Colorado State University Athletics
Postgame Notes
12/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 20, 2008
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TEAM NOTES
CSU finishes with its first winning record since 2003, and registers its first bowl victory since 2001.
CSU sold 5,100 tickets for the New Mexico Bowl.
Colorado State's fumbled snap in the second quarter was their first all season.
The Rams got each of their starting safeties back. Klint Kubiak saw action in the third quarter, his first game since at Air Force, Nov. 8. Mike Pagnotta started today, his first game back since getting injured Oct. 25.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
In the fourth quarter, Gartrell Johnson had a career long 77-yard run; his previous long was 57-yards in the first quarter. In other words, he had his career's two longest runs this afternoon.
- Johnson set a New Mexico Bowl record for longest run from scrimmage; it was also the longest run by a CSU player this season.
- In the second quarter Johnson had a 57-yard catch, setting a career long; his previous long was 31 yards against Wyoming in 2007.
- He rushed for over 100 yards for the sixth time this season.
- Johnson is now No. 2 on the list of rushing yards in a CSU season, passing Steve Bartalo (1986) at 1,419. Johnson ended 1,476 rushing yards.
- Johnson set a career high and a New Mexico Bowl record with 369 total yards, surpassing New Mexico's Paul Baker who had 209 total yards.
- With Johnson's 21-yard rush late in the third quarter, he set a CSU bowl record for most rushing yards; the mark was previously held by Cecil Sapp (160) in the 2000 Liberty Bowl.
- With Johnson's two touchdown runs in the fourth quarter, he moved to No. 5 for career rushing touchdowns, passing Damon Washington.
- Johnson set a career high for most rushing yards in a game with 285.
- Johnson set the all-time NCAA record for most yards from scrimmage in FBS bowl history.
- He also had the second-most all-purpose yards in bowl history. (record is 408 yards by East Carolina's Chris Johnson vs. Boise State in 2007 Hawaii Bowl. 223 rushing, 32 receiving, 153 kickoff return)
- Johnson's 285 yards rushing is the most in MWC bowl history; Johnson eclipsed Mike Anderson's 1999 record when he ran for 254 against Fresno State.
- Gartrell Johnson's 285 rushing yards is the sixth-most in the NCAA this year, No. 1 being Shun White from Navy.
Grant Stucker got his first career touchdown when he scored from 18 yards out in the first quarter.
Dion Morton returned two kickoffs; his last kickoff return before today was Oct. 20, 2007 at UNLV.
With Jason Smith's 22-yard FG in the second quarter, he moved to No. 4 all-time on the CSU scoring list, passing Todd Yert.
- Smith had a season-high four touchbacks.
Zac Pauga set a career-long with his 21-yard reception late in the second quarter; his previous long was 19-yards against Wyoming in 2007.
Tommie Hill got his second interception of the season, his first pick coming against UNLV Oct. 4.
Dane Stratton has recovered two second half-fumbles this season, both resulting in touchdowns; the other recovery came against New Mexico.
