CSU Rams Gameday: Football at UTSA, Sept. 26

Sept. 25, 2015

The Colroado State football team travels outside of the state of Colorado for the first time this season, playing at UTSA in San Antonio, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:04 p.m., and the game can be seen nationwide on the CBS Sports Network.

LINKS: Game Notes | Roster | Media Guide | Schedule

COLORADO STATE (1-2, 0-0 MW) vs. UTSA (0-3, 0-0 C-USA)
KICKOFF: 5:04 p.m. MT
TV: CBS Sports Network (channel finder)
RADIO: CSU Flagship: KJAC 105.5 FM | KRFD 100.1 | KJME 890 AM | KKVT 100.7 FM
LIVE STATS: Gametracker
TWITTER: @CSUFootball | @CSURamsGameday | @CoachBobo_CSU | CSURams NeverSatisfied

COLORADO STATE FOOTBALL HEADLINES
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#NextLevelRams: NFL update
Rams’ game at Utah State on Oct. 3 will kick off at 5 p.m. MT

THE SETTING
The Rams and Roadrunners will meet for the first time on the gridiron Saturday. CSU will be looking to snap its two-game losing streak, while UTSA is searching for its first victory of 2015. On paper, CSU ranks higher than UTSA in every statistical category except for turnover margin (tied). CSU's defense, which ranks 47th in the NCAA FBS allowing just 21.0 points per game, will go up against an offense which has averaged 16.3 points per contest.

ABOUT COLORADO STATE

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Mike Bobo, formerly the OC at Georgia.
Return 17 starters from last year's 10-win team.
Looking for third consecutive bowl game berth.
Picked to finish third in the Mountain West's Mountain Division.
Highlighted by consensus All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins, who led the NCAA FBS for yards (1,750) and touchdowns (17) in 2014 and was one of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award.
The team's pass catchers lead the NCAA FBS with more than 6,400 career yards combined.
Under defensive coordinator Tyson Summers, the defense ranks in the top tier of the FBS for yards and points allowed, and ranks 13th for third-down conversion percentage and first for three-and-outs.
Lead the NCAA FBS in kickoff return yards averaged (62.8 per kick) and rank second for punting average (48.2).
Dalyn Dawkins is one of two backs used against Colorado. As a team, CSU has rushed for at least 170 yards in all three games.
CSU is out-scoring its opponents 45-0 in the first quarter.

ABOUT UTSA

Is coached by two-time national coach of the year Larry Coker, who was hired on March 10, 2009.
UTSA is in its fourth season as an FBS school, going 19-17 in its first three seasons.
Is 0-3 to begin 2015, falling to two ranked teams (Arizona and Oklahoma State), in addition to Kansas State.
Has the fewest returning starters in the country (6), after graduating 36 players in 2014 (FBS most). The 114-man roster features 52 newcomers.
LB Drew Douglas, DE Jason Neill and CB Bennett Okotcha were each named to the Conference-USA preseason all-defensive team.
Put up 32 points against then-No. 22 Arizona in the season opener, totaling a school-record 525 yards of offense.
Overall, the offense is putting up just 16.3 points per game, and is being out-scored by an average margin of 30.7.
Has allowed 141 points in three games (47.0 average), which ranks 123rd in the NCAA FBS.
Has three quarterbacks with at least 10 passes this season, led by Blake Bogenschutz (53-of-89 for 546 yards, 3 touchdowns and 3 interceptions).

TEXAS CONNECTION
A total of 13 players on the Rams' roster hail from the Lonestar State, the third-most of any state - behind Colorado and California. Starting safety Trent Matthews is from Converse, a suburb of San Antonio. His high school is located less than 16 miles away from the Alamodome.

WORKING OVERTIME
Entering 2015, CSU had played in just three overtime contests, and none since a double-overtime victory at Utah State in 2011. After a Week-1 win, the Rams have played in back-to-back overtime games, the only school in the country to do so this season. In Week 2 against Minnesota, Wyatt Bryan's 37-yard field goal as regulation expired knotted the score at 20-20. This past Saturday against Colorado, the Rams scored a game-tying touchdown with 4:29 to play and went to extended time after CU's game-winning field-goal attempt was shanked to the left as time expired.

CSU's other overtime contests came in 2001 against No. 8 Fresno State and in 2007 against Colorado.

OPENING STATEMENT
CSU has scored first in all three games this season, and overall, has outscored its opponents 45-0 during the first quarter. Each of the last two weeks, sophomore running back Dalyn Dawkins has been the first Ram in the end zone - the first two touchdowns of his career.

The Rams' defense has been especially good at the start of games, holding opponents scoreless through the first quarter in all three games. In fact, CSU's three opponents have combined for just 65 net yards and three first-quarter first downs.

DUAL THREAT
Running back Dalyn Dawkins rushed 20 times Saturday against Colorado for a career-most 118 yards. The sophomore also added 59 yards through the air - including a screen pass he took 36 yards down the sideline - to become the first Ram since Raymond Carter on Sept. 25, 2010 vs. Idaho to have more than 100 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards in the same game.

CSU's running backs are averaging 5.2 yards per carry this season, led by Dawkins (247 total yards) and senior Jasen Oden, Jr. (184). Oden also has 23 receiving yards and a touchdown.

NO SHORTAGE ON PASS-CATCHING TARGETS
No team nationally has logged more career receiving yards than CSU, and only Cincinnati has more touchdown receptions. CSU's quarterbacks will be looking for targets - wide receivers, tight ends and running backs - who have accounted for 523 career receptions (7th) for 7,073 yards (1st) and 58 touchdowns (2nd).

CSU returns its top four pass catchers from 2014 and 10 of the 12 players who caught at least three or more passes last season. The wide receiver corps alone has logged 395 career receptions for 5,564 yards and 42 touchdowns.

CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins caught his first of eight passes Saturday in the first quarter, setting up the Rams' first score. He has now recorded a catch in all 28 collegiate contests he has played in. Just eight receivers have hauled in a catch in more consecutive games.

GETTING ON AND OFF THE FIELD
CSU's stout defense has begun each game of 2015 with a three-and-out, including four straight against Savannah State and six in a row against Minnesota. The Rams lead the NCAA FBS with 8.0 three-and-outs per game. By definition, a three-and-out means holding an opponent without a first down on a drive, and could include a punt, turnover, turnover on downs or missed field goal without a first down.

The Rams have forced 24 three-and-outs on 47 drives (51.1 percent). Furthermore, CSU has produced a three-and-out on 70.6 percent of non-scoring drives (24-of-34).

STANDING TALL ON 3RD DOWN
CSU is forcing a three-and-out on more than 50 percent of opponent drives, and a large reason for that is its ability to stop teams on third down. Opponents have converted on just 22.4 percent of third-down opportunities (11-of-49), which ranks 13th nationally. Last week, Colorado was 3-of-13.

Conversely, CSU's offense has converted at a 46-percent rate (21-of-46). Last year's figure of 49 percent was a school record.

FLIPPING THE FIELD
Hayden Hunt wasn't needed through the first 69:42 of the season, but since has been used to punt 12 times. The junior is averaging 48.2 yards per punt this season, with four boots of 50 yards and five placed inside the 20. His average currently ranks second among all punters in the NCAA FBS.

Hunt's third punt of the season has been his most impressive so far, rolling all the way to the Minnesota 2-yard line, a 73-yarder. 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. He is a two-time candidate for the national punter of the year award, and in 2015 has already been named to the watch list.

HOLLYWOOD PLAYS
After missing action against Minnesota on Sept. 12, junior wide receiver Rashard Higgins returned to the field Saturday against Colorado, leading all players with eight catches for 125 yards and an acrobatic 25-yard touchdown reception. Higgins has scored a touchdown in both games he has played in this season and in 15 games throughout his career. His 25 career touchdown catches is a school record.

TENACIOUS D
Three weeks into the season, CSU's defense ranks in the top tier of college football for yards allowed (42nd), scoring (47th), third-down conversions (13th) and red zone defense (14th).

The senior-laden defense - eight returning starters - is led by safeties Kevin Pierre Louis (22 tackles) and Trent Matthews (16) and linebacker Cory James (18 tackles, 2 TFL). Stepping into bigger roles have also been linebacker Kevin Davis, who leads all defenders with 23 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss, in addition to a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the season opener, and Josh Watson, who has 18 tackles, including three for a loss. Senior Martavius Foster has a team-most 3.0 sacks, which all came during Week 1 against Savannah State, his first career start. The Rams were also boosted against Colorado by Preson Hodges blocked field goal, the team's first since Oct. 25, 2014 vs. Wyoming.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY
CSU's opening score against Colorado was a 10-play, 52-yard drive which ate up 5:18 off the clock. The drive was the longest of the season by 1:20. The Rams also had scoring drives of 4:34 and 4:21 - the second- and third-longest of the season.

The methodical approach - still in an up-tempo offense which ran 88 plays from scrimmage - was a change from the first two weeks. CSU scored 47 seconds into its season, the second-fastest in school history, and through the first two weeks had been averaging just 1:31 per scoring drive. Of the 14 scores, eight came in one minute or less.

ALL-AROUND GOOD GUY
Allstate Insurance Company and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced the roster for the 2015 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, featuring Colorado State safety Trent Matthews. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team is the most-esteemed off-the-field honor in college football, and recognizes 22 student-athletes nationally (11 FBS student-athletes and 11 from the FCS and other levels) who have made a positive impact on others and their communities. Matthews is the third Ram to be recognized, joining Ray Jackson (1995) and Myron Terry (1996).

For the past three summers, Matthews has coached youth football through the City of Fort Collins summer camps. Not limited to just a coach, he has gone beyond the call of duty of his role, and now supervises the coaching of the camps for the entire city, in addition to looking after kids during the camps and afterward. On several occasions, he has voluntarily stayed longer when parents are running late, and has even provided food for kids to ensure safety and that they're taken care of. Additionally, Matthews has regularly scheduled appearances on his own at several elementary and middle schools, including Laurel Elementary, where he befriended a fifth grader who was having trouble with bullying. He makes visits about three times per month to mentor the youth and simply hang out with his younger friends. He regularly attends their sporting events, calls on birthdays and is available on-call at any moment.

SHOWDOWN ATTENDANCE
The 2015 Rocky Mountain Showdown was the best attended since 2008, with 66,253 fans invading Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The figure includes 31,601 tickets distributed by CSU, and more than 11,500 purchased by CSU students. The Rams distributed 27,000 tickets in 2014, 23,392 in 2013 and 18,169 in 2012.

The figure not only was the highest in the series in seven years, but also ranked high nationally. Of the six neutral-site football games in 2015 thus far, the Showdown was the third-best attended.

RECORDS WATCH
Junior Rashard Higgins moved into fourth place for career receptions and receiving yards. Here's a look at Higgins' and James' chase for history:

Rashard Higgins

Career touchdown: Has 25, already a school record
Career receiving yards: Has 2,796, needing 16 to pass Jeff Champine for third place, 468 to reach second and surpass Greg Primus and 839 to set CSU's all-time record (David Anderson, 3,634)
Has 179 receptions, needing six to pass Jeff Champine for third place, 16 to reach second and pass Greg Primus and 45 to set CSU's career mark (David Anderson, 223)

Cory James

Has 22 sacks, which ranks fifth. He is in position to finish his career in second, needing one to pass Adrian Ross for fourth, three to reach Mike Bell for third place, 6.5 to total Brady Smith in second and 11 to match Clark Haggans' school record

 
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
In each of the past two games, CSU has come up big late in the game. After Minnesota took a three-point lead with 55 seconds remaining, CSU marched down the field to tie the score with a field goal as regulation expired. A week later against Colorado, CSU scored a game-tying touchdown with 4:29 remaining, and then kept CU off the board as the Buffs attempted to take the lead in the final minute.
Both times, however, CSU has been unable to score in overtime (turnover, blocked field goal).

On paper, CSU put up better numbers against Colorado, totaling 500 yards of offense (compared to 345 for CU), 27 first downs (18), 218 rushing yards (125) and 282 passing yards (220). The Rams led for 26:19, while the Buffs held the advantage for 8:55. Similarly, a week prior against Minnesota, CSU led for 40:51, compared to 15:14 for the Gophers.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
CSU had a student-athlete recognized as the Mountain West Player of the Week in each of the first two weeks of the season:

Sept. 14: Redshirt freshman Wyatt Bryan was named the MW Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance against Minnesota, which featured two PATs and two field-goal makes, including a 37-yard game-tying kick as regulation expired.

Sept. 7: Making his first career start, Nick Stevens had a debut to remember. When all was said and done, his final stat line read: 20-for-28, 289 yards, 5 touchdowns, 0 interceptions. Stevens was also recognized as the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl Player of the Week.

COACH TO CURE MD
The AFCA will hold its eighth annual Coach to Cure MD effort this weekend, with more than 100 FBS schools wearing a Coach to Cure MD patch to raise awareness and funding for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. Fans are encouraged to donate online at www.CoachtoCureMD.com or by donating $5 by texting CURE to 90999.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common fatal genetic disorder among boys worldwide. In seven years, the Coach to Cure MD effort has raised more than $1.2 million in donations.

NOTES IN 140

Saturday will mark the first time that CSU and UTSA have met on the gridiron. The Roadrunners became an FBS school in 2012.
13 #CSURams hail from the Lonestar State, including safety Trent Matthews, whose high school is located 16 miles from the Alamodome.
The Rams will leave the Centennial State for the first time in 2015, the team's latest true road game since 2009. 
A win Saturday would mark the second year in a row that the Rams have won at least two non-conference games.
A win Saturday would give CSU its first road win since Nov. 1, 2014 at San Jose State.
CSU is the only team in the NCAA FBS to play in back-to-back overtime games in 2015. Entering this season, CSU had played in three overtime games in school history. 
CSU is out-scoring its opponents 45-0 in the first quarter, and has allowed just 65 net yards and three first downs in the first stanza. 
The Rams have scored first in all three games this season. Each of the last two weeks, Dalyn Dawkins has been the first Ram in the end zone.
CSU's defense ranks in the top tier of the FBS for yards and points allowed, and 13th for third-down conversion percentage (22.4).
The Rams' stout defense leads the NCAA FBS with 8.0 three-and-outs averaged per game. CSU has forced a three-and-out on 51.1% of drives this season. 
CSU leads the NCAA FBS in kickoff return yards (62.8 per kick), with Vaden (99) and Gaines (52) both making big returns.
Hayden Hunt ranks 2nd nationally, averaging 48.2 yards per punt. Against Minnesota, he had a 73-yarder, the 8th-longest in #CSURams history.
RB Dalyn Dawkins became the first Ram since Raymond Carter in 2010 to have more than 100 rushing yards (118) and 50 receiving yards (59).
The #CSURams rank 37th in the NCAA FBS for total offense (470.7) and 34th for total defense (313.7).
Opponents are converting just 24% of third-down attempts, which puts the Rams' defense 13th in the nation. Conversely, CSU's offense has converted at a 46% rate. 
CSU has pass catchers who have accounted for 523 career receptions for 7,073 yards (1st in NCAA FBS) and 58 touchdowns (2nd).
#HollywoodHiggins led all receivers with 8 catches and 125 yards vs. CU. He has now recorded at least one catch in all 28 career games he has played in (9th in NCAA FBS).
#HollywoodHiggins has scored a TD in both games he has played in this season, and for his career has 25 TDs (school record) in 15 different games.
#HollywoodHiggins moved into 4th place on CSU's career lists for receiving yards (2,796) and receptions (179).
#HollywoodHiggins enters 2015 as the nation's top receiver. He led the NCAA FBS in 2014 with 1,750 yards and 17 touchdowns. 
#HollywoodHiggins is one of 4 returning consensus All-America position players. He is the only returning @BiletnikoffAwrd finalist.
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.
CSU's running backs are averaging 5.2 yards per carry this season, led by Dawkins (247 total yards) and Oden (184).
CSU has 13 receivers with at least one catch, including 11 against Savannah State and nine vs. CU.
QB Nick Stevens started the #RMShowdown 8-of-9, completing passes to six different targets.
The Rams' capacity crowd (32,500) against Minnesota marked the 3rd time in the past 6 home games that CSU has played in front of a sold-out crowd.
CSU has won 14 of its past 17 home games, the best stretch since 1997-2001. The Rams had a school-record 9-game home win streak entering Week 2.

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