Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
New Mexico
Seniors impress as Rams win last home game
11/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 15, 2008
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By Paul Baker
Athletic Media Relations
FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Gartrell Johnson ran for 127 yards and a key, go-ahead touchdown, and the Rams dominated on Senior Day in an impressive 20-6 win over New Mexico Saturday at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.
The win leaves the Rams just one shy of a sixth victory needed to qualify for bowl eligibility, with only one regular-season game remaining.
"Any win is a good win," senior defense end Tommie Hill said after his last home game. "It's a special feeling to cap off your career here at Hughes Stadium with a win that can project you toward your goal at the end of the year."
The Rams, who didn't punt for the second time this season, orchestrated scoring drives in each of the four quarters.
Senior kicker Jason Smith finished the scoring early in the fourth quarter, when he connected on his second field goal of the day, this one coming from 32 yards out. It would be the only points the Rams would put up in the fourth quarter.
CSU's defense, who didn't give up a touchdown for the first time since the 2006 season opener vs. Weber State, held one of the conference's leading rushers, Rodney Ferguson, to only 85 yards, 7 in the second half.
New Mexico's James Aho kicked a 25-yard field goal to bring the Lobos back to within two touchdowns at 20-6, and their only points of the half. But that would be as close as New Mexico would get as a late drive got no closer than the Colorado State 21 before the Lobos turned the ball over on downs.
"I think that we are playing our best football right now," Head Coach Steve Fairchild said following the game. "I think that all three phases obviously contributed to this win and I am proud of our kids."
Colorado State started the scoring on its first possession of the game, when Smith kicked a 25-yard field goal. The Rams moved right down the field on a 12-play, 65-yard drive, but three runs inside the red zone failed to result in a first down and the drive stalled.
After a missed field goal in the first quarter, Aho redeemed himself late in the second quarter by knocking a 36-yarder through the uprights to tie the score at 3-3.
The Rams made the score 10-3, with only 1:37 left in the first half, when Johnson punched it in from 12 yards out. The run put Johnson over the 1,000-yard mark for the season and made him the first CSU player to reach that plateau since Kyle Bell in 2005. Johnson finished with 30 carries for 131 yards, and three catches for 47 yards, giving him 174 total on the day.
The last time the Lobos allowed a 100-yard rusher was last year, a span of 14 games, when Johnson again ran for 172 yards at New Mexico.
"I know I need to make a play and make a play for the team to get something going and just fulfill that spark," Johnson said following his fourth 100-yard effort of the season. "It's just great."
The half ended when New Mexico opted to forgo a field goal and try for six points with 5 seconds left. Unfortunately, Brad Gruner's pass was too high for wideout Roland Bruno in the back of the end zone and the half ended with the score 10-3.
Rams senior quarterback Billy Farris finished off his last home game in nice fashion, as he completed 16-of-27 passes for 237 yards and one touchdown. He hooked up with junior receiver Rashaun Greer six times for 71 yards, putting Greer 5 yards short of 1,000 yards for the season.
Junior wide receiver Dion Morton led the Rams in receiving yards with 92, to go along with an incredible touchdown catch, in which he put one toe in the back of the end zone while maintaining possession.
The Rams hope for their sixth win next Saturday in Laramie, Wyo., and become bowl eligible, in the 100th meeting between the Border War teams. Game time is set for Noon at War Memorial Stadium.
