Colorado State University Athletics
Postgame Notes: CSU football at UTSA
9/26/2015 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 26, 2015
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CSU Rams Postgame Notes
Colorado State 33, UTSA 31
- Senior RB Jasen Oden, Jr. rushed for a career-most 143 yards on 30 carries (also a career high). His previous high was 90 on Oct. 4, 2014, against Tulsa. He has rushed for at least 74 yards in three of CSU's four games this season.
- Sophomore QB Nick Stevens finished the game 15-of-28 for 255 yards and three touchdowns.
- Senior CB DeAndre Elliott helped CSU win the turnover game for the first time this season. His third-quarter interception set up a CSU touchdown. The Rams did not turn the ball over for the first time this season.
- The win was CSU's first in a dome since the 2001 New Orleans Bowl. CSU hadn't played in a dome since facing Idaho in 2009.
- CSU's first-quarter safety was the Rams' second defensive score of the season (Kevin Davis recovered a fumble for a touchdown vs. Savannah State) and was CSU's first scored safety since Sept. 28, 2013 vs. UTEP.
- CSU's eight-point deficit in the first half (17-9) was its largest of the season. It was the first time this season that CSU has come from behind in a victory. Saturday also marked the first time CSU has trailed at halftime.
- Junior WR Rashard Higgins moved past Jeff Champine for third place in CSU history with 2,899 career receiving yards. He is one catch away from passing Champine for third place for career receptions (190).
- Higgins totaled 100-plus receiving yards for the second consecutive game and 14th time in his career (third-most in CSU history).
- For the sixth time in the past nine games, dating back to last season, a CSU receiver and rusher have both totaled 100 yards.
- Kevin Davis had 1.5 tackles for loss in the first quarter (one sack), marking the fourth consecutive game that the junior has had 1.5 TFL. He entered the season with 2.5 for his career.
- Seniors Martavius Foster (four on the season) and Joe Kawulok (three) also teamed up for a sack, forcing UTSA to punt late in the second quarter. Foster had a 15-yard sack on third down, moving UTSA out of field-goal range, negated for a facemask penalty (UTSA scored on the next play).
- CSU won its first road game since Nov. 1, 2014 at San Jose State. Despite the Rams' success over the past three seasons, CSU had lost its last three games away from Hughes Stadium, prior to Saturday.
- For the first time in 2015, CSU was not the first team to score. The Rams had previously out-scored their opponents 45-0 in the first quarter.
- UTSA's initial scoring drive also marked the first time a 2015 opponent has recorded a first down on its first drive of the game. The Rams lead the nation with 8.0 three-and-outs per game, entering Saturday.
- CSU's first three first downs came on third down, including a 34-yard touchdown completion to Xavier Williams on 3rd-and-6. On the season, CSU is converting 57.4 percent of its third-down conversions (31-of-54).
- Sophomore WR Xavier Williams' first-quarter touchdown was the second of the season and fifth of his career. He finished with two catches for 48 yards.
- Junior Hayden Hunt's first punt (58 yards) went out of bounds at the UTSA 2-yard line. The Roadrunners were backed up one yard after a Cory James tackle for loss (one of two on the night), and two plays later were called for holding in the end zone, resulting in a CSU safety.
- UTSA's second-quarter field goal came after the original spot was ruled a first down. Head coach Mike Bobo called for a review, and the spot was backed up, which forced UTSA to bring out its field-goal unit.
- Redshirt freshman Coleman Key entered the game during the Rams' first drive of the second quarter. His first pass went to WR Rashard Higgins for 12 yards. It was Key's first action since the Minnesota game (Sept. 12).
- Rashard Higgins' first catch marked the 29th consecutive game that he has had at least one reception (every collegiate game he has played in).
- Hayden Hunt's second punt of the game was blocked and recovered at the CSU 11. Two plays later, UTSA took a 17-9 lead. It was the first time a CSU punt has been blocked since Dec. 21, 2013 vs. Washington State in the New Mexico Bowl.
- CSU's 12-play, 75-yard scoring drive to bring the score to 17-16 used 5:24 off the clock, the Rams' longest scoring drive of the season at the time (previous high was 5:18 vs. Colorado). The drive was capped by a Jasen Oden, Jr. touchdown run.
- Senior TE Stephen Walker rushed for four yards during the Rams' second-quarter touchdown drive, the first carry of his career.
- After allowing touchdown drives to begin the second half each of the past two weeks, CSU received the ball to begin the second half for the first time this season and marched down the field for a six-play, 61-yard touchdown drive (2:19). The Rams held UTSA to a three-and-out during the Roadrunners' first drive of the second half.
- The Rams' touchdown to open the second half was scored by sophomore WR Deionte Gaines, the second of his career and first receiving touchdown.
- With heavy pressure from Deonte Clyburn and Joe Kawulok, UTSA QB Blake Bogenschutz forced an errant pass, resulting in a DeAndre Elliott interception at the Rams' 11-yard line. It was Elliott's second interception of the season and seventh of his career. It marked CSU's first forced turnover since Minnesota (Sept. 12).
- Junior WR Rashard Higgins' 38-yard touchdown catch was the 26th of his career (school record). He has now scored a touchdown in all three games he has played in this season and 16 different games throughout his career.
- CSU ate up 7:14 off the clock during its 15-play, 84-yard drive which was capped by a 21-yard field goal by Wyatt Bryan. The 15 plays were the most during a scoring drive this season and the 84 yards tied a season most.
- Jarveon Williams' 85-yard rushing touchdown was the longest of the season by a CSU opponent. He finished the game with 170 rushing yards and UTSA as a team rushed for 279. CSU entered the game ranked 41st in NCAA FBS, allowing just 129.3 rushing yards per game.
- After UTSA cut the Rams' lead to two, 33-31, with 10:28 to play, CSU's defense kept the Roadrunners off the board and forced a punt with 5:28 to play. The Rams' offense then converted five first downs to run out the clock. CSU held the ball for 11:21 of the fourth quarter.
- CSU entered Saturday leading the NCAA FBS for kickoff return yards (47.8 yards per return). Between Deionte Gaines (4 for 96 yards), Kevin Nutt, Jr. (1, 23) and Eric Williams (1, 19), CSU totaled 138 yards on six returns.
- CSU's captains all hail from the state of Texas: Rashard Higgins (Dallas), Trent Matthews (Converse), Kevin O'Brien (Katy) and Kevin Pierre-Louis (Del Rio). Overall, CSU has 13 Texans on its roster, the third-most of any state.
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