Colorado State University Athletics
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TCU spoils CSU's Homecoming, 13-7
10/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 11, 2008
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By Paul Baker
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State drove 78 yards on its opening drive to take a 7-0 lead against the nation's No. 1 defense, but that TCU defense clamped down to help the Horned Frogs spoil the Rams' Homecoming Saturday at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium, 13-7.
The Rams' defense turned in a strong effort, holding TCU quarterback Marcus Jackson to only 54 yards rushing and 166 yards passing, forcing two turnovers and even blocking an extra point on the day. The Rams were never more than one touchdown away from retaking the lead.
But after that first drive, the CSU offense couldn't find the same consistency.
"I knew we weren't going to do that much on that type of defense," Head Coach Steve Fairchild said. "They're going to make you throw it. I think we're very capable of doing it, we just didn't rise to the occasion this game."
Two of those occasions came late in the first half, when the Rams dropped two sure touchdowns on long Billy Farris passes.
After the Rams couldn't regain the level of rushing success they enjoyed on the opening drive, Fairchild opted to change quarterbacks in hopes of creating a spark on offense.
Freshman Klay Kubiak made his second appearance of the year as he came into replace Farris at the 6-minute mark of the third quarter.
"You have to make plays in the passing game and we just weren't executing well enough to win," Fairchild said of his decision. "I thought the change would help us. It's certainly not Billy's fault."
During Kubiak's first drive, he completed his first two passes to freshman wide receiver T.J. Borcky before being sacked from behind on third and long and fumbling the football. The two catches were Borcky's first career receptions. Kubiak finished the game12-of-24 for 121 yards and one interception.
The Rams were never out of the game, thanks to their defense. After each CSU turnover, the Rams took the ball right back, on a Mike Pagnotta interception and Tommie Hill fumble recovery.
"I thought that they hung in there pretty good today," Fairchild said of his defense. "We have a ton of steps to take in every area, but defensively we've got to continue to get the pressure and we've got to continue to improve on third down if we want to get where we want to get to."
The Horned Frogs' defense sacked both CSU quarterbacks a combined six times. TCU head coach Gary Patterson used a variety of packages to keep the Rams off balance, especially Kubiak late in the game.
"We were mixing up the zone blitz with the man blitz and he was having trouble finding the guy that he wanted," Patterson said. "I mean, this is the group of guys that made Oklahoma punt nine times."
TCU also scored on its first drive, and added another touchdown midway through the second-quarter, but neither team scored another point.
CSU's Gartrell Johnson, who finished the day with just 30 yards on the ground, ran untouched into the end zone from 4 yards out to put the Rams up, 7-0, capping a nine-play, 78-yard drive.
TCU followed suit with Aaron Brown's 6-yard run through the middle of the Rams defense. But Hill got a hand on the extra-point attempt, keeping the Rams ahead, 7-6.
The Horned Frogs made the score 13-7 early in the second quarter as Joseph Turner punched it in from 3 yards out.
The Rams (3-3, 1-1 MWC) now must look at a tough road trip, as they travel next week to take on the 14th-ranked Utah Utes in Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes are 7-0, 3-0 in conference, and they're coming off a 40-7 win over Wyoming. Game time is set for noon MT Saturday.
