Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State Postgame Notes
11/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 1, 2008
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The Kerr ratio: Gerard Thomas' fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown (nullified by penalty) was Colorado State's 300th takeaway with Larry Kerr as defensive coordinator (1993-2002, 2008).
- The Rams have recovered an opponent fumble in seven of nine games this year.
- The Rams have 15 takeaways in their last seven games alone, and 18 overall this year. CSU is plus-six in turnover ratio.
- With Kerr as their defensive coordinator (1993-2002, 2008), the Rams on the strength of the defense's 300 takeaways own a plus-58 turnover margin.
- Only once in Kerr's 10 previous seasons as defensive coordinator have the Rams finished with a negative turnover ratio in any year, and that was only minus-1 in 1999. They led the nation in 1997 with a plus-26 margin.
Taking advantage of opportunities: The Rams, after losing the third of their top five safeties entering 2008 to a season-ending injury (senior Mike Pagnotta will have shoulder surgery next week), knew they had to take advantage of every opportunity to remain in the game. That's just what they did in the first half:
- CSU caught a break when BYU All-America candidate Austin Collie stepped out of bounds, drawing a penalty and nullifying a long TD reception. A few snaps later, freshman LB Mychal Sisson, with an assist from DE Tommie Hill's pressure, scooped up a Max Hall fumble and ran 20 yards for the game's first points.
- The Rams capitalized on a roughing the punter flag in the first quarter, turning the call into a 12-play, 74-yard march capped by a John Mosure touchdown run off of a direct snap.
- CSU parlayed a muffed second-quarter punt return, which forced BYU to start a drive on its own 5-yard line, into a defensive stop, a short field and an ensuing 32-yard Billy Farris to Dion Morton TD pass off a double reverse.
Solid protection streak - The Rams went seven quarters without allowing a sack, until Jan Jorgensen got to Billy Farris with 10:45 left in fourth quarter. CSU, whose previous sack given up was in the fourth quarter at Utah (Oct. 18), went 75 straight passing plays without allowing a sack.
Billy Farris: Has thrown 75 consecutive passes since his last interception, Oct. 18 at Utah. Over that stretch, he owns a .613 completion percentage (46-for-75, 562 yards, six touchdowns).
- Farris becomes the first CSU passer to throw for three-or-more TDs in consecutive games since Justin Holland also strung together a pair of three-TD games vs. Nevada and vs. Air Force, Sept. 24-29, 2005.
Time spent in the lead: CSU against the nation's No. 17 team held the lead for 31 minutes, 24 seconds, but BYU was on top for the final 22 seconds. There were five lead changes - incredibly all in the fourth quarter - and three ties, all in the first half.
Dion Morton: A former high school quarterback, threw his second career pass (both this season), and recorded his first college completion, a fourth-quarter pass to Kory Sperry.
- Morton also posted a career-high six catches (five vs. Houston, Sept. 20), and a career-most 129 receiving yards (126 vs. Houston, Sept. 20); he established both marks on his go-ahead touchdown reception with 1:44 remaining.
All green: The Rams last wore all-green uniforms in the 2004 season finale, vs. Air Force. The team made the decision today as part of the CSU campus-wide "green out" effort this weekend. Last week in a win at San Diego State, CSU wore green pants for the first time in two years.
Gartrell Johnson: The senior captain has quietly touched the ball this season 198 times without a fumble.
- Over a longer stretch, since his last fumble (at Minnesota, Sept. 17, 2005), the exciting running back has 515touches, including 31 at San Diego State (Oct. 25). He extended the streak past 500 today.
- The Rams now are 4-2 in `08 when Johnson touches the ball at least 20 times, losing only to then-No. 14 Utah and No. 17 BYU today. They're 0-3 in the other contests.
- Johnson today passed No. 9 Kevin McDougal (471) on the school's all-time rushing attempts list:
| Player | Att |
Years |
| Steve Bartalo | 1,210 | 1983-86 |
| Ron Harrris | 760 | 1974-77 |
| L. McCutcheon | 649 | 1969-71 |
| Damon Washington | 593 | 1995-98 |
| Kyle Bell | 527 | 2004-08 |
| Cecil Sapp | 504 | 1999-02 |
| Larry Jones | 498 | 1976-79 |
| Alvin Lewis | 493 | 1977-80 |
| Gartrell Johnson | 482 | 2004-08 |
| Kevin McDougal | 471 | 1996-99 |
| Bradlee Van Pelt | 420 | 2001-03 |
First-time starters: Elijah-Blu Smith, recruited as a cornerback and playing in only his sixth career game, made his first career start, at free safety in a reshuffled secondary lineup. Smith sustained a foot injury on the first day of spring practice last March, and was set to return before aggravating the injury on the eve of fall camp, which delayed his long-awaited college debut until Sept. 27 at Cal.
- James Morehead also made his first start this season, at defensive tackle, and the second of his career. His first start was Oct. 28, 2006, vs. New Mexico.
Red-zone perfection: CSU scored three touchdowns in three red-zone trips. The Rams are now seven for their last seven in that category.
Jason Smith: After six successful kicks (all PAT) against the Cougars, has now hit his last 12 field-goal attempts and his last 73 PATs.
- Smith (203) today became just the fifth player in CSU annals to reach 200 career points. The last to do it was Jeff Babcock in 2003.
Stiff competition: For the second time in three weeks, the Rams met a ranked opponent (also now-No. 10 Utah, Oct. 18). It's the first time since 2004 the Rams have played more than one ranked opponent. Four years ago, CSU played three foes ranked in the AP's top 25: No. 1 USC, No. 22 Minnesota and No. 7 Utah.
Ranked foes in Fort Collins: For the second time in as many years, but for only the fourth time this decade, the Rams hosted a ranked opponent at Hughes Stadium.
NFL attention: Seven scouts representing six NFL teams were in attendance at today's game.
28 years to the day: On Nov. 1, 1980, at Hughes Stadium, a CSU quarterback named Steve Fairchild engineered a storybook game-winning drive to beat Wyoming, 28-25, in a thrilling upset. On the afternoon, Fairchild completed 28 of 35 passes and earned Sports Illustrated "Back of the Week" after leading the Rams 80 yards with 1 minute to play.
The stars were out: In attendance at today's game were Colorado Avalanche head coach Tony Granato, a guest of CSU Athletic Director Paul Kowalczyk; 2008 CSU Paralympian Erin Popovich (swimming), who captured four gold medals and two silver at the Water Cube in Beijing this past summer, and 2008 CSU Olympian Casey Malone (discus); and all-pro linebacker Joey Porter, a former CSU standout now with the Miami Dolphins who enters this weekend's game at Denver leading the NFL in sacks.
