Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State Postgame Notes
11/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 15, 2008
Recap | Final Stats | Quotes | Photo Gallery 
TEAM NOTES
No touchdowns: The Rams held an opponent without a touchdown for the first time since Sept. 2, 2006, when they opened that season with a 30-6 home win over Weber State.
- The Rams surrendered just six points, their fewest allowed since that 2006 Weber State game. That also was the last time the Rams did not allow a touchdown.
- The Weber State contest also marked the last time CSU gave up as few as six points.
- In a conference game, the last time CSU allowed as few as six points and did not give up a touchdown was exactly five years to the day, Nov. 15, 2003, a 21-6 home win over San Diego State.
Home finales: CSU now has won four of its last six home finales, beginning with a triumph over San Diego State, exactly five years ago, Nov. 15, 2003.
Inverted turnover ratio: Normally, as most head coaches will testify, winning the turnover ratio translates into winning the game. However, for the second time in CSU’s season today, the team that won the turnover margin lost the game. New Mexico had two takeaways and CSU had zero. In the Rams’ last home game, a tough, 45-42 loss to BYU (Nov. 1), CSU had a plus-two advantage in turnover ratio.
- Also, for the second consecutive game, the Rams did not register a takeaway. Prior to the loss at Air Force (Nov. 1), CSU had a streak of 19 straight games with at least one fumble recovery or interception, beginning Sept. 22, 2007, at Houston.
First drive: The Rams have now scored on their game-opening drive six times this season. They scored touchdowns vs. Houston (Sept. 20, vs. TCU (Oct. 11), at Utah (Oct. 18) and at Air Force (Nov. 8). CSU connected on game-opening field goals vs. UNLV (Oct. 4) and today.
Scoring first: The Rams scored first for the sixth time this season. Colorado State drew first blood on five of its six home games this year, all except the first contest vs. Sacramento State (Sept. 6). The only road game to date in which CSU was not on the board first was at Air Force (Nov. 8).
Senior Day: Today marked the final college home game for 16 players. Fallen warrior Mike Pagnotta also was honored before the game.
Home record: The Rams finished the season with a 4-2 home record, their best mark in Fort Collins since 2005, when they were 4-1.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Gartrell Johnson: On his 12-yard touchdown that broke a 3-3 tie late in the first half, Johnson eclipsed the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time in his career.
- Johnson has earned the 17th 1,000-yard rushing season by a Rams player (first since Kyle Bell in 2005), and the 12th-best individual rushing campaign in CSU history. CSU’s 1,000-yard seasons:
| Player | Yards | Year | Carries | Rush TDs |
| Cecil Sapp | 1,601 | 2002 | 347 | 17 |
| Steve Bartalo | 1,419 | 1986 | 361 | 17 |
| Steve Bartalo | 1,368 | 1985 | 338 | 12 |
| Kyle Bell | 1,288 | 2005 | 276 | 10 |
| Calvin Branch | 1,279 | 1996 | 228 | 21 |
| Kevin McDougal | 1,164 | 1999 | 207 | 8 |
| Steve Bartalo | 1,113 | 1984 | 292 | 8 |
| Damon Washington | 1,112 | 1997 | 180 | 8 |
| Lawrence McCutcheon | 1,112 | 1971 | 261 | 8 |
| Kevin McDougal | 1,111 | 1997 | 150 | 13 |
| Damon Washington | 1,075 | 1996 | 162 | 8 |
| Gartrell Johnson | 1,056 | 2008 | 228 | 10 |
| Leonice Brown | 1,051 | 1992 | 156 | 5 |
| Alvin Lewis | 1,047 | 1980 | 211 | 8 |
| Tony Alford | 1,035 | 1989 | 157 | 6 |
| Brian Copeland | 1,028 | 1991 | 190 | 5 |
| Lawrence McCutcheon | 1,008 | 1970 | 242 | 6 |
- Johnson’s TD was the first rushing score allowed by Rocky Long’s defense in nine games, and only the sixth given up this year by New Mexico.
- Johnson today posted his ninth career 100-yard rushing game, his fourth this season. On CSU’s all-time career list, he broke a tie with No. 8 Kyle Bell, Alvin Lewis and Bradlee Van Pelt, all of whom had eight.
- Johnson became the first 100-yard rusher against the New Mexico defense since his own 172-yard day, at New Mexico, Nov. 10, 2007. The Lobos had gone 14 games in between the two contests.
- Until today, he had 554 straight touches without a fumble, dating to Sept. 10, 2005, at Minnesota.
Rashaun Greer: Fell just 5 yards shy of the seventh 1,000-yard receiving season in CSU annals, the first since David Anderson in 2005.
Jason Smith: Had connected on 15 straight field goals, including two today, until his fourth-quarter miss. Now 42-for-55 on his career, Smith owns a .763 career field-goal percentage, still the best in CSU history.
- Smith has nailed his last 77 PAT attempts. Dion Morton: Quietly has tied for the third-most receiving touchdowns in CSU history. His nine this season are the most since David Anderson had 10 in 2003, which tied Jeff Champine’s 1981 school record. In other words, Morton needs only one more to tie, and two more to establish the CSU record.
Fairchild vs. New Mexico: Steve Fairchild improved to 8-1 with Colorado State against New Mexico. He was 2-0 as the Rams’ starting quarterback (1978, 1980) and 5-1 as a CSU assistant coach.
