Colorado State University Athletics
Postgame notes
10/16/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 16, 2010
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TEAM NOTES
Rushing offense: In their last two games, the Rams have 544 combined rushing yards (259 vs. UNLV, 285 at Air Force). The last time they had that many in consecutive games was Nov. 22-Dec. 20, 2008, when they had 548 (186 at Wyoming and 362 in the New Mexico Bowl vs. Fresno State).
- The last time the Rams strung together 200-yard rushing games was Oct. 13-20, 2007, vs. Air Force (224) and at UNLV (279).
Sacks: The six sacks by the CSU defense were the most by a Rams team since they registered seven in a 24-20 homecoming loss vs. San Diego State, Oct. 6, 2007.
Pitching shutout ball in the second half: CSU shut out an opponent in the second half for the first time since a 13-7 loss vs. TCU, Oct. 11, 2008, also a Homecoming game.
Points, overall: CSU’s 43 points were its most in a game during the Fairchild era, surpassing the 42 CSU had in a 45-42 loss vs. No. 17 BYU, Nov. 1, 2008. The last time the Rams had as many as 43 in a contest was Oct. 20, 2007, at UNLV, a 48-23 win.
Margin of victory: CSU’s 33-point win was its largest since a 45-10 triumph Nov. 19, 2004, at UNLV.
First drive: When the Rams cashed in an early fumble recovery for a first-quarter TD, it marked their first score on a game-opening drive since they also had a TD at New Mexico, Nov. 21, 2009.
- Entering today, CSU this season had just four first downs over its first six games on game-opening drives. Today, the Rams had three first downs.
- The last time the Rams scored on consecutive drives to open a game was in a win vs. Weber State, Sept. 12, 2009, when CSU scored a touchdown, field goal and touchdown on its first possessions.
- CSU entering the day had been outscored 47-6 in the first quarter. The Rams led 14-3 after one frame today.
First-half outburst: CSU’s 34 points in the first half were its most in any half during the Steve Fairchild era (2008-10) and most in any half since the Rams had 38 in the first two quarters of a 45-10 win vs. UNLV, Nov. 13, 2004, in Fort Collins.
Field position: CSU scored five touchdowns on its first six drives. Three of those possessions began in enemy territory (44, 25 and 29 yard lines) and another started at the Rams’ 40.
Long drive: CSU’s 96-yard, two-play drive in the second quarter was the Rams’ longest drive since Oct. 4, 2008, when CSU went 98 yards in four plays in a 41-28 win, the last time UNLV was at Hughes Stadium.
Long pass: The 73-yard touchdown pass from Pete Thomas to Lou Greenwood marked the Rams’ longest passing play since Billy Farris connected with Dion Morton on a 79-yard score vs. Houston, Sept. 20, 2008, a 28-25 win.
They’re Good: Derek Good’s 74-yard kickoff return, which bettered his 70-yard return last week at Air Force in his first career game as a kick returner, helped him finish the day with a season averae of 37.4 yards on nine returns (337 yards). Good entered the day sixth in the nation with a 32.88-yard average, the only player in the nation’s top six without a TD return.
- For the first time this year, both Good and Tony Drake, who entered the day as the nation’s No. 49-ranked return man (25.65 average), were back at the same time to return kickoffs. Drake has a 47-yard long this season.
- Combined, the two players now average 29.3 yards per return (29 returns, 850 yards).
Conference win: CSU posted its first conference victory since Nov. 22, 2008, a 31-20 triumph at Wyoming that made the Rams bowl-eligible prior to their New Mexico Bowl win over Fresno State.
Large crowd: Today’s attendance (30,753) was the largest Fort Collins crowd since the Rams drew 32,841 in a Homecoming win vs. UNLV, Oct. 7, 2006.
Homecoming streak ends: The Rams finally posted a win on Homecoming, after three heart-breaking defeats from 2007-09. The last time CSU won a Homecoming game was 2006, also vs. UNLV.
Back-to-back 100-yard rushing games: The last time a CSU player had consecutive 100-yard efforts was Nov. 15-Dec. 20, 2008, when Gartrell Johnson had 127, 135 and 285 yards, respectively, vs. New Mexico, at Wyoming and in the New Mexico Bowl against Fresno State,
More freshmen: Redshirt freshman offensive linemen Justin Becker and Brandon Haynes made their college debuts today, bringing to 22 the total number of freshmen CSU has used in 2010 (nine true freshmen, 13 redshirt).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
- DT Guy Miller had a single-game CSU record 4½ sacks, eclipsing the previous record, four, shared by Brady Smith (9/30/95 vs. BYU) and All-American Mike Bell (11/19/77 vs. Arizona State). Bell was the No. 2 overall selection in the 1979 NFL Draft. Smith was the 1995 Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
- Miller’s 6½ sacks this season are the most by a CSU player since Bryan Save had seven in 2003. Before Save, the last player with as many as seven in a season was Clark Haggans, who had eight in 1999 before launching his NFL career.
- RB Tony Drake, who shifted from running back to wide receiver this week, made his first career start.
- TE Eric Peitz caught TD passes in consecutive games for the second time in his career (also Sept. 12-19, vs. Weber State and Nevada). He had never caught two TD passes in any game before today, including his days at Crofton (Neb.) High School, which ran a double-wing offense.
- RB Leonard Mason’s 52-yard run on the first play of the second half was the longest carry of his career, eclipsing the 44-yard run he used to seal the Rams’ resounding win at Colorado, in his first Division I game, Sept. 6, 2009.
- WR Lou Greenwood’s 55-yard reception from Pete Thomas that set up the Rams’ second touchdown was the longest of the receiver’s career. As a true freshman at New Mexico, Nov. 21, 2009, he caught a 50-yard touchdown from Jon Eastman.
- Greenwood quickly eclipsed that career-long with his 73-yard touchdown reception, capping a 96-yard, two-play drive in the second quarter. It was the quarter was the longest CSU play from scrimmage since Gartrell Johnson’s 77-yard touchdown run in the 2008 New Mexico Bowl vs. Fresno State, Dec. 20, 2008, at University Stadium in Albuquerque.
- DT Guy Miller played in his 44th consecutive game. He has yet to miss a CSU game in his college career.
- K Ben DeLine missed the first field goal of his career from the 40-49 range, a 46-yard attempt. Entering the day, he had been 6-for-6 from that distance.
- DeLine now has had five career PATs blocked.
- With three field goals today, DeLine now has 26 career and surpassed No. 10 Tom Drake (25, 1976-77) and tied No. 9 Mickey Barilla (26, 1978-79) on CSU’s all-time list. He now needs just three to surpass No. 6 Derek Franz (28, 1997-98), and No. 7 Clark Kemble (27, 1973-75) and C.W. Hurst (27, 1997-2000).
- FB Zac Pauga played in his 44th consecutive game. He has yet to miss a CSU game in his college career.
- Pauga’s 21-yard run, after spinning out of the pile at the point of attack, was the longest carry of his career, bettering the 10-yard carry he had at UNLV, Nov. 7, 2009.
- LB Mychal Sisson played in his 32nd straight game. He has yet to miss a CSU game in his college career.
- Sisson now has 32 career stops against the Rebels. His 13 tackles today were one shy of a career best.
- RB John Mosure broke two tackles and forced his way into the end zone in the second quarter, his first touchdown since he had two Nov. 21, 2009, at New Mexico.
- Mosure now has four career TD vs. UNLV.
- Derek Good’s 74-yard kickoff return in the first half was 4 yards better than his previous long, 70 at Air Force last week.
- Pete Thomas opened the game 7-for-7 for 219 yards and three TDs until an incompletion late in the first half.
- RB Leonard Mason, answering a challenge from his coaches, strung together 100-yard rushing games for the first time in his career. He had a career-high 139 yards at Air Force (Oct. 9). Mason now has five career 100-yard efforts.
- OL Brandon Haynes made his college debut.
- OL Justin Becker made his college debut.
- WT Paul Madsen became engaged this past week.
- QB Klay Kubiak played his first game since Nov. 22, 2008, at Wyoming.
