Colorado State University Athletics
Postgame Notes
10/4/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 4, 2008
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Streaks extended: The Rams extended their Fort Collins winning streak to five games, equaling their longest since a five-game stretch from Nov. 13, 2004-Oct. 22, 2005. That three-year-old streak began with a 45-10 triumph over UNLV.
- CSU also won its sixth straight over UNLV, and 12 of its last 13 (since 1996).
Close games: While the final score didn't indicate really just how close the game was, after a strange CSU touchdown on the final kickoff, the contest was decided with 9 seconds on the clock. The win came over a quality UNLV squad that owns a pair of wins over teams from BCS conferences, including a road triumph at No. 15 Arizona State.
- Each of CSU's 2008 wins (all at home), have been decided in the final seconds. Today, Gartrell Johnson's go-ahead 10-yard touchdown run was the difference. • On Sept. 6 vs. Sacramento State, Ben DeLine's FG with no time remaining won the contest, 23-20.
- On Sept. 20 vs. Houston, Klint Kubiak's interception in the end zone with 2 seconds left sealed a 28-25 victory.
- Before this season, the last time the Rams won a game by a field goal or less was Nov. 22, 2003, at UNLV.
Three wins: CSU already has matched its 2007 win total. The Rams' third win last season came in their season finale, Nov. 23 vs. Wyoming.
Total offense: CSU's 510 yards of total offense were its most since Dec. 22, 2005, when the team racked up 572 in a 51-30, Poinsettia Bowl loss to Navy.
- The last time CSU had as many total yards in Fort Collins was Oct. 22, 2005, when the Rams had 521 in a 39-31 win vs. Wyoming.
Takeaways: The Rams have eight takeaways in their last three games.
Conference openers: Since 1993, when Sonny Lubick brought Steve Fairchild back to Fort Collins as an assistant on Lubick's first CSU staff (which also included current Florida coach Urban Meyer), the Rams are now 9-7 in conference openers, having won three of their last four.
- This marks the third time CSU has met UNLV in the Rams' conference opener. CSU has won all three (all at home), including a 35-16 triumph in 1996 (Western Athletic Conference) and a 28-7 victory in 2006 (Mountain West).
- Including this week, eight of the Rams' last nine conference openers have been at Hughes Stadium. Last year's trip to TCU marked CSU's first road opener was the Rams' first conference inaugural since 1998. Since 1993, the Rams at home in conference openers are 7-4, having won three in a row (2005-06, 2008).
- The Rams' 1999 conference opener at BYU marked the first game in Mountain West history. This year marks the MWC's 10th season.
After a loss: Including a win Sept. 6, the Rams now since 1994 with Steve Fairchild on staff and playing a key role in their offense are 21-3 after a loss.
100-yard rushers: UNLV's Frank Summers (20-110) became the first individual opponent to gain 100 rushing yards on the Rams since Walter Payton Award winner Jayson Foster, vs. Georgia Southern (Nov. 17), in Fort Collins.
Easy travel schedule: Colorado State has played four of its first five games within the state of Colorado, after opening against CU in Denver (Aug. 31) and hosting Sacramento State (Sept. 6) and Houston (Sept. 20).
- In fact, including its Week 3 bye, CSU will have left the state just once over the season's first seven weeks -- the Rams' visit to Cal (Sept. 27).
- Across the country in the football bowl subdivision, only Baylor, Louisville, Michigan, Missouri and Nebraska have similar schedules.
No big plays: Last week against a high-octane Cal team,the Rams' longest offensive play allowed was only 29 yards. Today, UNLV's longest play was 32. In the Rams' last home game, Sept. 20 vs. Houston and then the nation's total offense leader, Case Keenum, CSU's longest play allowed was 35 yards. Larry Kerr's defense hasn't allowed a play longer than 40 yards this year (vs. Sacramento State, Sept. 6).
Fumble ratio: CSU on the year remains plus-five in fumble ratio, having recovered six opponent fumbles and having lost just one (today).
Giveaway location: Six of CSU's seven giveaways this year have been in opponent territory, including John Mosure's fumble in the first quarter.
Freshmen used: CSU entered today's contest tied for ninth in the nation with 20 freshmen used (five true and 15 redshirt).
Interceptions: Tommie Hill made an athletic play to deflect Omar Clayton's third-quarter pass and corral the ball for the defensive end's first career interception.
- This season three of CSU's five interceptions have come from defensive linemen or linebackers, including LB Jeff Horinek's two.
- The interception was only the second of the season for Clayton.
Jason Smith: Today kicked his first field goals since Nov. 23, 2007, vs. Wyoming. The senior, who broke his arm in the Rams' final practice of fall camp on this field and missed the first two games, had been limited to just PATs over the last two games.
- Smith today surpassed No. 7 Cecil Sapp (174) on CSU's all-time scoring list.
Gartrell Johnson: Posted his sixth career 100-yard rushing game, but the Rams' first since Nov. 23, 2007, when he had 25 carries for 103 yards vs. Wyoming.
- The back had career highs in attempts (33), and rushing yards (191), and matched his personal best with three rushing TDs.
- Over his last two games combined against UNLV, he has averaged 6.1 yards per carry (58 attempts, 353 yards, five TDs), including his 162 yards on 25 attempts and two TDs last Oct. 20 in Las Vegas.
Rashaun Greer: Caught his first career touchdown, and added a career-high eight grabs for 211 yards. His day included 62- and 44-yard receptions.
- Greer became only the fifth player in CSU annals to eclipse 200 receiving yards in a game, and the first in four years:
Player Yards Opponent Year Greg Primus 256 Hawaii 1991 David Anderson 233 BYU 2004 Willie Miller 230 Arizona State 1974 Jeff Champine 219 Norther Colorado 1983
Rashaun Greer 211 UNLV 2008 David Anderson 199 Air Force 2003 Jeff Raikes 196 UNLV 1982 Jeff Champine 192 New Mexico 1985 Tony Goolsby 189 Wyoming 1980 Johnny Walker 177 New Mexico 2007 Bill Sherman 170 Utah 1984
Mountain West record: Colorado State is 38-29 in 67 MWC games since 1999, when the conference was formed.
- The Rams are 21-13 at home and 17-16 on the road in MWC action.
- Colorado State has the third-most MWC victories among the nine current members since the league was formed in 1999.
First start: Linebacker John Clark made his first career start, at weakside linebacker in place of an injured Ricky Brewer.
Rare penalties: CSU had three costly penalties in the first 10 minutes, one of which - a roughing the passer flag -- nullified a Klint Kubiak interception. UNLV scored a touchdown on the drive. Entering the afternoon, CSU ranked 10th in the nation and first in the Mountain West
First fumble lost: On CSU's first-quarter kickoff return, Beau Orth forced a John Mosure fumble, which was recovered by the Rebels deep in CSU territory. Entering the game, the Rams were one of three teams in the nation (also No. 1 Oklahoma and Virginia Tech) who had not lost a fumble. The last time CSU lost a fumble was vs. Wyoming, Nov. 23, 2007.
- Mosure appeared to redeem himself with 8 minutes, 23 seconds left in the first half, when CSU claimed he had stolen the ball from UNLV kickoff returner Michael Johnson at the Rebels' 26-yard line. However, replays couldn't produce enough conclusive evidence to overturn the call.
Another debut: Wide receiver Tyson Liggett made his college debut, on offense during a second-quarter TD drive, making a nice block on a 10-yard Gartrell Johnson run. Liggett became the 30th CSU player to make his Rams debut this season. That list includes:
98-yard drive: CSU's 98-yard touchdown drive late in the first half marked its longest in at least five years. The CSU sports information staff has researched only through the end of the 2003 season.
- CSU had a 97-yard touchdown march vs. Georgia Southern, Nov. 17.
