CSU Rams notes: Football at Utah State, Oct. 3

Sept. 28, 2015

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MOUNTAIN WEST OPENERS
Colorado State's team goal at the beginning of the season was to win the Mountain West Mountain Division and play for a Mountain West championship. As the Rams open conference play, they have a challenging upcoming slate, facing three consecutive teams that won at least 10 games last season. The three teams were picked to finish first (Boise State), second (Utah State) and fourth (Air Force) in the Mountain Division standings; CSU was picked to finish third.

CSU is 58-63 (.479) all-time in Mountain West games, the second-best winning percentage among charter MW institutions that are still in the league.
CSU played in the first-ever MW contest, Sept. 16, 1999 at BYU.
The Rams are looking for their first conference-opening victory since 2011 at New Mexico.
Including Saturday, CSU has played four of its past five conference openers on the road.

Weekly Press Conference, Parts 2 & 3

ABOUT COLORADO STATE

Under the guidance of first-year head coach Mike Bobo, formerly the OC at Georgia.
Returns 17 starters from last year's 10-win team.
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 7,340 career yards combined.
Ranks in the top 50 in the NCAA for offense (462.5 yards/game; 36th) and defense (343.2; 44th).
Has two running backs ranked in the top 10 in the Mountain West for rushing yards: Dalyn Dawkins, 82.8/game (6th) and Jasen Oden, Jr., 81.8 (7th).
Has won seven of its last 10 true road games, its best stretch since 2002-03.
The defense ranks in the top tier of the FBS and has produced two scores. Martavius Foster leads the MW for sacks and Kevin Davis ranks first for tackles for loss.
Quarterback Nick Stevens has a Mountain West-most nine touchdown passes and ranks second with 219.2 passing yards per game. Backup Coleman Key has also seen action in three contests.
Punter Hayden Hunt ranks eighth in the NCAA FBS, averaging 48.9 yards per punt.

ABOUT UTAH STATE

Matt Wells is in his third year as head coach of Utah State. He is 20-11, including 1-1 against CSU. Utah State won the Mountain West Mountain Division in 2013, Wells' first year.
Was picked to finish second in the MW Mountain Division, just ahead of CSU. The Aggies won 10 games in 2014.
Is 1-2 on the season, beating Southern Utah in its season opener before falling at then-No. 24 Utah and Washington. Utah State had a bye last week.
Is 2-0 in MW openers and has won 10 straight home games dating back to the 2013 season.
Sophomore Kent Myers will start at quarterback after Chuckie Keeton injured his knee at Washington.
Utah State has limited opponents to 50 first downs, which ranks ninth in the NCAA FBS, and 107.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks 23rd.
While Utah State's defense ranks 28th, allowing 310.7 yards per game and 21.3 points, the offense ranks 126th, recording just 292.3 yards and 14.3 points per game.
Nick Vigil leads the MW and ranks 10th nationally with 11.3 tackles per game.
Wide receiver Hunter Sharp had 152 all-purpose yards at Washington (74 receiving, 78 kick returning).

COLORADO STATE VS. UTAH STATE: SERIES NOTES

Between 1911 and 1979, CSU and Utah State played nearly every year, competing in 63 of 69 seasons. The two teams were both part of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 1914-37.
The series resumed with three meetings in the 1990s, with CSU going 3-0.
The Rams' last win in Logan came in 2011, a double overtime thriller, which remains as CSU's only overtime victory.
The two teams played in non-conference play in 2011 and 2012 before Utah State joined the Mountain West in 2013.
In the 2014 meeting, CSU kicker Jared Roberts made two field goals in the final 1:40, including the game winner as time expired.
Against Utah State in 2014, wide receiver Rashard Higgins caught 10 passes for 187 yards, including a 46-yarder with 11 seconds remaining, which set up the game-winning field goal.
In three career games against the Aggies, safety Trent Matthews has 16 tackles and an interception.
Linebacker Cory James has 12 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks in three games vs. Utah State.
In the last two meetings, CSU has limited Utah State to 11 first downs per game and an average of 225.5 yards of total offense.

WINNING ON THE ROAD
With Saturday's win at UTSA, CSU has now won seven of its past 10 true road contests dating back to the 2013 season. Prior to that stretch, the Rams had lost 10 true road games in a row, and 21 of 22. The Rams last won seven of 10 true road games in 2002-03.

OVERCOMING DEFICITS
CSU's eight-point deficit (17-9) during the second-quarter of its win at UTSA was the largest the Rams have faced this season. In total, CSU has led 66.75 percent of games this season (2:40:12), and has led or been tied 81.15 percent of the time (3:14:46). The Rams did not trail in a win over Savannah State on Sept. 5, and held the advantage during the majority of overtime losses to Minnesota and Colorado.

STAYING INSIDE
Conditions Saturday in San Antonio were 72 and clear, like always. The Rams were playing a game in a dome for the first time since 2009 (at Idaho), and the victory was their first indoors since the 2001 New Orleans Bowl, at the Superdome.

ODEN'S CAREER NIGHT
Senior Jasen Oden, Jr. made his third career start at running back at UTSA (9/26), and first of 2015, totaling a career-most 143 yards on 30 carries - also a career high. The 30 carries were the most by a Rams' back since Kapri Bibbs Nov. 16, 2013 at New Mexico. Oden averaged 4.8 yards per carry, including a second-quarter touchdown. He also rushed five times for 43 yards and two first downs during the Rams' final drive, which used 5:28 to run out the clock and secure CSU's victory.

SECURING THE FOOTBALL
For the first time in 2015, CSU won the turnover battle (at UTSA, 9/26). The Rams did not turn the ball over - the first time since Oct. 25, 2014 vs. Wyoming - and forced UTSA into one. With CSU leading 23-17 in the third quarter, UTSA was driving down the field and inside the red zone when senior cornerback DeAndre Elliott intercepted a pass at the 14-yard line. He returned the interception 19 yards, and five plays later, CSU scored a touchdown to take a 30-17 lead. It was Elliott's second pick of the season, and seventh of his career.

Despite trailing the turnover battle 11-5, CSU's opponents have scored just 13 points off of turnovers, compared to 24 for CSU.

DUAL THREAT
Jasen Oden, Jr. ran the ball 30 times for 143 yards Saturday against UTSA. A week prior, Dalyn Dawkins got the call, rushing for 118 yards and adding 59 receiving yards. Both running backs rank in the top 10 in the Mountain West for rushing yards per game: Dawkins, 82.8 (sixth) and Oden, 81.8 (seventh).

Dawkins scored CSU's first touchdown against both Minnesota and Colorado, while Oden is tied for the team lead with three total touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving). CSU's four primary backs are averaging 5.04 yards per carry.

OPENING STATEMENT
CSU has made a statement in the first quarter, out-scoring opponents in every game, and 54-7 overall. Saturday at UTSA was the first time the Rams had given up a first-quarter score, and was also the first time CSU did not score first. Previously, the Rams' defense had allowed zero points, three first downs and 65 net yards through the first quarter.

The Rams, perhaps, had a chance to score first, but deferred to the second half after winning the coin toss. Head coach Mike Bobo decided to go against his usual plan after the Rams won the toss the previous two weeks and scored early, but also gave up a touchdown to start the third quarter. Saturday was CSU's time to score early in the second half, recording a touchdown 2:19 into the third quarter and again midway through the quarter to take a 30-17 advantage.

BOTH SIDES OF THE BALL
CSU's offense is averaging 35.5 points and 462.5 yards per game, while the defense is limiting opponents to 23.5 points and 343.2 yards. CSU is one of 20 schools in the country to rank in the top 50 for total yards (44th) and total yards allowed (36th).

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 and running backs - who have accounted for 539 career receptions (7th) for 7,340 yards (1st) and 61 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 406 career receptions for 5,763 yards and 45 touchdowns.

CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH A RECEPTION
All-America wide receiver Rashard Higgins led all players with five receptions Saturday at UTSA. He has now recorded a catch in all 29 collegiate contests he has played in. Just eight receivers have hauled in a catch in more consecutive games.

GETTING OFF THE FIELD
CSU's stout defense began its first three games of 2015 with a three-and-out, including four straight against Savannah State and six in a row against Minnesota. The Rams are tied for fifth in the NCAA FBS with 6.5 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 26 three-and-outs on 58 drives (44.8 percent). Furthermore, CSU has produced a three-and-out on 65.0 percent of non-scoring drives (26-of-40).

STANDING TALL ON 3RD DOWN
CSU is forcing a three-and-out on nearly 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 27.1 percent of third-down opportunities (16-of-59), which ranks 17th nationally.

Conversely, CSU's offense has converted at a 48-percent rate (31-of-64; 19th in NCAA FBS), including 10-of-18 at UTSA. Last year's figure of 49 percent was a school record. CSU is one of four schools to rank in the top 20 for both third-down conversion and third-down conversion defense.

FLIPPING THE FIELD
Hayden Hunt wasn't needed through the first 69:42 of the season, but since has been used to punt 16 times. The junior is averaging 48.9 yards per punt this season, with six boots of 50 yards and nine placed inside the 20. His average currently ranks eighth among all punters in the NCAA FBS.

Against UTSA, Hunt had two over 50 yards, and all four were inside the 20. His first punt traveled 56 yards and went out of bounds at the 2-yard line. Two plays later, CSU's defense recorded a safety. Against Minnesota, Hunt also had a punt downed at the 2-yard line, traveling 73 yards. 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.

FIELD GAME
CSU's has the third-most points in the Mountain West, and while a lot of that is due to the playmakers on offense, some of the credit goes to Deionte Gaines and the kickoff returners. CSU is averaging 32.9 yards per return, which leads the MW and ranks sixth nationally. Three of Gaines' returns have gone for at least 30 yards, including a long of 51, and Jordon Vaden returned a kickoff in the season opener 99 yards.

HOLLYWOOD PLAYS
After missing action against Minnesota on Sept. 12, wide receiver Rashard Higgins has since recorded back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. The junior has hauled in a deep touchdown in both contests, as well (37 and 38 yards). One-third into the season, Higgins ranks second in the Mountain West and 17th in NCAA FBS with 104 receiving yards per game. His 6.67 catches per game lead the MW and rank 19th nationally.

Higgins has scored a touchdown in all three games he has played in this season, and 16 different games throughout his career, totaling a school-record 26 career touchdowns.

TENACIOUS D
Three weeks into the season, CSU's defense ranks in the top tier of college football for yards allowed (44th), scoring (64th), third-down conversions (17th) and red zone defense (49th).

The senior-laden defense - eight returning starters - is led by safeties Kevin Pierre Louis (27 tackles) and Trent Matthews (20) and linebacker Cory James (26 tackles, 4 TFL). Stepping into bigger roles has also been linebacker Kevin Davis, who leads all defenders with 30 tackles and 6.0 tackles for loss (Mountain West-most), in addition to a fumble recovery for a touchdown in the season opener.

Senior Martavius Foster has a Mountain West-most 3.5 sacks, while defensive end Joe Kawulok is tied for seventh. Davis' 6.0 tackles for loss also lead the MW, while Tyree Simmons' seven pass breakups rank second, and his average of 2.33 per game rank first. The Rams have also been boosted by Preston Hodges, who blocked a field goal against Colorado - the team's first since Oct. 25, 2014 vs. Wyoming.

DEFENSIVE SCORES
CSU didn't record a defensive touchdown during the entire 2014 season, but already in 2015, the Rams' defense has scored twice. The first came 47 seconds into the season, when Kevin Davis fell on a high snap in the end zone, resulting in a touchdown. At UTSA, the Rams recorded their first safety since 2013, when the Roadrunners were called for holding while in the end zone.

QB1
First-year starting quarterback Nick Stevens is averaging 219.2 passing yards per game and is completing nearly 60 percent of his passes (68-of-114). His yards-per-game average ranks second in the Mountain West and his passing efficiency ranks fourth. The redshirt sophomore has thrown for a MW-most nine touchdowns.

CONSISTENT SCORING
The Rams are scoring at a high pace, ranking third in the Mountain West and 44th nationally with 35.5 points per game, but they're also consistent. CSU has scored in 14 of 16 quarters this season, including all four at UTSA.

SLOWLY BUT SURELY
CSU's second-quarter touchdown against UTSA was a 12-play, 75-yard drive which used 5:26 off the clock. The drive was the Rams' longest scoring drive - in time and tied for plays - of the season, until later in the game, when CSU connected on a 21-yard field goal, which ate up 7:14 (15 plays, season-high 84 yards). A week prior, CSU had three scoring drives longer than 4 minutes, which at the time were the three longest of the season.

The methodical approach - still in an up-tempo offense which has averaged 82 plays from scrimmage over the past two weeks - has been a change from the first two games. 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.
Longest two drives of season against UTSA

CONTROLLING THE CLOCK
CSU has run the ball 95 times over the past two weeks, helping the Rams control the clock. During the two games, CSU has held the ball for 36:43 (Colorado) and 36:12 (UTSA). At UTSA on Saturday, CSU held the ball for 11:21 of the fourth quarter, including the final 5:28 when CSU converted four first downs to run out the clock.

RECORDS WATCH
Junior Rashard Higgins moved into third place for career receiving yards, and is in position to move into second place for career receptions Saturday. Here's a look at Higgins' and Cory James' chase for history:

Higgins:

Career touchdown: Has 26, already a school record
Career receiving yards: Has 2,899, needing 365 to pass Greg Primus for second and 736 to set CSU's all-time record (David Anderson, 3,634)
Has 184 receptions, needing one to pass Jeff Champine for third place, 11 to reach second and pass Greg Primus and 40 to set CSU's career mark (David Anderson, 223)

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

SHARING TIME AT QB
Head coach Mike Bobo announced during his press conference leading up to the season opener that he would use backup quarterback Coleman Key continuously throughout the season, noting that other positions can play special teams to get time on the field but that quarterback is different.

After playing a significant amount of time during a blowout victory over Savannah State in Week 1, Key was put into more of a pressure situation on Sept. 12 against Minnesota. His first drive came in the third quarter after CSU's defense forced a fumble deep in Minnesota territory. The Rams settled for a field goal before taking the lead on their next drive, when Key found Joe Hansley for a 49-yard touchdown. His biggest play, though, came during the final minute of the game when he drove CSU down the field in 55 seconds to tie the game with a field goal at the end of regulation. The drive included a 4th-and-8 completion to Hansley and a 23-yard pickup to tight end Steven Walker, which set up the 37-yard field goal. Key did not play against Colorado and was involved in one series at UTSA (1-for-2 for 12 yards).

WORKING OVERTIME
Entering 2015, CSU had played in just three overtime contests, and none since a double-overtime victory at Utah State in 2011. Following a Week-1 win, the Rams played in back-to-back overtime games, the only school in the country to do so this season. In Week 2 against Minnesota (9/12), Wyatt Bryan's 37-yard field goal on the last play of regulation knotted the score at 20-20. Against Colorado (9/19), 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.

VERSATILE DAWKINS
Running back Dalyn Dawkins rushed 20 times against Colorado (9/19) 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. He scored the Rams' first touchdown of the game, helping CSU jump out to a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

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.

PACKING THE HOUSE
CSU's crowd of 32,500 vs. Minnesota (9/12) marked the team's third capacity crowd in its past six home contests. Prior to the Rams' sellout Oct. 25, 2014 against Wyoming, it had been 10 years. The Rams have won 14 of their last 17 home games dating back to 2012, their best period of success since winning 15 of 17 from 1997-2001. CSU's overtime loss to Minnesota snapped its school-record nine-game home win streak.

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. The Rams Report is back for its second season on ROOT SPORTS, and will air Thursday from 5:30-6 p.m. (one hour earlier this week only). Following that, Todd Romero and former CSU and NFL standout Joel Dreessen will co-host STATE of the Rams on Altitude, from 6-6:30 p.m.

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. It will not take place Oct. 21 (bye week) and Nov. 25 (moved up to Nov. 24).

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