Colorado State University Athletics
Postgame notes
10/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 30, 2008
Recap |
Final Stats |
Game Action 
Balance: Before Billy Farris took a knee to run out the clock in the fourth quarter, the Rams had run 66 offensive plays, 33 runs and 33 passes.
Trailing at half: The Rams made some important halftime adjustments and struck the Aztecs to quickly erase a 17-10 halftime deficit, scoring 21 points in the third quarter.
- The last time CSU overcame a halftime deficit to win a road game was at Fresno State, Sept. 30, 2006, a 35-23 win after trailing 17-14 at intermission.
- In conference play, the last time CSU overcame a halftime deficit to win a Mountain West road game was at New Mexico, Oct. 28, 2005, a 35-25 triumph after trailing 25-12 at intermission.
Zero sacks allowed: The Rams did not allow a sack for the second time this season (also a 23-20 win vs. Sacramento State, Sept. 7).
- The Rams now are 6-1 in their last seven games when not allowing a sack, with wins vs. Georgia Southern in 2007, and Utah, Air Force and Nevada in 2005. Their only loss in that stretch was to Air Force in 2007. The Rams allowed at least one sack in every 2006 game.
Fortune 500: The Rams for the second time this season topped 500 yards of total offense, gaining 507 against the Aztecs. They had 510 in a win vs. UNLV (Oct. 4).
- Entering this year, CSU had managed only one such contest in its two previous seasons (vs. Georgia Southern in a 2007 win, none in 2006).
- The last time the Rams had as many as two such contests in the same year was their last bowl season, 2005, when they had three (wins vs. Air Force and Wyoming, loss to Navy in Poinsettia Bowl).
200 yards on the ground: Also at San Diego State, the Rams (211) ran for 200-or-more yards for the second time this year (also 216 vs. UNLV).
Career first (and second): WR Dion Morton not only scored his first career rushing touchdown, but also scored his second in the same game.
Nice initial carry: After changing quarterbacks in plain sight twice so far this year, CSU quietly inserted Grant Stucker in the second half. Stucker took a direct snap and ran 15 yards for a first down, his first career carry, keeping alive an eventual touchdown drive.
Halftime adjustments: CSU made noticeable adjustments on both sides of the ball at halftime.
- On defense, the Rams for the fifth consecutive game did not allow points on their opponent's initial second-half possesion.
- On offense, CSU's first play of the third quarter was a 48-yard bomb from Billy Farris to Rashaun Greer, setting up a game-tying TD that quickly erased the Rams' 17-10 halftime deficit.
Conference road wins: CSU picked up only its second conference road win since the end of the 2005 season. CSU was 0-4 in other conference stadiums in 2006, and 1-3 in 2007, with a win at UNLV, Oct. 20, 2007.
Fumble recoveries: After the Rams at Utah (Oct. 18) saw the end of their nation-leading streak of 16 games with a fumble recovery, CSU went a second straight contest without recovering an opponent fumble. The last time CSU had consecutive games without a fumble recovery was Nov. 4-11, 2006 (vs. BYU, at Utah).
Red-zone perfection: CSU scored four touchdowns in four red-zone trips, its best performance in at least the last three seasons.
Starting lineups: The Rams for the first time in recent memory started in a 3-4 defense, with a front of Tommie Hill, Matt Rupp and Wade Landers, outside linebackers Ricky Brewer and Mychal Sisson, and inside linebackers Jeff Horinek and John Clark.
- On offense, for the second straight game and the third time this year, Eric Peitz started as the second tight end in a two-tight formation.
Jason Smith: After six successful kicks (one FG, five PAT) against the Aztecs, has now hit his last 12 field-goal attempts and his last 67 PATs.
- With his first-quarter field goal, surpassed No. 3 Mike Brown and Jon Poole (38) on the school's all-time field goals list. Only No. 2 Steve DeLine (42) and No. 1 Jeff Babcock (51) have more than Smith, who entered the contest with 38 career.
- Smith (197) is now only three points shy of becoming just the fifth player in CSU annals to reach 200 career points. The last to do it was Jeff Babcock in 2003.
Gartrell Johnson: Registered a career high in receptions. His previous best was four, vs. UNLV earlier this year (Oct. 4).
- Johnson also posted his seventh career 100-yard rushing game, his second this year (also 191 yards vs. UNLV, Oct. 4).
- He became the 12th in CSU history to top 2,000 career ground yards.
- The Rams now are 4-1 when Johnson touches the ball at least 20 times, losing only to then-No. 14 Utah. They're 0-3 in the other contests.
Kory Sperry: Matched his career high with his third touchdown reception, a magnificent fourth-quarter catch in the corner of the end zone, initially ruled incomplete but overturned by replay. The game-winning catch gave CSU the lead with 14:56 left in the fourth quarter.
- Sperry also caught three TDs in last year's season opener, a heartbreaking, 31-28 loss vs. Colorado (Sept. 1, 2007). He now has three multiple-TD games, including two in a win vs. Wyoming, Oct. 22, 2005.
- Also, with five catches, he jumped from No. 10 to No. 7 on CSU's all-time career receptions list, passing No. 9 Chris Pittman (129), No. 8 Pete Rebstock (131), and No. 7 Steve Bartalo (132). Sperry enters the BYU game with 133.
- Finally, with his three touchdown catches, Sperry overtook No. 4 Paul Turner and Willie Miller (18) on the Rams' all-time career TD receptions chart. He now stands just two shy of passing No. 3 David Anderson (20), three from passing No. 2 Jeff Champine (21) and four from passing No. 1 Mark R. Bell (23). Sperry enters BYU week No. 4 on the list with 19.
Billy Farris: Guided the Rams on three game-tying touchdown drives, of 79, 70 and 72 yards, respectively, to keep CSU in the game. Then, in that third quarter, he orchestrated an 86-yard march to give the Rams their first lead at 31-24. Three of those long drives came in the third quarter, keeping the SDSU defense on the field. His 74-yard game-winning touchdown drive gave CSU another lead early in the fourth quarter.
It's official: CSU registered its fourth overall win, one more than last season's 3-9 record.
Long stretch: CSU snapped a three-year losing streak to the Aztecs, avenging a heart-pulverizing loss last season in Fort Collins. Prior to the game, CSU had not beaten Diego State since 2004, a 21-17 triumph at Qualcomm Stadium. The Rams (1-2) also got their first win over SDSU head coach Chuck Long.
Three straight losses: With Steve Fairchild on its coaching staff (1993-2000, 2008), the Rams have lost three consecutive games only once -- Sept. 18-Oct. 2, 1993 (vs. BYU, at Nebraska, at Kansas).
Zero-turnover games: The Rams did not commit a turnover. CSU this season also played turnover-free vs. Houston, Sept. 20.
- On defense, the Rams barely extended their streak of games with a takeaway to 18, after Jake Galusha's late interception sealed the win. Their last opponent without a turnover was No. 10 Cal, Sept. 8, 2007, in Fort Collins.
