Football recap: Rams roll past in-state rival Falcons

Oct. 17, 2015

By Austin Bengford
Athletics Communications

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State Rams scored five touchdowns over a six-possession stretch to build a 38-13 fourth-quarter lead over in-state rival Air Force, en route to a 38-23 victory to reclaim the Ram-Falcon Trophy in front of a sellout crowd of 32,546 at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. It was the Rams' fourth sellout in their last eight home games, and win was the first Mountain West victory for first-year CSU head coach Mike Bobo.

After punting on their first possession, the Rams took advantage of good field position on their second drive and moved 45 yards in six plays, capped by Nick Stevens' 23-yard touchdown pass to tight end Steven Walker. Air Force responded with a quick touchdown drive of its own, but CSU's offense had another answer. This time, Stevens found senior wide receiver Joe Hansley for a 16-yard touchdown strike, putting the Rams up 14-7 going into the second quarter.

It wouldn't be the only time Hansley would see the end zone in the first half. The Rams would finish their nine play, 90-yard touchdown drive with a 44-yard strike from Stevens to Hansley, putting them up 21-13 heading into halftime. Hansley had a game-high 75 receiving yards and two touchdowns, the ninth and 10th of his career.

The Rams' offense continued to find ways to put up points in the second half, scoring on their first three drives. The first two came courtesy of touchdown runs by senior Jasen Oden, the first from 6 yards out and the second from 4 yards, giving the Rams a commanding 35-13 lead at the 6:43 mark of the third quarter.

The Rams' defense also came to play in a big way, largely holding in check the Falcons' difficult triple-option rushing attack. On Air Force's first drive of the second half, CSU cornerback Tyree Simmons picked off Falcons quarterback Karson Roberts for his first interception of the season. On Air Force's following drive, Simmons forced a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Deonte Clyburn, giving CSU its second takeaway of the game.

Redshirt freshman kicker Wyatt Bryan Field added a 22-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to stretch the lead to 38-13. Air Force responded with 10 straight points via a 41-yard field and a 2-yard touchdown run to narrow the deficit for a final margin of 38-23.

Stevens completed 23-of-30 for a career-high 296 yards and three touchdowns, while Rashard Higgins had a game-high seven receptions for 74 yards. Oden rushed for 91 yards on 11 carries (8.1) and tied his career high with two touchdowns. Safety Trent Matthews had a game-high 15 tackles (7 solo), while linebacker Deonte Clyburn and safety Kevin Pierre-Louis added 10 tackles apiece.

IN THEIR WORDS...
"I'm really proud of these players and these coaches. I've been saying it all along that each week they've come back and they've worked even harder, they've stayed dialed in to what we're trying to do and believe in it." - Head coach Mike Bobo

"You want to win every game, but it means a little more when it's an instate rival. There is a trophy involved and we really needed a win so that was a big win for us. We are going to try and ride this momentum into our next game." - QB Nick Stevens

"You are playing for that trophy and playing for the in-state respect. Getting a win against an in-state team is huge and I think it's even bigger for our team going into this bye week. We can get good game-planning going into San Diego (State) and keep the momentum going." - WR Joe Hansley

"To get a win before the bye week it allow us to go back and work on some day-one stuff. It boosts our confidence, and we have to continue to work hard." - S Kevin Pierre-Louis

STAT OF THE GAME...
The Rams' defense held the Falcons' well below their 320.8-yard rushing average (1st MW, 5th FBS) with just 269 yards allowed on 56 carries. Air Force's 4.8 yards-per-carry average also was below its season average of 5.4.

NOTES...

CSU won the Ram-Falcon Trophy for the second consecutive game at Hughes Stadium (also 2013).
Saturday's attendance of 32,546 marked the Rams' fourth sellout in their past eight home games dating back to Oct. 18, 2014. Prior to that, CSU had not posted a sellout in 10 seasons.
CSU's 38 points were the most scored vs. an FBS team this season, and second-most overall (65 vs. Savannah State, 9/5).
For the second time this season, CSU never trailed. The Rams scored 8:09 into the contest and led by as many as 25 points.
CSU scored on four consecutive drives from late in the second quarter through the third frame - and five of six overall - to build a 25-point lead (38-13).
CSU limited Air Force to 269 rushing yards, well below its season average (320.8).
For the second time this season, CSU won the turnover battle (2-1). Despite trailing the turnover battle 18-8 this season, CSU has 34 points off of turnovers, compared to 29 for its opponents.
Senior RB Jasen Oden, Jr. found the end zone twice in the third quarter, his second career multi-touchdown game (UC Davis, 9/13/14).
- Oden finished with 11 carries for 89 yards, including a career-long of 42.
- The senior has a team-high-tying five touchdowns on the season.
Senior WR Joe Hansley scored a career-high-tying two touchdowns, both in the first half. He finished the game with three catches for a team-most 75 yards.
- Hansley also had two touchdown receptions in a win over New Mexico on Nov. 24, 2012, the final game of his freshman season.
- The WR has a team-best five receiving touchdowns on the season and 12 for his career.
Sophomore QB Nick Stevens completed 23-of-30 passes for a career-high 296 yards. One of his three touchdown passes went for 44 yards, a career long.
Eight different receivers caught at least one pass, with five hauling in at least three.
Junior WR Rashard Higgins led all pass-catchers with seven receptions for 74 yards, including a 33-yarder late in the third quarter.
- Higgins' second catch was the 200th of his career. He remains No. 2 on CSU's all-time receptions list. He is also second for career yards (3,129) and first for career touchdowns (27).
Senior TE Steven Walker, who entered the game with five receptions, recorded three, including the game's first touchdown.
Sophomore RB Dalyn Dawkins totaled 82 all-purpose yards (47 on the ground, 35 through the air).
Junior CB Tyree Simmons was part of two turnovers - on back-to-back possessions - intercepting a Karson Roberts pass and forcing a fumble.
Junior LB Deonte Clyburn had a career-most 10 tackles, in addition to a forced fumble that led to a Rams field goal (previous high: 5 vs. Savannah State, 9/5/15 and at Air Force, 11/28/14).
Senior S Trent Matthews recorded a career-most 15 tackles, surpassing his previous best of 12, set at Utah State (10/3).
Junior LB Kevin Davis was in on a tackle for loss, extending his streak to nine consecutive games dating back to 2014 with at least a share of a tackle for loss. He entered Saturday leading the Mountain West with 9.0 on the season.
CSU maintained possession of the football for 10:01 of the third quarter against the run-focused Falcons.
The Rams converted 10-of-15 third downs to increase their season average to 46.0 percent (52-of-113). They entered the day ranked 41st in the NCAA FBS.
CSU scored on all four of its red-zone chances (three touchdowns, one field goal).

UP NEXT...
Colorado State will have a bye next week, then return to action Oct. 31 vs. San Diego State at Hughes Stadium. The game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. and will be televised by CBS Sports Network. Tickets are available online at CSURams.com/tickets; by calling 800-491-RAMS or in-person either at the McGraw Center ticket office or the Ram Zone retail outlet in Old Town Fort Collins.

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