17.
Hanie led the Rams? offense with 115 yards through the air on 12-of-19 passing. The freshman also ran the ball 10 times for a total of seven yards.
Green paced the CSU rushing attack with 51 yards on 21 carries including the game-winning score while Dreessen hauled in five receptions for 44 yards and a score to lead the Ram receiving corps.
Safety Adam Lancisero headed up a rejuvenated Colorado State defense with 11 stops (nine solo) and an interception while cornerback Robert Herbert collected six tackles, including one for a loss.
The CSU win was a bittersweet affair, as starting quarterback Justin Holland suffered a season-ending injury putting the ball in Hanie?s hands for the rest of the year.
The Rams return home to take on the University of Wyoming in the Border Battle on Friday, Oct. 22 at 7:30 p.m.
