Colorado State University Athletics
Bowl Rewind: 2008 New Mexico Bowl
12/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
2008 New Mexico Bowl Photo Gallery
Gartrell Johnson rushed for a career-high 285 yards and scored two touchdowns as Colorado State rallied for a 40-35 victory over Fresno State in the 2008 New Mexico Bowl.
Johnson sealed CSU's first bowl victory since 2001 on a 77-yard touchdown with 1:46 remaining, igniting a celebration by fans who made the 7-hour drive from Fort Collins. Johnson added 90 yards receiving for 375 combined rushing and receiving yards, the most by any NCAA player ever in a bowl game.
The Rams (7-6) took their first lead at 33-28 when Billy Farris threw a 69-yard touchdown to Rashaun Greer with 7 minutes left. Fresno State cornerback Sharrod Davis took a big chance but whiffed on his attempt to bat the ball. Greer made the catch at the 30 and went untouched into the end zone.
Fresno State got within 40-35 with 55 seconds to go, but CSU's Kyle Bell secured the ensuing on-side kick. Fans came out of the stands as the final seconds ticked off, capping a strong first season for Colorado State coach Steve Fairchild. Johnson was named most valuable offensive player after he put on a show. He broke a 57-yard run in the first quarter and went another 57 yards on a shovel pass from Farris in the second, leaving defenders reaching for the dreadlocks tumbling out of his helmet. CSU's Tommie Hill was named the defensive player of the game after recording a second-half interception.
Individual Statistics
Rushing - Colorado State: Johnson 27-285, Morton 3-41, Stucker 1-18, Mosure 2-17, Bell 2-6, Farris 3-(-1). Fresno State: Harding 18-120, Miller 13-113, Mathews 4-13, Wylie 1-6, Brandstater 2-4, West 1-(-8).
Passing - Colorado State: Farris 29-17-1-257-2, Borcky 1-0-0-0-0. Fresno State: Brandstater 23-13-1-186-1.
Receiving - Colorado State: Johnson 5-90, Pauga 4-36, Morton 3-29, Greer 1-69, Sperry 1-22, Gardner 1-6, Liggett 1-3, Mosure 1-2. Fresno State: Ajirotutu 3-81, Pascoe 3-39, Moore 3-25, Evans 1-28, Harding 1-8, Skidmore 1-7, Wylie 1-(-2).
Tackles - Colorado State: Brewer 6-4-10, Galusha 7-2-9, Pagnotta 6-3-9, Sisson 3-3-6, Oppenneer 3-3-6, Clark 1-4-5, Horinek 2-2-4, Owens 2-0-2, Herd 1-1-2, Cornelson 1-1-2, Smith 0-2-2, Landers 1-0-1, Rupp 1-0-1, Zick 1-0-1, Thomas 0-1-1, Hill 0-1-1. Fresno State: Carter 2-7-9, Plummer 4-4-8, Bell 3-5-8, Jacobs 3-4-7, Herron 1-6-7, Dunn 2-4-6, Harris 2-3-5, Ike 2-2-4, Davis 1-3-4, Jorde 3-0-3, Banks 1-2-3, Roberts 0-3-3, Harrell 2-0-2, Hill 1-1-2, Knox 1-1-2, Harding 1-1-2, Raphael 1-0-1, Bates 0-1-1, Green 0-1-1.
