Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Utah
CSU Defensive Stand Gives Rams 21-17 Win
10/8/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 8, 2005
Fort Collins, Colo. - The Colorado State defense stopped Utah four consecutive times inside the Ram four-yard line as time ran down in the fourth quarter to hold onto a 21-17 victory in front of a capacity crowd in Fort Collins Saturday evening.
The Utes took possession with 5:05 remaining in the final frame and drove 76 yards when they had the ball first and goal from the CSU four. Ute runningback Quinton Ganther ran three yards on first down to get the ball to the one-yard line before CSU's defense stiffened stuffing Utah quarterback Brian Johnson on second and third down and Ganther on fourth to seal the four-point win.
The game's scoring began midway through the first when Utah took a 7-0 lead on an Eric Weddle two-yard run capping a 14-play 60-yard drive. CSU got themselves on the board early in the second with a 24-yard field goal from senior placekicker Kevin Mark making the count 7-3 at the halftime break.
The Utes opened the third quarter with an 80-yard drive as Derrek Richards ran the ball in from 13 yards out giving the visitors a 14-3 lead through three periods.
CSU would not go away as quarterback Justin Holland would connect with tight end Matt Bartz and wide receiver David Anderson for touchdown scores. With CSU missing two-point conversions on each score, the Rams took the lead 15-14 with 11:16 to play in the game.
Utah responded on its ensuing drive with a 24-yard field goal putting the Utes up 17-15 at the 7:54 mark.
CSU's Kyle Bell then electrified the crowd of 32,713 with a 49-yard run into paydirt with just over five minutes left giving CSU a 21-17 lead. The CSU two-point conversion would fail for the third time of the night giving Utah a four-point deficit to come back from.
The Utes failed to score thanks to CSU's defensive line and the Rams would run out the clock to go 3-2 on the season.
"Obviously, that was a great goal line stand," commented CSU head coach Sonny Lubick following the win. "They had four downs to get the ball in the endzone. It was a thing of beauty."
CSU runningback Kyle Bell ran 25 times for 140 yards including a 49-yard touchdown that proved to be the game winner. It was Bell's third-consecutive 100-yard game marking the first time that a CSU back has hit the century mark three times in a row since Cecil Sapp pulled the hat trick in 2002.
Holland continued to be solid throwing the ball for the Rams going 18-of-25 for 226 yards and two scores while David Anderson hauled in eight receptions for 120 yards and a touchdown marking his 13th career 100-yard game and tying a CSU school record in the category.
H-back Kory Sperry had four grabs for 63 yards ranking second among CSU receivers.
Utah was led by 112 rushing yards from Quinton Ganther while quarterback Brian Johnson had 255 passing yards and one touchdown.
Utah outgained the Rams on the night 425-377 including a 170 to 151 advantage on the ground and a 255 to 226 lead through the air.
The Rams, who improved to 3-2 overall and 2-0 in the Mountain West, will take on BYU next Saturday night in Provo, Utah. Utah drops to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in the league.
