Recap: Second half shutout sparks Rams' comeback

Calendar

Show:/

Nov 15

1:00 PM

Football

at New Mexico

Nov 22

6-Days

Football

at Boise State

Nov 28

1:00 PM

Football

vs Air Force

Dec 5

TBA

Football

vs Mountain West Football Championship

Oct. 9, 2016

Final Stats | Quotes | Notes | Photo Gallery 1 | Photo Gallery 2

By Grant Larson
Athletics Communications

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - The Colorado State Rams improved to 3-3 on the season (1-1 Mountain West) with a 31-24, come-from-behind victory over the Utah State Aggies Saturday evening at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. The game marked the final homecoming contest at Hughes Stadium, and the Rams enjoyed a near-sellout crowd of 32,387.

"I'm really, really proud of the guys," head coach Mike Bobo said following the win. "I'm proud of how the defense played. I'm really proud of the way they responded. I'm proud of the offense - coming back and answering, finding a way to put points on the board. It was a great, great atmosphere. I truly believe that we can build something special here."

CSU trailed 24-10 going into halftime, with Utah State having scored 17 consecutive points. The defense responded with a second-half shutout, and the offense scored the final 21 points of the game, including both the game-tying and go-ahead touchdowns by sophomore running back Izzy Matthews. Utah State was threatening to tie the game in the final minute, but senior linebacker Kevin Davis sealed the Rams' victory with an interception.

Freshman quarterback Collin Hill had another solid outing, throwing for 203 yards and two touchdowns, but exited the game in the third quarter with a knee injury. Junior Nick Stevens came in in relief, throwing for 37 yards including a big completion on 3rd-and-14 to Michael Gallup that set up the game-tying touchdown. Junior running back Dalyn Dawkins led the Rams on the ground with 125 yards, while Matthews added 73 yards and two touchdowns. Gallup had his best game as a Ram, pulling in seven catches for 140 yards and a 60-yard touchdown.

"We played extremely physical," Izzy Matthews said after the game. "Our linemen secured their blocks, got around on pulls. I feel like we just completely dominated up front today. Other games it's some guy missing something, a running back not hitting the hole hard enough, but I feel like we really fired on all cylinders."

Junior safety Jake Schlager led the Rams in tackles with nine, while sophomore defensive back Braylin Scott recorded a career-high eight tackles. Defensive captain Kevin Davis recorded seven tackles, a quarterback hurry, a fumble recovery and an interception. True freshmen defensive linemen Toby McBride and Arjay Jean each logged their first career sacks, Jean's coming as a strip sack in the fourth quarter. Senior cornerback Tyree Simmons recorded a career-high three pass breakups and a forced fumble, and junior defensive lineman Darnell Thompson recorded his third sack in as many weeks.

The Rams' defense recorded four total sacks, seven tackles for a loss, three forced fumbles and picked off a pass. With the offense not turning the ball over, it marked just the second time this season that the Rams have won the turnover battle, the first coming against UTSA, making them 2-0 in such games.

The Rams take on nationally ranked Boise State next week on the road, with kickoff pegged for 8:15 p.m. MT Saturday, on either ESPN or ESPN2.

Notes:

CSU scored 21 unanswered points, overcoming a 24-10 halftime deficit.
- It was CSU's largest deficit overcome since Nov. 28, 2015 at Fresno State (24-7).
The Rams' defense posted a second-half shutout, allowing 183 yards over the final two quarters.
- The second-half shutout is the third time this season that CSU has kept an opponent of the board for an entire half (second half vs. UTSA, 9/10; first half vs. Northern Colorado, 9/17).
CSU improved to 38-33-2 all-time against Utah State, including 18-14-1 in Fort Collins.
The Rams have won three consecutive homecoming games, including in 2014 on a last-second field goal vs. Utah State.
CSU finished plus-2 for the turnover battle, earning two takeaways without giving up the ball.
- After CSU cut the deficit to one score, 24-17, early in the third quarter, the Rams got the ball back on the Aggies' first play from scrimmage. Senior DB Tyree Simmons knocked the ball loose, which was recovered by senior LB Kevin Davis.
- - The fumble recovery was the Rams' first since the season opener vs. Colorado (9/2) and their first takeaway since a Braylin Scott interception at Minnesota (9/24).
- Late in the fourth quarter, Davis sealed the win with an interception with 47 seconds remaining, allowing the Rams to line up in victory formation.
- Simmons also forced a fumble in the first half, recovered by freshman DL Toby McBride, but it was later called back after an official review.
CSU was a perfect 4-for-4 in red-zone opportunities, improving its season average to 95.2 percent (20-of-21).
Junior QB Nick Stevens replaced freshman QB Collin Hill (knee) late in the third quarter. It was his first action since closing the game vs. Northern Colorado (9/17), and first significant action since starting the season opener vs. Colorado (9/2).
Stevens finished 3-of-7 for 37 yards, leading the Rams on two scoring drives. He had a 22-yard third-down completion to junior WR Michael Gallup during the Rams' game-tying scoring drive - the drive Stevens took over for Hill during.
Providing a nice 1-2 punch, RBs Dalyn Dawkins and Izzy Matthews combined for 198 rushing yards.
- Dawkins carried 14 times for 125 yards (8.9 average), the third-highest total of his career.
- Matthews rushed 23 times for 73 yards and two touchdowns.

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results