Football game notes: CSU at New Mexico, Nov. 21

Nov. 16, 2015

ENTIRE WEEK 11 GAME NOTES (PDF) Colorado State at New Mexico
Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015 | 3:30 p.m. MT
University Stadium | Albuquerque, N.M.

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ABOUT COLORADO STATE

Has won back-to-back games for the first time this season, winning at Wyoming and vs. UNLV to even season record at 5-5.
Needs to win one of final two games to secure bowl eligibility for the third year in a row.
Is 2-1 on the road this season, and 8-4 dating back to the 2013 season, the program's best stretch since 2001-03.
Ray Guy Award semifinalist Hayden Hunt ranks fourth nationally, averaging 46.3 yards per punt. CSU leads the country with a 43.4 net punting average.
2014 consensus All-American Rashard Higgins leads the Mountain West with eight touchdown catches, including three last week vs. UNLV.
Dalyn Dawkins and Jasen Oden, Jr. are the first CSU teammates to rush for 600-plus yards in a season since 2009. The tandem average 4.97 yards per carry.
QB Nick Stevens leads the MW and ranks 25th nationally with 19 touchdown passes.
The team's experienced pass catchers lead the nation with 8,573 career yards combined.
Kicker Wyatt Bryan has made seven consecutive field goals dating back to Sept. 26.
CSU is one of five teams nationally to rank in the top 25 for third-down offense and defense. The Rams rank 13th for kickoff return average and 18th for tackles for losses allowed.

ABOUT NEW MEXICO

Led by fourth-year head coach Bob Davie, who previously led Notre Dame to the 2000 Fiesta Bowl.
Enters this week 6-4 on the season and in contention for the Mountain West Mountain Division title. UNM would win the division with victories over CSU and Air Force.
is coming off a historic upset at Boise State, leading to MW Player of the Week awards for LB Ryan Langford and P Zack Rogers.
The most-recent victory made UNM bowl eligible for the first time since 2007, when the Lobos played in five bowl games in six seasons.
Is 4-1 at home, most recently beating Utah State.
The defense has recovered 10 fumbles and averages 8.0 tackles for loss per game, both eighth-best in the NCAA FBS.
UNM has allowed just nine sacks (fifth in NCAA) while recording 27 (22nd).
Opponents have scored on just 65.8 percent of red-zone opportunities, third-best in the NCAA.
Three players average between 56.33 and 60.10 rushing yards per game, led by Jhurell Pressley's 610 total yards and six touchdowns. UNM's rushing offense (231.4 yards per game) ranks 13th in the NCAA.

SERIES NOTES

CSU holds a 37-25 advantage in the series, including 18-14 in Albuquerque.
The Rams have won five games in a row over the Lobos, tied for their best winning streak in the series (also 1983-87 and 1997-2002).
CSU has won back-to-back games at New Mexico, the most since winning five in a row from 1989-2001.
CSU has not trailed against New Mexico since taking a 14-10 lead in the fourth quarter in 2011.
CSU has averaged 62 points over the past two games in the series, with a running back recording six touchdowns in both games (Kapri Bibbs and Dee Hart).
The Ram have totaled 649 (2013) and 697 (2014) yards of offense in the last two meetings, passing for 405 yards (compared to UNM's 55) last year.
WR Rashard Higgins has three career touchdowns against New Mexico, including 167 yards and two scores in last year's win.
WR Joe Hansley has three career touchdowns against New Mexico, including two and 102 yards in 2012. HIs second score in 2012 gave CSU a 24-20 lead with 1:29 to play.
CSU forced four turnovers in 2014, including a pair of interceptions by DB Tyree Simmons. Preston Hodges had a fumble recovery, in addition to nine tackles and a pass breakup.
In 2013, S Trent Matthews intercepted a pass against UNM, one of his nine career interceptions.
In the 2012 meeting, Kevin Pierre-Louis had 11 tackles and a pass breakup on the final play of the game. UNM had the ball at the CSU 16 and time for one play, but it was broken up by Pierre-Louis in the end zone, securing CSU's best record (4-8) since 2008.

WINNING WAYS
CSU's victory over UNLV last Saturday not only evened the Rams' record at 5-5, but gave CSU its first winning streak of the season. CSU will try to make it three in a row Saturday at New Mexico.

BOWL GAME SURGE
With two regular-season games remaining, the Rams have their eye on a late-season push for a third consecutive bowl game appearance. CSU is coming off of back-to-back victories, and now needs to win at least one of its final two games - a similar situation to other years in recent memory.

In 2013, CSU needed to win three of its final four games to become bowl eligible, doing exactly that and qualifying for the New Mexico Bowl. In 2008, CSU won its final two games after a 4-6 start to the season; in 2005, the Rams qualified for the Poinsettia Bowl by winning their final game; and in both 2001 and 2003, CSU needed to win its final two regular-season contests.

The Rams haven't played in three consecutive bowl games since qualifying for one in each season from 1999-2003.

WINNING ON THE ROAD
CSU is 2-1 this season on the road, and since the 2013 season has won eight of its past 12 true road contests. It marks the Rams' best stretch since winning nine of 12 from 2001-03. Prior to the Rams' current run, they had lost 10 true road games in a row and 21 of 22.

FLIPPING THE FIELD
CSU has one of the best weapons in college football in punter Hayden Hunt, a semifinalist for the 2015 Ray Guy Award. The junior ranks fourth nationally, averaging 46.3 yards per punt, while the Rams' team net punting average of 43.4 leads all of college football. Of Hunt's 43 punts this season, 12 have gone at least 50 yards (27.9 percent), 21 (48.8) have been marked down inside the 20-yard line, 15 have been fair caught (34.9) and just one has been a touchback (2.3). Among semifinalists, Hunt ranks first for net average, second for punts inside the 20 and touchbacks and fourth for gross average.

At Wyoming (11/7), Hunt had a booming punt that traveled 67 yards in the air, being marked down at the 5-yard line. Three plays later, the Cowboys turned the ball over. Hunt has had three other punts land inside the 5 - vs. Air Force on 10/17, Hunt had a punt downed at the 1, which resulted in a quick punt and CSU touchdown; at UTSA on 9/26 his first punt traveled 56 yards and went out of bounds at the 2-yard line, setting up a safety two players later; vs. Minnesota (9/12) he had a 73-yard punt downed at the 2-yard line. It was the eighth-longest punt in school history, and the longest since Pete Kontodiakos on Sept. 29, 2012. For his efforts, Hunt was named the Ray Guy Award Player of the Week on Sept. 14.

MAKING HOLLYWOOD PLAYS
Wide receiver Rashard Higgins is coming off his biggest game of the season, finding the end zone three times and totaling 102 yards in a win vs. UNLV. It was his ninth career multi-touchdown game, second with at least three scores and 16th with more than 100 receiving yards (tied with David Anderson for CSU record).

On a 46-yard catch, Higgins moved into second place in CSU history for career receiving yards, and needs three yards to become CSU's all-time leader in that category.

Ten weeks into the season, Higgins leads the Mountain West and ranks 19th nationally with eight touchdowns. His 85.4 yards-per-game average ranks second in the MW and 26th nationally, while his 6.3 receptions per game rank second and 24th, respectively.

Higgins scored a touchdown in the first four games he played in this season, and 19 different games throughout his career, totaling a school-record 31 career touchdowns. For his career, he is averaging 95.9 yards per game.

STRONG RUN GAME
Neither Dalyn Dawkins or Jasen Oden, Jr. rank among the top 10 in the Mountain West for rushing yards, but both have seen plenty of success this season, each taking turns toting the rock. In fact, the duo is the first set of CSU teammates to record 600-plus rushing yards in a season since Leonard Mason (766) and John Mosure (650) in 2009.

Fresh off of back-to-back 100-yard rushing performances, Dawkins has 650 rushing yards (6.3 per carry) and two touchdowns. Oden has 653 yards (4.7) and five scores. Both backs also have a receiving touchdown, in addition to 187 total receiving yards between the two.

NO FLY ZONE
Over the past two weeks, CSU has limited its passing game and has kept the ball on the ground. The Rams rushed 55 times at Wyoming (11/7) and 46 times vs. UNLV (11/14), compared to just 34 combined passes. Through the first eight games, CSU was running the ball on 52.9 percent of offensive plays, compared to 74.8 over the past two weeks.

The ground attack has worked, rushing for 228 yards at Wyoming and 325 against UNLV. The 325 rushing yards were the most since Nov. 16, 2013. Against the Rebels, Dalyn Dawkins had a career-most 151 rushing yards, while three others had at least 46. Dawkins, Jasen Oden, Jr. (79), Izzy Matthews (47) and Deionte Gaines (46) averaged 9.5 yards per carry, and each had a run of at least 24 yards.

DOMINANT DEONTE
Linebacker Deonte Clyburn is making a name for himself, averaging 10.0 tackles per game over the past four contests. A month ago, his career high was five, but the sophomore totaled 10 in a win over Air Force (10/17), 11 the following game against San Diego State (10/31) and 12 last week vs. UNLV (11/14). Prior to CSU's game against Air Force, Clyburn was averaging less than three tackles per game.

BIG PLAYS
Through nine weeks, CSU had five plays of more than 40 yards, and zero more than 50. On the first play against UNLV, however, quarterback Nick Stevens hit tight end Steven Walker for 69 yards. It was the longest play of the season for the Rams, and set up several other big plays. In total CSU had eight plays of at least 20 yards and three of at least 40.

FA'APITO'S TURN
Senior Nu'uvali Fa'apito began his career as a fullback, but quickly moved to linebacker under Jim McElwain's system. After playing three seasons on defense, Fa'apito moved back to his natural position this season, and made the most of it Saturday vs. Air Force. He rushed three times, scoring on two of them for the first two touchdowns of his career.

The first score gave CSU a 28-21 lead with 13 seconds remaining in the first half, and the second sealed the Rams' victory, giving them a three-score lead with less than two minutes to play.

LIMITING PENALTIES
Entering play last week, CSU ranked 124th in the NCAA FBS for penalties and 120th for penalty yards, but was able to limit the self-inflicted wounds Saturday vs. UNLV. CSU was flagged just three times for 35 yards in the victory.

PACKING THE HOUSE
CSU averaged 24,917 fans per home game in 2015, the second-highest average attendance figure in the past decade. For the second consecutive season, CSU posted two sellouts, after going more than 10 years without a capacity crowd, before the Rams' homecoming game on Oct. 18, 2014.

Overall, CSU has won 16 of its last 21 home games since 2012, the best period of success since winning 17 of 21 from 1997-2001.

SENIOR DAY
Prior to last week's game vs. UNLV, CSU recognized 26 seniors. The class has been part of one of the most successful runs in school history, winning 16 home games over the past four years, tied for the best stretch in school history (also 1925-28, 1999-2002 and 2000-03).

For many, their freshman season saw a record of 4-8, and prior to that came three consecutive 3-9 campaigns. CSU is vying for its third consecutive bowl game and winning season.

O'BRIEN NAMED BURLSWORTH TROPHY NOMINEE
Senior center Kevin O'Brien was named a nominee for the 2015 Burlsworth Trophy, which is named after former Arkansas walk-on and All-America offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth, and is given to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. O'Brien has played in all 10 games this season, and has 12 career starts. He played three seasons as a walk-on for the Rams before earning a scholarship during this year's fall camp.

MATTHEWS ADDS TO THE RUN GAME
Adding to the duo of Dalyn Dawkins and Jasen Oden, Jr. is freshman running back Izzy Matthews. Matthews has seen extended time over the past three weeks, getting 28 carries and rushing for at least 47 yards each week. Against San Diego State (10/31), Matthews had a team-most 58 yards, and the following week (at Wyoming, 11/7), he finished with 55 and two scores.

TO BATTLE
When the Rams are able to hold onto the ball, they have a good chance of winning the ballgame. CSU is 3-0 when winning the turnover battle, committing just one turnover against Air Force and Wyoming and zero at UTSA. Despite trailing the turnover battle 25-12 this season, CSU's opponents have scored just 46 points off of turnovers, compared to 37 for CSU.

OPENING STATEMENT
CSU has scored on its first possession four times this season, including each of its past two games. The Rams have won all four games. Fast starts have been consistent for the Rams, who are out-scoring opponents 119-56 in the first quarter, trailing just once. During the Rams' first three games of the season, they allowed zero points, three total first downs and 65 net yards through the first quarter.

Against UNLV (11/14), CSU also scored on its first drive of the second half, opening up a 35-21 lead. CSU has scored on its opening drive of both halves three times this season.

BRYAN'S DEPENDABLE LEG
Freshman Wyatt Bryan has made at least one field goal in all nine collegiate games he has played in (he was not used vs. UNLV on Nov. 14), including seven in a row dating back to Sept. 26. Bryan made two field goals in the Rams' Border War win at Wyoming (11/7), and a week prior nailed a 44-yarder (career long) against San Diego State to give the Rams a 10-7 lead.

Bryan is 11-of-15 on the year, including a 37-yarder as regulation expired, sending the Rams' game against Minnesota (9/12) into overtime.

CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins leads the Rams with 47 receptions on the season. He has now recorded a catch in all 35 collegiate contests he has played in. Just 10 active FBS receivers have hauled in a catch in more consecutive games.

FIELD-POSITION GAME
CSU's has the third-best offense in the Mountain West (417.3 yards per game), and while a lot of that is due to the playmakers on offense, some of the credit goes to the kick returners. CSU is averaging 24.83 yards per return, 13th-best nationally. Five of the Rams' returns have gone for at least 30 yards, including a 53-yard return by Deionte Gaines vs. UNLV (11/14).

IN THE (RED) ZONE
CSU was a perfect 7-of-7 in red-zone opportunities against UNLV (11/14), scoring touchdowns all seven times (additionally, the Rams are 18-of-20 in the red zone over the past four games). On the season, the Rams have scored during 88.4 percent of drives that reach the red zone, good for 30th in the nation.

STANDING TALL ON 3RD DOWN
Opponents have converted on just 32.8 percent of third-down opportunities (44-of-134), which ranks 25th nationally. Conversely, CSU's offense has converted at a 44.5-percent rate (66-of-145; 25th in NCAA FBS). The Rams are one of five teams nationally to rank in the top 25 on offense and defense. Last year's season figure of 49 percent was a school record.

DO OR DIE
While the Rams are among football's best on third down, when they've been presented with a fourth-and-short, they've been even better. CSU ranks 21st nationally, converting 10-of-15 fourth-down opportunities. The Rams were 2-for-2 at Wyoming (11/7), including going for it at their own 37 on the first series of the game. The move paid off and CSU scored a touchdown later in the drive.

A week prior vs. San Diego State (10/31) and backed up to its own 30, CSU elected to call a fake punt on 4th-and-5. The ball was snapped to linebacker Deonte Clyburn, who ran down the sideline for 13 yards and the first down.

BEHIND THE LINE
CSU is averaging 7.4 tackles for loss per game, the 24th-best average in the country. While the defense's explosiveness is impressive, the Rams' offense line is equally notable. CSU's offensive line ranks 13th nationally, allowing 4.5 tackles for loss per game, and 23rd with 1.30 sacks allowed per game. CSU did not allow a sack against San Diego State (10/31), and on the season has allowed just 13 in 10 games, tied for third in the Mountain West and first among teams that run a balanced offensive attack.

NO SHORTAGE OF PASS-CATCHING TARGETS
No team nationally has logged more career receiving yards than CSU, and only Cincinnati has more touchdown receptions. CSU's quarterbacks are throwing to targets - wide receivers, tight ends, running backs and fullbacks - who have accounted for 645 career receptions (7th) for 8,637 yards (1st) and 72 touchdowns (2nd).

CSU returned its top four pass catchers from 2014 and 10 of the 12 players who caught at least three passes last season. The wide receiver corps alone has logged 465 career receptions for 6,526 yards and 53 touchdowns.

EARLY AND OFTEN
CSU scored in all four quarters against UNLV, and on the season has put points on the board during 32 of 40 quarters.

CAPTURING HARDWARE
Three weeks after defeating Air Force to reclaim the Ram-Falcon Trophy, CSU won the Border War over Wyoming for the third consecutive season. It marks the second consecutive season that CSU has won two of its three traveling trophies. Additionally, head coach Mike Bobo became CSU's third-ever coach to win two rivalry games in his first season (Leon Fuller in 1982, Sonny Lubick in 1993).

CSU's Border War win marked the first time the Rams have won the rivalry game in three consecutive games since 1999-2002, and the first time they've won back-to-back games in Laramie since winning five in a row from 1993-2001. All-time, CSU is 57-44-5 in the series that dates back to 1899 - the longest continuous rivalry west of the Mississippi. CSU's win over Air Force was its second in its past three seasons after losing seven in a row from 2006-12.

QB1
First-year starting quarterback Nick Stevens had his most complete game against Air Force (10/17), throwing for a career-most 296 yards and three touchdowns. The sophomore leads the Mountain West and ranks 25th nationally with 19 touchdown passes, including four last week vs. UNLV. Stevens ranks second with 2,020 passing yards (56th in NCAA FBS) and a 142.7 pass efficiency rating (40th), and third with a 62.1 completion percentage (47th).

DO-IT-ALL HANSLEY
Senior wide receiver Joe Hansley has five touchdowns on the season, including the Rams' only touchdown Oct. 10 vs. Boise State. That night, he was also instrumental in CSU's other scoring drive, completing a 35-yard pass to senior tight end Kivon Cartwright in the second quarter. Six plays later, CSU cut the deficit to two possessions with a field goal. The completion was Hansley's second of his career, also connecting with Cartwright for a touchdown against UTEP in 2013.

Hansley is one of 18 active players in the FBS to have at least one career touchdown as a receiver, passer and either rusher or returner.

COORS LIGHT COACH'S SHOW
The Coors Light Coach Bobo Coach's Show occurs every Wednesday at C.B. & Potts on Elizabeth Street. The show can also be heard on CSU's flagship radio station, ESPN 105.5. The final show will take place on Tuesday, Nov. 24 (moved up one day due to Thanksgiving).

THURSDAY-NIGHT TV
Thursday Night Football will have to take a backseat for Rams fans. Fans in the region have two opportunities to get an inside glimpse of CSU football. Todd Romero and former CSU and NFL standout Joel Dreessen co-host STATE of the Rams on Altitude, from 6-6:30 p.m. Following that, from 6:30-7 p.m., the Rams Report is back for its second season on ROOT SPORTS.

COMING HOME IN 2017
After five decades playing at Hughes Stadium, the Rams will bring football back to campus beginning in 2017. The new, $220 million on-campus stadium has a capacity of 41,000, and will be located on the heart of campus, at the intersection of Pitkin and Meridian (Hughes Stadium is located approximately three miles west of campus).

The state-of-the-art, multi-purpose stadium will have the ability to be used by multiple sports teams and will have an alumni center and academic space built in. Site prep began in May, and a groundbreaking ceremony took place prior to the Rams' contest against Minnesota on Sept. 12. More information, including a webcam on the construction site, can be found at www.stadium.colostate.edu.

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