Football gameday: CSU Rams vs. UNLV, Nov. 14

Nov. 13, 2015

COLORADO STATE (4-5, 2-3 MW) vs. UNLV (3-6, 2-3 MW)
KICKOFF: Saturday, 5 p.m. MT
TV: ROOT SPORTS (online if outside Rocky Mountain footprint)
RADIO: CSU Flagship: KJAC 105.5 FM | KRFD 100.1 | KJME 890 AM | KKVT 100.7 FM
LIVE STATS:
TWITTER: @CSUFootball | @CSURamsGameday | @CoachBobo_CSU | CSURams NeverSatisfied

LINKS: Game Notes | Roster | Media Guide | Schedule

Colorado State will recognize 26 seniors prior to its home game against UNLV, Saturday at 5 p.m. MT. The game will be televised on ROOT SPORTS. Tickets can be purchased online, over the phone at 1-800-491-RAMS or at the McGraw Athletic Center ticket office or Ram Zone retail store.

Promotions:

Take a Kid to the Game Day ($10 youth tickets): Code TAKG
Fan Appreciation (discounted tickets): FAN1
Students: In addition to free tickets, Coach Bobo is buying all students in attendance pizza

COLORADO STATE FOOTBALL HEADLINES
Hunt 1 of 10 semifinalists for Ray Guy Award
#TheGrind | War Games
'Declare Your Major Day' a success at Colorado State
Premium seating options introduced for CSU's new on-campus stadium
O'Brien named Burlsworth Trophy nominee CSU Athletics announces "Take a Kid to the Game" for Nov. 14 football clash with UNLV
Game Notes: CSU vs. UNLV, Nov. 14 SENIOR DAY
Prior to Saturday's game vs. UNLV, CSU will recognize 26 seniors. The class has been part of one of the most successful runs in school history, currently vying for a third consecutive bowl berth and winning season. For many, their freshman season saw a record of 4-8, and prior to that came three consecutive 3-9 campaigns. A win would not only send the seniors out on a high note, but would also be the 16th home win over the past four years, tied for a program best. CSU also won 16 home games from 1925-28, 1999-2002 and 2000-03.

CSU's 26 players being recognized are: Cole Anderson, Sam Carlson, Kivon Cartwright, Jose Cerriteno, DeAndre Elliott, Nu'uvali Fa'apito, Jordan Finley, Martavius Foster, Jesse Haas, Justin Hansen, Joe Hansley, Terry Jackson, Cory James, Nick Januska, Blake Jones, Joe Kawulok, Craig Leonard, Trent Matthews, George Maumau, SteveO Michel, Kevin O'Brien, Jasen Oden, Jr., Kevin Pierre-Louis, Davon Riddick, Willie Udofia and Steven Walker.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Mike Bobo, formerly the OC at Georgia.
Has won 15 of its past 20 home games. A win Saturday would tie the best four-year mark in school history.
Is 3-0 this season when winning the turnover battle. CSU forced three fumbles and intercepted a pass in last week's win at Wyoming.
Junior Hayden Hunt ranks fourth nationally, averaging 46.3 yards per punt. CSU as a team leads the country with a 43.3 net punting average.
The team's experienced pass catchers lead the nation with 8,364 career yards combined. Kicker Wyatt Bryan has made seven consecutive field goals dating back to Sept. 26.
2014 consensus All-American Rashard Higgins is averaging 83.4 receiving yards per game. The junior has five touchdowns.
Opponents have converted just 31.3 percent of third-down opportunities, ranking the Rams' defense 20th nationally.
CSU ranks 22nd (offense) and 18th (defense) for team tackles for loss, led by Kevin Davis' 10.5.
CSU is out-scoring opponents 95-40 in the first quarter, and has held the lead in eight of nine games this season.

ABOUT UNLV

Led by first-year head coach Tony Sanchez, who previously built a powerhouse at Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High School
Is 3-6 on the season, including 2-3 in Mountain West play and 1-3 on the road.
Is coming off of a blowout victory over Hawai'i, 41-21, in which two players rushed for at least 100 yards and another had 100 yards receiving.
QB Blake Decker was 15-of-24 in the win, throwing for 258 yards including touchdown passes of 75 and 85 yards.
Has surrendered just two fumbles this season, and zero by a running back, the fewest in the country. Overall, UNLV has a 18 turnover margin, 19th-best in the NCAA FBS, and is led by Tim Hough's three interceptions.
Is averaging 209.3 rushing yards per game (26th nationally).
WR Devonte Boyd has six touchdown receptions this season, totaling 610 receiving yards.
K Nicolai Bornand is 12-of-14 on field-goal attempts this season, including perfect from inside 40 yards.
Leads the MW and ranks 11th nationally, allowing opponents to convert on fourth down at just a 27.8-percent rate.

SERIES NOTES

CSU and UNLV played every season from 1996-2012, but did not play the past two seasons when the Mountain West formed two divisions.
CSU won the most-recent meeting, a 33-11 victory in Fort Collins in 2012.
The Rams have won five in a row in Fort Collins, and overall are 8-4 against the Rebels at Hughes Stadium.
Three of CSU's six losses to UNLV were by one possession, including a 38-35 defeat in 2011 in Las Vegas.
The Rams' 48-23 victory in 2007 snapped their 13-game losing streak, which began the previous season.
In the series, CSU has two winning streaks of six games (1996-2001 and 2003-2008).
Kivon Cartwright is the Rams' only player to face UNLV more than once. As a freshman in 2011, he caught two passes for 50 yards, including a long of 45. He also had two catches for 10 yards in 2012.
WR Joe Hansley had one reception for 18 yards and one rush for 30 in the Rams' 2012 win over UNLV.
SteveO Michel recorded his first career sack in 2012 against UNLV.
Freshman Trent Matthews had four tackles and two pass breakups in CSU's 2012 victory over UNLV.
Then a defensive player, Nu'uvali Fa'apito had five tackles as a freshman in 2012 against UNLV.

NOTES IN 140

Prior to Saturday's game vs. UNLV, the #CSURams will recognize 26 seniors who have been part of back-to-back winning seasons.
A win Saturday would be the #CSURams' 16th home win since 2012, tied for the best four-year total in school history.
CSU and UNLV played every season from 1996-2012, but did not the past two seasons when the @MountainWest formed 2 divisions.
After going 0-3-1 against UNLV in the late 1970s and early 1980s, CSU has since gone 14-3, including 8-1 in Fort Collins.
.@RayGuyAward candidate Hayden Hunt ranks 4th in NCAA with 46.3 yards per punt, and 1st for team net punting average (43.3).
.@CoachBobo_CSU is the 3rd #CSURams coach to win two rivalry games in his first season as head coach.
Senior Trent Matthews had 3 takeaways in #BorderWar win at Wyoming. For his career, he has 14, including 9 interceptions.
The #CSURams are 3-0 when winning the turnover battle. CSU forced a season-high 4 turnovers in its win at Wyoming.
CSU scored on its opening possession last week at Wyoming. CSU is 3-0 this season when scoring on its first drive.
The #CSURams have out-scored opponents 95-40 during the first quarter, and have led in eight of nine games.
Kicker Wyatt Bryan has made seven consecutive field goals dating back to Sept. 26, and has at least one make in all 9 career games.
CSU has converted 10-of-15 4th-down attempts, including 2-for-2 at Wyoming, which ranks 23rd nationally.
Opponents have converted on just 31.1% of 3rd-down opportunities against CSU's defense (20th in NCAA FBS). CSU's offense is at 44.1% (31st).
CSU's defense is averaging 7.4 tackles for loss per game (22nd in NCAA FBS), while the offensive line is allowing just 4.78 (18th).
QB Nick Stevens leads the @MountainWest with 15 touchdown passes, and ranks 2rd for passing yards (1,811) and pass efficiency (136.6).
CSU's three-headed rushing attack (Oden, Dawkins, Matthews) have totaled 1,300 yards (4.53) and 10 touchdowns.
WR Joe Hansley had 2 TD catches vs. Air Force, and 5 on the season. He is 2 TDs, 11 receptions and 142 yards away from CSU's top 10 lists.
The #CSURams rank 10th in the NCAA FBS, averaging 25.83 yards per kick return. CSU has 4 returns of at least 30 yards and 2 over 50.
Opponents have started drives on the Rams' side of the field 4 times this season, coming away with just 6 points.
CSU has scored in 28 of 36 quarters this season, including all 4 most recently against Air Force.
Despite trailing the turnover battle 23-12 this season, CSU's opponents have scored just 39 points off of turnovers (37 for CSU).
CSU has pass catchers who have accounted for 597 career receptions for 8,428 yards (1st in NCAA FBS) and 68 touchdowns (2nd).
Senior Trent Matthews is one of 11 NCAA FBS players named to the AFCA Allstate Good Works Team. Fans can #VoteTrent at Allstate.com/captain.
#HollywoodHiggins ranks 28th nationally with 83.4 receiving yards per game, including 3 games over 100.
#HollywoodHiggins has scored a school-record 28 career touchdowns, has 3,254 receiving yards (2nd) and has caught 214 passes (2nd).
#HollywoodHiggins has at least one catch in all 34 career games he has played in (T-9th in NCAA FBS).

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