Football game notes: CSU at Fresno State, Nov. 28

Nov. 23, 2015

ENTIRE WEEK 12 GAME NOTES (PDF) Colorado State at Fresno State
Saturday, Nov. 28, 2015 | 7 p.m. MT
Bulldog Stadium | Fresno, Calif.

TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: ESPN 105.5 FM / Listen Online
In-Game Twitter Updates

ABOUT COLORADO STATE

Is on a three-game win streak and has qualified for a bowl game for the third consecutive season.
Is 3-1 on the road this season, and 9-4 dating back to the 2013 season (best stretch since 2001-03).
Ray Guy Award semifinalist Hayden Hunt has helped CSU to a 43.4 net punting average, which ranks second nationally.
2014 consensus All-American Rashard Higgins leads the Mountain West with eight touchdown catches. He recently became CSU's all-time receptions leader and needs 139 yards to own its rec. yards record.
QB Nick Stevens leads the MW and ranks 25th nationally with 20 touchdown passes.
The Rams are averaging 189.9 rushing yards per game, led by Dalyn Dawkins (128.3 yards over last three games).
LB Kevin Davis leads CSU with 83 tackles, including 11.5 for loss. He had a sack and his first career interception at New Mexico.
Has converted 47.2-percent of third-down opportunities, which ranks 15th in NCAA FBS.
OL ranks 16th in FBS, allowing 4.6 tackles for loss per game. The defense ranks 28th with 7.2 per game.
During CSU's three-game win streak, the Rams have scored on their first possession in each game.
Is 4-0 when winning the turnover battle, doing so twice in its past three games.

ABOUT FRESNO STATE

Led by fourth-year head coach Tim DeRuyter, who is 29-22 at Fresno State.
Is 3-8 on the season, including 2-5 in Mountain West play and 2-3 on the road.
Has won two of its past five games since a five-game losing streak from Weeks 2-6.
Will recognize 18 seniors prior to Saturday's game. The class has posted a 19-5 home record over the past four seasons, winning two MW championships and three division titles.
Senior LB Ejiro Ederaine (44.5 career tackles for loss) needs 2.5 to become the Mountain West's all-time leader. His average this season of 1.4 per game ranks 21st nationally.
Senior Marteze Waller is expected to become the fifth RB in school history to reach 3,000 career rushing yards.
Is averaging just 4.91 penalties per game (15th in NCAA FBS) and 40.55 penalty yards (12th).
Defense has recovered 11 fumbles, seventh-best in the NCAA FBS, including two by George Helmuth.
Is averaging 2.55 sacks per game (29th in FBS), led by Ederaine's 9.0.
The special teams units are limiting opponents to an average of 20.17 kickoff return yards, best in the MW.

SERIES NOTES

CSU holds a 7-5 advantage in the series, including 3-2 in Fresno.
Saturday will mark the first meeting in the series since 2012. The two teams did not play in 2013 or 2014 because the Mountain West split into two divisions.
As WAC foes in the 1990s, CSU was 4-1 against Fresno State, winning four in a row from 1993-97.
The 2001 meeting was CSU's first-ever overtime game. The Rams came up just short of upsetting the No. 8 Bulldogs.
CSU beat Fresno State in the 2008 New Mexico Bowl, capping a 7-6 season under first-year head coach Steve Fairchild. RB Gartrell Johnson rushed for 285 yards and two touchdowns and totaled 375 combined rushing and receiving yards, the most ever by any player in a bowl game at the time. CSU scored 20 fourth-quarter points to come from behind and earn the victory.
CSU and Fresno State have met just once since becoming Mountain West partners. The Rams lost to Derek Carr and the Bulldogs, 28-7, in 2012 in Fort Collins.
Ten current Rams played in the 2012 contest against Fresno State. Kivon Cartwright, DeAndre Elliott, Cory James and Trent Matthews earned starts, while Kevin Davis, Nu'uvali Fa'apito, Joe Hansley, Nick Januska, Joe Kawulok and Jasen Oden, Jr. also saw time on the field.
Playing defense, Jasen Oden, Jr. had three tackles (one for loss), but his biggest play was a forced fumble at the Rams' 25-yard line. He also returned one punt for 11 yards.
Kevin Davis was CSU's fourth-leading tackler, totaling eight stops, in addition to a pass breakup.
Trent Matthews had five tackles, two pass breakups and one tackle for loss.
WR Joe Hansley rushed two times for nine yards.

GOING BOWLING
By winning three consecutive games, CSU earned its elusive sixth victory to become bowl eligible for the third year in a row. It marks the first time the program has qualified in three consecutive seasons since doing it five years in a row from 1999-2003. All-time, CSU has played in 14 bowl games - 13 since 1990, plus the 1949 Raisin Bowl.

Like this season, CSU has made late-season pushes toward the postseason several other times. 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 to go bowling.

STREAKING
CSU has put together a three-game winning streak during the month of November to improve its season mark to 6-5. In 2014, the Rams won a school-record nine consecutive games. The last time CSU has put together winning streaks of at least three games in back-to-back seasons was 2008 and 2009, closing 2008 with three straight wins before winning its first three contests of the 2009 season.

ROAD WARRIORS
CSU is 3-1 this season on the road, and since the 2013 season has won nine of its past 13 true road contests. It marks the Rams' best stretch since winning nine of 13 from 2001-03. Prior to the Rams' current run, they had lost 10 true road games in a row and 21 of 22.

HUNT CAN PUNT
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 fifth nationally, averaging 46.3 yards per punt, while the Rams' team net punting average of 43.4 ranks second in 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 percentage of punts inside the 20, second for net average and touchbacks and fourth for gross average. He is the only semifinalist to rank in the top two of three separate categories.

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 Oct. 17, Hunt had a punt downed at the 1, which resulted in a quick punt and CSU touchdown; at UTSA on Sept. 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.

REWRITING THE SCRIPT
Wide receiver Rashard Higgins is rewriting the Rams record book. He entered his junior season already holding CSU's career touchdowns record, which has now been extended to 31, and on Saturday at UNLV he passed David Anderson (2002-05) for first place for career receptions. Higgins has 229, six more than Anderson.

Anderson, a six-year NFL vet, still holds CSU's career receiving yards record, but Higgins is on pace to obtain that record, as well. He enters this week's regular-season finale at 3,496 yards, 139 shy of the record.

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION
Rashard Higgins has come to form in the past several weeks, recording three touchdowns in a win over UNLV (11/14) before totaling a season-most 140 receiving yards at New Mexico (11/21). He leads the Mountain West and ranks 24th nationally with eight touchdowns, while his 90.9 yards-per-game average ranks second in the MW and 23rd nationally, and his 6.5 receptions per game rank second and 20th, respectively.

Saturday marked Higgins' fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season and 17th of his career, setting a CSU record. The wide receiver has 31 career touchdowns, spanning 19 different games. For his career, he is averaging 97.1 yards per game.

SOPHOMORE SENSATION
First-year starter Nick Stevens broke a 31-year-old record Saturday at New Mexico, passing Kelly Stouffer for most passing yards by a Rams sophomore quarterback. Stevens has 2,284, in addition to 20 passing touchdowns, which is tied with Matt Newton (2002) for fifth-most ever by a CSU quarterback - regardless of class. He is on pace to finish the season with the second-most ever, only trailing Garrett Grayson's mark from last season (32).

Stevens' 20 touchdown passes lead the Mountain West (28th in NCAA FBS), as does his 145.7 pass efficiency rating (31st). He is averaging 207.6 passing yards per game (second, 55th) and has a 62.7 completion percentage (second, 43rd). CSU has opened up its run game over the past three weeks, allowing Stevens to hone in on his passing. During CSU's three-game win streak, he is 40-of-57 (70.2) with 593 yards and five touchdowns, compared to two interceptions.

FIRST-YEAR SUCCESS
First-year head coach Mike Bobo became the second CSU coach to lead his inaugural team to bowl eligibility, joining Steve Fairchild (2008). Additionally, a win Saturday vs. Fresno State or in a potential bowl game would guarantee a winning season, and wins in both games would mark the most wins ever by a first-year CSU coach. Only three coaches have posted winning records during their first season: Julius "Hans" Wagner (4-3 in 1942), Bob Davis (5-4-1 in 1947) and Steve Fairchild (7-6 in 2008).

SECURING THE FOOTBALL
The Rams are 4-0 on the year when they turn the ball over fewer times than their opponent, and on two occasions CSU has not committed a turnover - at UTSA (9/26) and at New Mexico (11/21). CSU has won the turnover battle in two of the past three weeks, committing just three turnovers and forcing seven during its win streak.

Despite trailing the turnover battle, 25-15, on the season, the Rams have allowed just 46 points off of turnovers (compared to 44 for CSU).

OPENING STATEMENT
CSU has scored on its first possession five times this season, including each of its past three games. The Rams have won all five games. Fast starts have been consistent for the Rams, who are out-scoring opponents 123-61 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) and at New Mexico (11/21), CSU also scored on its first drive of the second half, expanding upon its leads. CSU has scored on its opening drive of both halves four times this season.

COMING FROM BEHIND
Of CSU's six wins this season, four have been in come-from-behind fashion. Last week at New Mexico, the Rams trailed, 21-20, entering the fourth quarter, before scoring a go-ahead touchdown with 8:41 to play and holding on for the victory.

STRONG RUN GAME
Neither Dalyn Dawkins or Jasen Oden, Jr. rank among the top 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.

Dawkins has 744 rushing yards (5.1 per carry) and two touchdowns. Oden has 656 yards (4.7) and five scores. Both backs also have a receiving touchdown, in addition to 185 total receiving yards between the two. During the Rams' three-game win streak, Dawkins is averaging 128.3 rushing yards per game, including two games with 100-plus yards and a career-most 151 vs. UNLV (11/14).

FIELD-POSITION GAME
CSU's has the third-best offense in the Mountain West (423.5 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 24.2 yards per return, 22nd-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).

BRYAN'S DEPENDABLE LEG
Freshman Wyatt Bryan has made at least one field goal in all 10 collegiate games he has played in (he was not used vs. UNLV on Nov. 14), including nine of his past 10 dating back to Sept. 26. Bryan made two field goals in wins at Wyoming (11/7) and New Mexico (11/21), and against San Diego State (10/31) gave CSU a 10-7 lead with a 44-yarder (career long).

Bryan is 13-of-18 on the year, including a 37-yarder as regulation expired to send the Rams' game against Minnesota into overtime (9/12).

BLOCK PARTY
Senior cornerback DeAndre Elliott changed the momentum of CSU's game Saturday at New Mexico, blocking a field goal that would have put the Lobos ahead by four points. Instead, CSU used the big play to ignite an 87-yard scoring drive to take a 28-21 lead with 8:41 to play.

The block was CSU's third of the season (15th in NCAA FBS). Preston Hodges blocked a field-goal attempt vs. Colorado (9/19) while Joe Kawulok got a hand in on a Wyoming attempt (11/7). In addition to his block, Elliott also has two interceptions on the season.

BEHIND THE LINE
CSU is averaging 7.2 tackles for loss per game, the 28th-best average in the country. While the defense's explosiveness is impressive, the Rams' offense line is equally notable. CSU's offensive line ranks 16th nationally, allowing 4.6 tackles for loss per game, and 20th with 1.27 sacks allowed per game. CSU did not allow a sack against San Diego State (10/31), and on the season has allowed just 14 in 11 games, tied for third in the Mountain West and first among teams that run a balanced offensive attack.

LONG DRIVES
Five of CSU's six longest scoring drives have come during the Rams' three-game winning streak, including a season-high-tying of 90 at New Mexico (11/21). The drive began at the 3-yard line and was capped by a 24-yard field goal on the final play of the first half. Also against New Mexico, CSU had 89- and 87-yard touchdown drives. Against UNLV (11/14), CSU had a seven-play, 89-yard drive, and at Wyoming (11/7), the Rams had a 13-play, 88-yard score that lasted 6:03.

STANDING TALL ON 3RD DOWN
CSU converted nine of 14 third-down opportunities in Saturday's win at New Mexico (11/21), and on the season has been successful at a 47.2-percent rate (15th in NCAA FBS). Last year's season figure of 49 percent was a school record. On defense, CSU is also among the nation's leaders, allowing opponents to convert on just 34.5 percent of third-down chances (31st).

IN THE (RED) ZONE
CSU was a perfect 7-of-7 in red-zone opportunities against UNLV (11/14), scoring touchdowns all seven times, and over the past five games have put points on the board 22 of 25 times. On the season, the Rams have scored during 87.5 percent of drives that reach the red zone, good for 32nd in the nation.

EARLY AND OFTEN
CSU has scored in its past eight quarters, and on the season has put points on the board during 36 of 44 quarters.

LIMITING PENALTIES
During CSU's 3-5 start to the season, the Rams were among the most-penalized teams in the nation, but over the past two weeks, they have become more disciplined. CSU committed just three penalties for 35 yards vs. UNLV (11/14), and was flagged four times for 29 yards at New Mexico (11/21). Through nine games, CSU was averaging 8.8 penalties per game for 80.4 yards.

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 four weeks, getting 43 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. Nothing compared to last week's win at New Mexico, though, when he set a personal best with 89 rushing yards and a game-winning touchdown. During the fourth-quarter drive, he carried the ball seven times for 50 yards.

DOMINANT DEONTE
Linebacker Deonte Clyburn is making a name for himself, averaging 9.8 tackles per game over the past five contests. Midway through the season, his single-game high was five, but the sophomore moved to middle linebacker and totaled 10 in a win over Air Force (10/17), 11 the following game against San Diego State (10/31) and 12 vs. UNLV (11/14). Prior to CSU's game against Air Force, Clyburn was averaging less than three tackles per game.

CONSISTENT KEVIN
Kevin Davis' junior campaign started with a bang, recovering a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown just 47 seconds into the Rams' season (vs. Savannah State, 9/5). The linebacker has a team-most 83 tackles (7.5 per game, 10th in Mountain West) and 11.5 tackles for loss, and Saturday at New Mexico he also picked off his first career pass. The interception, which happened on his birthday, came one play after the Rams took a 28-21 lead in the fourth quarter. He also had his second sack of the season in the win.

From Nov. 28, 2014 through Oct. 31, 2015, Davis had at least a share of a tackle in 10 consecutive games, including exactly 1.5 in each of the first six games of 2015.

NO FLY ZONE
Over the past three weeks, CSU has limited its passing game and has kept the ball on the ground. The Rams rushed 55 times at Wyoming (11/7), 46 times vs. UNLV (11/14) and 43 times at New Mexico (11/21) - all victories - compared to just 57 combined passes. Through the first eight games, CSU was running the ball on 52.9 percent of offensive plays, compared to 71.6 over the past three weeks.

The ground attack has worked, rushing for 258 yards per game. The Rams totaled 325 rushing yards vs. UNLV (11/14), 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.

CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins leads the Rams with 65 receptions on the season. He has now recorded a catch in all 36 collegiate contests he has played in. Just eight active FBS receivers have hauled in a catch in more consecutive games.

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 24th nationally, converting 10-of-16 fourth-down opportunities (62.5 percent). 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.

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 661 career receptions (7th) for 8,901 yards (1st) and 73 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 478 career receptions for 6,769 yards and 53 touchdowns.

BENDING, BUT NOT BREAKING
CSU's opponents have started drives in Rams territory four times this season, scoring just six points. Boise State's second drive of the game started at the CSU 12-yard line after a turnover, but the Broncos had to settle for a field goal after gaining just one yard. Earlier in the season, Minnesota started a drive at the 27-yard line before fumbling, Colorado started at the 35 but missed a field goal and Utah State began a drive at the 8 before being held to a field goal.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE JOE
Wide receiver Joe Hansley is third on the team with five touchdowns, including two during an Oct. 17 victory over Air Force. For his career, Hansley has tallied 131 career catches for 1,765 yards and 11 touchdowns. The senior is two touchdowns, 10 receptions and 135 yards away from cracking CSU's career top 10 lists.

VADEN'S RISE
Junior Jordon Vaden entered Saturday's contest at New Mexico with five catches for 73 yards on the season. The wide receiver was the Rams' No. 2 target against the Lobos, however, catching four passes for a career-most 87 yards, including a personal long of 57 early in the third quarter to set up a CSU field goal.

COORS LIGHT COACH'S SHOW
The final Coors Light Coach Bobo Coach's Show will take place Tuesday at C.B. & Potts on Elizabeth Street. The show is moved up one day this week due to Thanksgiving. The show can also be heard on CSU's flagship radio station, ESPN 105.5, and globally online at portal.stretchinternet.com/csu/

WATCHING THE RAMS ON THE ROAD
When the Rams are on the road, The Boot Grill in Fort Collins is the official watch-party location for CSU fans. Those living in the Denver area are encouraged to attend C.B. & Potts in Westminster or the Tech Center. Additionally, several watch parties take place each week nationwide. Visit www.alumni.colostate.edu for a complete list.

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.

RECORDS WATCH
Junior Rashard Higgins has sole possession of first place for career touchdowns and receptions, and is in position to move into first place for career yards by the end of the season. Several other Rams are also on pace to finish the season or their careers in CSU's record books (season totals, unless marked as career):

>> Wyatt Bryan
13 field goals made (on pace for 15, which would rank 8th)
>> Kivon Cartwright
11 career receiving touchdowns (needs 2 to tie for 10th)
>> Joe Hansley
1,765 career receiving yards (needs 108 to tie for 10th)
131 career receptions (needs 9 to tie for 10th)
11 career receiving touchdowns (needs 2 to tie for 10th)
>> Rashard Higgins
3,496 career receiving yards rank 2nd (needs 139 to set school record)
909 receiving yards (on pace for 1,090, 6th)
229 career receptions (school record)
65 receptions rank 8th (on pace for 78, 3rd)
Had 11 receptions at Utah State on Oct. 3 (tied for 8th for single game)
31 career receiving touchdowns (school record)
8 receiving touchdowns, which is T-8th (needs 1 to reach T-4th, 2 for T-2nd)
186 career total points rank T-9th (on pace for 7th)
Had three receiving touchdowns vs. UNLV on Nov. 14 (tied for the 2nd-most; done 9 times)
Five 100-yard receiving games this season (T-5th)
17 100-yard receiving games in his career (1st)
>> Hayden Hunt
46.3 gross punting average (on pace for 2nd)
73-yard punt vs. Minnesota on Sept. 12 (T-8th-longest in school history)
>> Cory James
24.0 career sacks, which rank 4th
>> Izzy Matthews
363 rushing yards, which rank 8th among freshman running backs (on pace for 443, 7th)
>> Trent Matthews
10 career interceptions, which are T-10th
>> Jasen Oden, Jr.
Needs 68 rushing yards to become 21st Ram with 1,000 career rushing yards
>> Nick Stevens
178 completions (on pace for 210, 10th)
.627 completion percentage (on pace for 6th)
20 touchdown passes rank T-5th (on pace for 24, 2nd)
6 touchdown passes vs. Savannah State on Sept. 5 (tied a school record)
2,284 passing yards (sophomore quarterback record)
>> Team
4,658 total yards (on pace for 5,505, which would rank 5th)
423.5 average yards per game (on pace for 6th)
781 plays (on pace for 923, which would rank 5th)
253 first downs (on pace for 296, which would rank 3rd)
452 rushing attempts (on pace for 534, which would rank 9th)
2,088 net rushing yards (on pace for 2,467, which would rank 10th)
4.62 yards per rush (on pace for 8th)
200 completions (on pace for 236, which would rank 8th)
2,570 passing yards (on pace for 3,037, which would rank 7th)
23 passing touchdowns, which is tied for 5th (on pace for 27, 2nd)
328 points (on pace for 387, which would rank 6th)
50 touchdowns (on pace for 59, which would rank 3rd)
13 field goals (on pace for 15, which would rank 9th)

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