Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
4-4 , 2-2
UNLV
3-5 , 2-2
Recap: Rams rout Rebels in Las Vegas
10/22/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
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LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Colorado State Rams played their most-complete half of football Saturday, taking a 35-0 halftime lead over UNLV en route to a 42-23 win. The victory evens CSU's record (4-4, 2-2 MW) as it enters its bye week.
The Rams scored on their opening drive and never took their foot off the gas, finding the end zone on five of their six first-half drives. Meanwhile, the defense kept UNLV (3-5, 2-2 MW) off the board - the fourth time this season an opponent has not scored in a half against CSU - and forced two turnovers.
Senior DB Jake Schlager intercepted his first career pass and late in the second quarter, DB Justin Sweet - a Las Vegas native - recovered his first career fumble, which set up CSU's fifth touchdown just three plays later.
In total, running backs Izzy Matthews and Marvin Kinsey, Jr. each scored twice, while CSU's run game totaled 230 yards on the ground. CSU's first score was a nine-yard pass from Nick Stevens to Danny Nwosu, for the tight end's second career score and first of the season.
After UNLV cut the Rams' lead to 35-17 early in the fourth quarter, the Rebels attempted an on-side kick. CSU recovered, and one play later, Stevens hit WR Michael Gallup for a 36-yard score. The touchdown was Gallup's third in as many games and fifth in his last six. He led all receivers with seven catches for 91 yards, and over the past three weeks is averaging 107.3 yards per game.
Stevens threw two touchdown passes and completed 21-of-28 passes for 237 yards. Sixteen of his completions came in the first half, where he was 16-of-19 for 168 yards. On the Rams' opening drive alone, Stevens was 7-of-8 for 61 yards, including 3-for-3 on third down. In fact, the Rams - who entered the game ranked 109th nationally converting on just 34.0 percent of third-down opportunities - was 10-of-18 on third down, in addition to 3-fo-4 on fourth down.
The Rams will now have two weeks to prepare for Fresno State. Three of CSU's final four games are inside the state of Colorado, including the final two games ever to be played at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.
IN THEIR WORDS
"I'm really proud of our team; the way we started tonight. We talked about wanting to start fast. I felt the defense did an excellent job in the first half. We only gave a few plays when we lost containment on that quarterback (UNLV's Dalton Sneed), but I thought we did a good job covering on the back end, stopping their run game. I thought we covered really well on special teams. The kickers did a great job. Braxton (Davis) kicking into the wind had great hang time, and our guys down in cover got them tackled inside the 20. Every time we punted, we punted the ball great.
Offensively, I wanted to come out and be aggressive; didn't want to be timid, wanted to cut the guys loose and get speed on the field and give them a chance to make plays. The guys responded and made plays. In the second half sitting on a big lead, we probably got a little bit conservative there. When we got the onside kick we wanted to take a shot and Nick (QB Stevens) did a nice job of giving (Michael) Gallup a chance to make a play and Mike did the rest. We're getting better. We're still not a complete football team. We still have a lot of work we can improve on, which I'm excited about. I'm excited about how we worked the past two weeks, even though we are 2-2, I believe that we are getting better, and if we continue to do that, we'll have a chance in every game this year." - head coach Mike Bobo
NOTES
- CSU improved to 16-6-1 all-time against UNLV, winning 16 of its last 19 but first in Las Vegas since 2007.
- The Rams have won 11 of their last 17 true road contests dating back to the 2013 season, their best stretch since 2001-03. Prior to the current stretch, the Rams had lost 10 true road contests in a row and 21 of 23.
- CSU scored the game's first 35 points, never trailing during the contest. The Rams' six first-half drives featured five touchdowns.
- The CSU defense posted its fourth shutout of a half this season, allowing zero points, 72 total yards and forcing two turnovers in the first half.
- CSU scored 42 points, its highest in a road contest since scoring 66 at New Mexico (Nov. 22, 2014).
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- The Rams' 35 first-half points were the Rams' most in a half since the 2015 season opener vs. Savannah State (45, first half).
- It was the Rams' highest first-half point total on the road and their most in a Mountain West contest since scoring 37 in the first half at New Mexico (Nov. 22, 2014).
- CSU rushed for 230 yards, with three backs totaling at least 49 yards. RBs Marvin Kinsey, Jr. and Izzy Matthews each found the end zone twice.
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- Matthews has a team-most six touchdowns this season. Saturday marked his second multi-touchdown game this season and third of his career.
- Kinsey, Jr. recorded his first career multi-touchdown game.
- It marked the first time since Nov. 22, 2014 at New Mexico that CSU has rushed for four touchdowns (5).
- Junior Michael Gallup tied a career high with seven catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. The WR is averaging 107.3 yards per game over the past three contests and has scored a touchdown in five of his past six games.
- QB Nick Stevens completed 21 of 28 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns. The junior completed 16 of 19 first-half passes, helping CSU score on five of its first six drives.
- CSU nearly doubled UNLV's time of possession (39:37 to 20:23), securing the football for at least 10 minutes in three of the four quarters.
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- The time of possession was the Rams' greatest since possessing the ball for 40:00 on Nov. 2, 2013 in a 42-30 loss to Boise State.
- The Rams - who entered the game ranked 109th nationally converting just 34.0 percent of third-down opportunities - were 10-of-18 on third down (55.6 percent), in addition to 3-fo-4 on fourth down.
- CSU scored on four of its five trips to the red zone, with its only unsuccessful drive being the final drive of the game, when the Rams reached the UNLV 1-yard line before letting the clock run down. On the season, CSU has scored on 27 of 29 trips to the red zone and ranked fifth nationally entering the game.
- CSU won the turnover battle for the third week in a row, earning two first-half takeaways.
- A total of 23 different Rams defenders recorded at least one tackle.
Team Stats
CS 7, LV 0
CS - NWOSU, Danny 8 yd pass from STEVENS, Nick (BRYAN, Wyatt kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 5:57
CS 14, LV 0
CS - MATTHEWS, Izzy 2 yd run (BRYAN, Wyatt kick), 9 plays, 76 yards, TOP 3:46
CS 21, LV 0
CS - MATTHEWS, Izzy 2 yd run (BRYAN, Wyatt kick), 12 plays, 61 yards, TOP 5:25
CS 28, LV 0
CS - KINSEY, Marvin 34 yd run (BRYAN, Wyatt kick), 5 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:08
CS 35, LV 0
CS - KINSEY, Marvin 2 yd run (BRYAN, Wyatt kick), 3 plays, 11 yards, TOP 1:45
CS 35, LV 7
LV - THOMAS, L. 37 yd pass from SNEED, Dalton (PANTELS, Evan kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:24
CS 35, LV 10
LV - PANTELS, Evan 27 yd field goal 5 plays, 23 yards, TOP 1:39
CS 35, LV 17
LV - GREENE, David 2 yd run (PANTELS, Evan kick), 12 plays, 88 yards, TOP 3:27
CS 42, LV 17
CS - GALLUP, Michael 36 yd pass from STEVENS, Nick (BRYAN, Wyatt kick) 1 plays, 36 yards, TOP 0:08
CS 42, LV 23
LV - STEVENSON, M. 51 yd pass from SNEED, Dalton (SNEED, Dalton passfailed) 3 plays, 65 yards, TOP 0:34
