Colorado State University Athletics
This Week in CSU Football History -- Rams upset No. 19 Wyoming to claim Bronze Boot in 1990
11/1/2017 9:32:00 AM | Football
Late interception seals win for Rams in Fort Collins
by John Hirn
ColoradoAggies.com
November 3, 1990 – The Colorado State Rams football program had seen some very rough times during the 1980s and with the hiring of Coach Earle Bruce in 1989 the program would welcome change in the 1990s. After a 5-5-1 record in Bruce's first season, the 1990 Rams found themselves in the heat of the battle for their first bowl game in 42 years. They headed into week 9 of the season with a 5-2 record and ready to face their greatest rivals.
The Wyoming Cowboys had a perfect 9-0 record heading into the annual Border War game and ranked 19th in the nation. The Cowboys offense had been ruthless throughout the 1990 season and they came into Hughes Stadium ready to keep the prized Bronze Boot for the fourth year in a row.
On the Rams' side of the field it was not the offense, ranked 12th nationally in total offense that would be the stars of this epic battle of the Border War, but it was a powerful defense that would make plays only Hollywood could write.
The Rams got on the board first with a 46-yard field goal by Mike Brown early in the first quarter thanks to a Rick Ward interception that set up the kick. Late in the first quarter the Rams had Wyoming backed up to their 7-yard-line when Rob Chirico broke though the Wyoming offensive line and sacked Cowboy's quarterback Tom Corontzos in the end zone for a safety. With a 5-0 lead after the safety, the Rams capitalized on the momentum of the big play to march down the field 53 yards on 11 plays and scored their first touchdown of the day on a 1-yard-plunge by Todd Yert; the two-point conversion attempt was incomplete.
The Rams headed into the locker room with an 11-0 lead at the half, but after the intermission Wyoming intercepted a Mike Gimenez pass and three plays later Corontzos found Shawn Wiggins in the end zone for a Wyoming touchdown; the two-point conversion was good. With CSU only holding onto a three-point lead, the Cowboys drove to the CSU 32 where the Rams blocked a Wyoming field goal.
With 6:15 left in the game, Wyoming seemed in control and were ready to score when Rams safety Adolf Renaud forced Wyoming halfback Jay Daffer to cough up the ball at the 3-yard line as Ram cornerback Harlan Carroll pounced on the it in the end zone for a touchback.
The epic battle was not over yet. Rams running back Brian Copeland fumbled the ball with 2:01 left in the game at the Cowboy 35-yard line to give the Pokes one last chance at the win or a tie. With 1:29 left to play, Corontzos stepped back to pass from his own 25-yard line and was intercepted by CSU linebacker Eric Tippeconnic at the 37-yard line where he ran the ball in for a touchdown that sealed the victory; the two-point conversion run attempt failed. Final score, CSU 17, Wyoming 8.
ColoradoAggies.com
November 3, 1990 – The Colorado State Rams football program had seen some very rough times during the 1980s and with the hiring of Coach Earle Bruce in 1989 the program would welcome change in the 1990s. After a 5-5-1 record in Bruce's first season, the 1990 Rams found themselves in the heat of the battle for their first bowl game in 42 years. They headed into week 9 of the season with a 5-2 record and ready to face their greatest rivals.
The Wyoming Cowboys had a perfect 9-0 record heading into the annual Border War game and ranked 19th in the nation. The Cowboys offense had been ruthless throughout the 1990 season and they came into Hughes Stadium ready to keep the prized Bronze Boot for the fourth year in a row.
On the Rams' side of the field it was not the offense, ranked 12th nationally in total offense that would be the stars of this epic battle of the Border War, but it was a powerful defense that would make plays only Hollywood could write.
The Rams got on the board first with a 46-yard field goal by Mike Brown early in the first quarter thanks to a Rick Ward interception that set up the kick. Late in the first quarter the Rams had Wyoming backed up to their 7-yard-line when Rob Chirico broke though the Wyoming offensive line and sacked Cowboy's quarterback Tom Corontzos in the end zone for a safety. With a 5-0 lead after the safety, the Rams capitalized on the momentum of the big play to march down the field 53 yards on 11 plays and scored their first touchdown of the day on a 1-yard-plunge by Todd Yert; the two-point conversion attempt was incomplete.
The Rams headed into the locker room with an 11-0 lead at the half, but after the intermission Wyoming intercepted a Mike Gimenez pass and three plays later Corontzos found Shawn Wiggins in the end zone for a Wyoming touchdown; the two-point conversion was good. With CSU only holding onto a three-point lead, the Cowboys drove to the CSU 32 where the Rams blocked a Wyoming field goal.
With 6:15 left in the game, Wyoming seemed in control and were ready to score when Rams safety Adolf Renaud forced Wyoming halfback Jay Daffer to cough up the ball at the 3-yard line as Ram cornerback Harlan Carroll pounced on the it in the end zone for a touchback.
The epic battle was not over yet. Rams running back Brian Copeland fumbled the ball with 2:01 left in the game at the Cowboy 35-yard line to give the Pokes one last chance at the win or a tie. With 1:29 left to play, Corontzos stepped back to pass from his own 25-yard line and was intercepted by CSU linebacker Eric Tippeconnic at the 37-yard line where he ran the ball in for a touchdown that sealed the victory; the two-point conversion run attempt failed. Final score, CSU 17, Wyoming 8.
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