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Football recap: Rams suffer tough loss to Buffaloes, 24-3
9/4/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 4, 2010
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By Zach Balside
Athletic Media Relations
DENVER, Colo. -- Tyler Hansen threw for 192 yards on 17 completions and two touchdowns, both in the first half, as the Colorado Buffaloes beat the CSU Rams 24-3 in the Cinch Jeans Rocky Mountain Showdown at Invesco Field Saturday.
The Rams played seven true freshmen in the contest, with many of them making significant contributions. Pete Thomas, one of two true freshmen in the country scheduled to start for their teams at the position on Saturday, finished with 196 yards passing with a 73 percent completion rate (24 of 33), and three interceptions.
"I liked the way he got in and out of the huddle and the communication for a first-time starter," Head Coach Steve Fairchild said of Thomas. "I think the future's bright there. We have a long way to go with him and a lot of areas offensively, but there's something that tells me that by the end of the year this offense will be better than any one I've seen before."
Thomas' efforts also received praise from the opposition.
"He did a nice job," Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins said. "I think he's a great kid and a good player. He's only going to get better.
"I think if you were just a casual fan watching the game I don't know that you would think, `Oh, that guy looks like a freshman.' He's going to be a really good player. There's no question."
Thomas acknowledged he had butterflies, but also said he'd been more nervous in high-school games, and settled down quickly. He hit eight of his first 10 passes.
"I felt real comfortable out there," Thomas said. "The game seemed pretty slow to me. I felt I was very well prepared. They came out with a little more fire than us but I feel like we will get everything corrected."
Tony Drake, another true freshman, provided some excitement late with two carries for 32 yards, including a 20-yard run on a reverse handoff. The Rams also got two sacks from freshmen, linebacker Mike Orakpo and defensive end Crockett Gillmore.
But CSU struggled to run the ball, gaining only 49 yards on 25 attempts as a team. Third downs were also tough for the Rams, who converted only one during the contest.
"If we cannot establish a run game, which we didn't do at any point this afternoon, or if we don't convert on third downs, then we're gonna struggle offensively," Fairchild said.
Ben DeLine picked up CSU's three points with a 43-yard field goal with 9:36 left in the game.
CSU had an opportunity to get on the board at the end of the first half, after the two teams traded interceptions to return possession to the Rams. But after Thomas had three consecutive completions to bring CSU to the CU 20-yard line, DeLine's 37-yard field goal attempt with four seconds remaining was blocked by Will Pericak to end the half.
The Buffaloes took a 17-0 lead into halftime, including touchdown receptions by Travon Patterson and Scotty McKnight.
An interception ended another possible Rams scoring chance in the second quarter. During a drive that included three impressive completions and a five-yard run by Thomas, the freshman got picked off by Jalil Brown at the CU 42 yard line.
Defensively, CSU held the Buffaloes to just seven points in the second half. Ricky Brewer, who was playing his first game since being suspended in 2009, led the Rams with 10 tackles. Momo Thomas snagged an interception and returned it 20 yards to help set up CSU's first field-goal attempt.
"They have fast wide receivers on the outside so I kind of expected it," Momo Thomas said of his interception. "I just played my technique and got the ball."
After allowing a handful of big plays, the Rams shut down the Buffs for the most part in the second half, allowing just seven points after the intermission.
"I thought defensively we flew around pretty good," Fairchild said. "For the most part we kept the ball in front of us."
On Saturday the Rams will head to Reno, Nev., to take on the Nevada Wolf Pack. Last year, CSU defeated Nevada 35-20 after forcing five turnovers. The game will be available on ESPNU at 8:30 p.m. MT.
