Colorado State University Athletics
Photo by: Tommy Joe Waido
Pick Six: Six takeaways from Colorado State’s loss to Air Force on Saturday
10/29/2017 1:54:00 PM | Football
Rams dropped first MW game of 2017
The Colorado State Rams dropped their first conference game of the season on Saturday, falling to Air Force 45-28.
Seniors Michael Gallup (7 receptions, 161 yards) and Dalyn Dawkins (13 carries, 143 yards) had big statistical days, but it was not enough to help overcome Air Force and its 413 yards rushing as a team.
The loss for the Rams at home was their first at the new on-campus stadium, and marked the first time in the series against Air Force that the home team did not win since 2011.
ANOTHER BIG DAY FOR DAWKINS
Senior running back Dalyn Dawkins had 13 carries for 141 yards and one touchdown versus Air Force. He also added 3 receptions for 39 yards.
His first carry of the game was a 76-yard TD run – the longest rush of his career. It was also the longest run by a CSU player since Dee Hart also had a 76-yard touchdown on Nov. 22, 2014 against New Mexico.
It was Dawkins' fourth 100-yard outing of the season (all against MW foes) and the 13th such game of his career. He is now tied for the third-most 100-yard games by a CSU player (Cecil Sapp, Kevin McDougal).
Also, it was the second time in the last three weeks that the Louisville, Ky., native had posted 100 yards rushing while averaging over 10 yards per carry. In five MW games, Dawkins is averaging 130.8 yards per game on a staggering 8.2 yards per rush.
GALLUP CONTINUES TO PACE THE NATION
Senior wide receiver Michael Gallup went off once again, putting up 161 yards on 7 catches and a touchdown.
Gallup now has 1,167 yards receiving on the year, which leads the FBS by a 162-yard margin (James Washington of Oklahoma State has 1,005 yards, and is the only other player with over 1,000 yards on the year).
Gallup's TD was one of the more exciting plays of the year for the Rams:
Gallup ranks 6th in career receiving yards at CSU (2,439). For his career, he is averaging 110.9 receiving yards per game which ranks No. 1 among all active FBS players.
ADAM PRENTICE FINDS PAYDIRT FOR THE FIRST TIME
Sophomore fullback Adam Prentice made his third start of the season against the Falcons, and wound up hauling in his first career touchdown pass.
Prentice has been an important piece of the CSU offense that is averaging 499.0 yards per game (13th in the FBS, first in the MW). Although he is typically blocking for Dawkins and Izzy Matthews, Prentice proved that he can be a weapon, too.
BALLHAWK HAWKINS
Sophomore cornerback Anthony Hawkins snagged his second interception of the season on Saturday.
The INT was CSU's first since Sept. 9 versus Abilene Christian. On the first play of the ensuing offensive possession, Gallup hauled in his 55-yard TD pass from Nick Stevens to put the Rams up 14-7.
SCORING ON OPENING DRIVES
Both the Falcons and Rams scored on their first possessions of the game.
For the Rams, it was the fourth time in their last five games scoring a TD to open the game, and the fifth time in their last seven games. Defensively, it was only the second time the Rams had conceded a touchdown on their opponent's opening drive (Alabama).
PLENTY LEFT TO PLAY FOR
CSU's goal every week is to go 1-0. The Rams did not achieve that goal on Saturday, for the first time since Sept. 16.
With three games remaining in the regular season, the Rams still have their ultimate goal in their sights: a berth in the Mountain West title game. CSU visits Wyoming on Saturday and then hosts Boise State the following week. The three programs are currently 1-2-3 in the Mountain Division standings, so everything is on the line for all three teams over the remainder of the season.
Seniors Michael Gallup (7 receptions, 161 yards) and Dalyn Dawkins (13 carries, 143 yards) had big statistical days, but it was not enough to help overcome Air Force and its 413 yards rushing as a team.
The loss for the Rams at home was their first at the new on-campus stadium, and marked the first time in the series against Air Force that the home team did not win since 2011.
ANOTHER BIG DAY FOR DAWKINS
Senior running back Dalyn Dawkins had 13 carries for 141 yards and one touchdown versus Air Force. He also added 3 receptions for 39 yards.
His first carry of the game was a 76-yard TD run – the longest rush of his career. It was also the longest run by a CSU player since Dee Hart also had a 76-yard touchdown on Nov. 22, 2014 against New Mexico.
It was Dawkins' fourth 100-yard outing of the season (all against MW foes) and the 13th such game of his career. He is now tied for the third-most 100-yard games by a CSU player (Cecil Sapp, Kevin McDougal).
Also, it was the second time in the last three weeks that the Louisville, Ky., native had posted 100 yards rushing while averaging over 10 yards per carry. In five MW games, Dawkins is averaging 130.8 yards per game on a staggering 8.2 yards per rush.
GALLUP CONTINUES TO PACE THE NATION
Senior wide receiver Michael Gallup went off once again, putting up 161 yards on 7 catches and a touchdown.
Gallup now has 1,167 yards receiving on the year, which leads the FBS by a 162-yard margin (James Washington of Oklahoma State has 1,005 yards, and is the only other player with over 1,000 yards on the year).
| RANK | PLAYER (SCHOOL) | YR | POS | GP | REC. | YARDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Gallup (CSU) | SR | WR | 9 | 72 | 1,167 |
| 2 | James Washington (Oklahoma State) | SR | WR | 8 | 45 | 1,005 |
| 3 | Anthony Johnson (Buffalo) | JR | WR | 9 | 55 | 888 |
| 4 | Trey Quinn (SMU) | JR | WR | 8 | 79 | 874 |
| 5 | Anthony Miller (Memphis) | SR | WR | 8 | 61 | 859 |
Gallup's TD was one of the more exciting plays of the year for the Rams:
Gallup ranks 6th in career receiving yards at CSU (2,439). For his career, he is averaging 110.9 receiving yards per game which ranks No. 1 among all active FBS players.
ADAM PRENTICE FINDS PAYDIRT FOR THE FIRST TIME
Sophomore fullback Adam Prentice made his third start of the season against the Falcons, and wound up hauling in his first career touchdown pass.
Prentice has been an important piece of the CSU offense that is averaging 499.0 yards per game (13th in the FBS, first in the MW). Although he is typically blocking for Dawkins and Izzy Matthews, Prentice proved that he can be a weapon, too.
BALLHAWK HAWKINS
Sophomore cornerback Anthony Hawkins snagged his second interception of the season on Saturday.
The INT was CSU's first since Sept. 9 versus Abilene Christian. On the first play of the ensuing offensive possession, Gallup hauled in his 55-yard TD pass from Nick Stevens to put the Rams up 14-7.
SCORING ON OPENING DRIVES
Both the Falcons and Rams scored on their first possessions of the game.
For the Rams, it was the fourth time in their last five games scoring a TD to open the game, and the fifth time in their last seven games. Defensively, it was only the second time the Rams had conceded a touchdown on their opponent's opening drive (Alabama).
PLENTY LEFT TO PLAY FOR
CSU's goal every week is to go 1-0. The Rams did not achieve that goal on Saturday, for the first time since Sept. 16.
With three games remaining in the regular season, the Rams still have their ultimate goal in their sights: a berth in the Mountain West title game. CSU visits Wyoming on Saturday and then hosts Boise State the following week. The three programs are currently 1-2-3 in the Mountain Division standings, so everything is on the line for all three teams over the remainder of the season.
| SCHOOL | CONF | CPCT. | OVERALL | PCT. | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MOUNTAIN | |||||
| Boise State | 4-0 | 1.000 | 6-2 | 0.750 | W4 |
| Colorado State | 4-1 | 0.800 | 6-3 | 0.667 | L1 |
| Wyoming | 3-1 | 0.750 | 5-3 | 0.625 | W1 |
| Air Force | 3-2 | 0.600 | 4-4 | 0.500 | W3 |
| Utah State | 2-3 | 0.400 | 4-5 | 0.444 | L1 |
| New Mexico | 1-4 | 0.200 | 3-5 | 0.375 | L3 |
| WEST | |||||
| Fresno State | 4-1 | 0.800 | 5-3 | 0.625 | L1 |
| San Diego State | 3-2 | 0.600 | 7-2 | 0.778 | W1 |
| UNLV | 2-3 | 0.400 | 3-5 | 0.375 | W1 |
| Nevada | 1-3 | 0.250 | 1-7 | 0.125 | L2 |
| Hawai'i | 1-4 | 0.200 | 3-5 | 0.375 | L1 |
| San José State | 0-4 | 0.000 | 1-8 | 0.111 | L7 |
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