Game Notes: Colorado State to host Boise State Saturday

Colorado State (6-4, 4-2 MW) vs. Boise State (7-2, 5-0 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 11, 2017 | 8:30 p.m. MT
Sonny Lubick Field at CSU Stadium (36,500 / 41,000 SRO) | Fort Collins, Colo.

QUICK HITS - COLORADO STATE

CSU returns home for just its third home game since Sept. 9, after playing five of its last seven games on the road. The Rams, 3-1 in their new on-campus stadium, will wear special State Pride uniforms by Under Armour that were introduced on Sept. 21.
Under head coach Mike Bobo (2015-present), Colorado State is 7-2 in the month of November, including a 3-0 home record in November (1-0 in 2015, 2-0 in 2016).
Colorado State ranks 16th in the FBS in total offense (483.6) and 26th in passing offense (286.5). Both figures lead the MW.
The Rams have allowed only six total sacks in 10 games this season and rank fourth in all of FBS for fewest sacks allowed (0.60 per game).
CSU leads the MW and ranks fourth in the FBS in third-down conversions (50.7%) and fifth (1st MW) in first downs earned (246; 24.6 per game).
Stevens ranks 9th in the FBS in passing yards (2,865), 11th in passing TDs (22) and 19th in passing yards per game (286.5). His yardage and touchdown totals are career highs, surpassing his 2015 totals (2,679 and 21).
WR Michael Gallup is the FBS active career leader in receiving yards per game (107.3 in 23 games). The Biletnikoff Award candidate leads the nation in receiving yards (1,196), ranks 2nd in receiving yards per game (119.6) and seventh in receptions per game (7.6).
RB Dalyn Dawkins, who rushed for 154 yards on a career-high 29 carries at Wyoming last night, ranks 23rd in the nation in rushing (105.0) and has topped the 100-yard mark in five of the last six games.
The 16 points CSU allowed to Wyoming marked the fourth time this season the Rams have held an opponent to fewer than 20 points.

QUICK HITS - BOISE STATE

Boise State is in its fourth season under head coach Bryan Harsin and is 34-11 in that span.
The Broncos are the winningest football program in the country since 2000, with an overall record of 192-37 (.838).
Boise State enters the game with a 7-2 record, having won five consecutive games.
The Broncos have started conference play 5-0 for the first time since 2010, when the Broncos started off WAC play 6-0.
Boise State entered 2017 with a run of 15-consecutive bowl appearances, a streak which is tops among "Group of Five" schools and is surpassed by only five "Power Five" schools.
Since joining the Mountain West for the 2011 season, Boise State has lost just 10 conference games, with only two of those nine losses being by more than seven points.
Boise State has not turned the ball over since an interception on the Broncos' opening drive against BYU. The streak without allowing a turnover is now at 237 minutes, 56 seconds.
The Broncos enter the game boasting the nation's 15th ranked overall defense and eighth ranked rush defense.
Boise State has employed a two-quarterback system all season, with both junior Brett Rypien and redshirt senior Montell Cozart, a graduate transfer from Kansas, handling signal-calling duties.
In last week's win against Nevada, 10 different Bronco receivers made at least one catch.
The Broncos had a season-high 479 yards of total offense (on 69 plays) vs. the Wolf Pack.

SERIES NOTES & NOTABLE PERFORMANCES

Saturday marks the seventh consecutive season that CSU and Boise State have played. The Broncos joined the Mountain West prior to the 2011 season.
CSU is looking for its first victory over Boise State.
The Rams have scored first in three of the past four meetings, including holding a 10-0 lead in 2013 in Fort Collins. In both 2013, 2014 and 2016 CSU scored on its first possession.
CSU has used losses to Boise State each of the past four years to turn around their seasons:
In 2013, CSU lost to Boise State, 42-30, in Fort Collins, before winning two in a row and four of its final five games, including against Washington State in the New Mexico Bowl.
Following the Rams' 37-24 loss at Boise State during Week 2 of the 2014 season, CSU went on to win a school-record nine consecutive games en route to a 10-2 regular season.
CSU was 2-4 following a Week 6 home loss to Boise State in 2015, but turned around its season by winning five of the next six games to advance to the inaugural Arizona Bowl.
The Rams fell to 3-4 following their 2016 loss to Boise, but won four of its next five games and found new life in the offense that was sparked in the fourth quarter in Boise.
LB Josh Watson was the Rams' leading tackler last year in Boise with eight, while S Jamal Hicks and LB Evan Colorito followed closely behind with six.
CSU kicked a field goal on its first possession of last season's matchup, making the Rams the first team to hold a lead over Boise on the season.

DANGEROUS DALYN
Senior RB Dalyn Dawkins has emerged this season as not only one of the Mountain West premier running backs, but also one of the nation's most consistent. The speedster ranks 16th in the country with 1,050 rushing yards and has rushed for more than 100 yards in five of six Mountain West games this season. It is the first time in his career that Dawkins has eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark in a season, and he's on pace to become just the sixth player in school history to lead the team in rushing three consecutive seasons.

Against Nevada, Dawkins carried 17 times and ran for a career-high 191 yards. Just two weeks later against Air Force, he rushed for 141 yards including a touchdown rush of 76 yards, the longest run of his career. He's found the end zone five times on the groud—the most in a season during his career—and caught a touchdown in the season opener against Oregon State.

Dawkins now ranks sixth in CSU history with 2,836 career yards and his 14 100-yard games is the third most in program history.

GOING BOWLING
With the Week 8 win at New Mexico, the Rams clinched bowl eligibility for the fifth consecutive season – something that has only been done once before, from 1999-2003. CSU has qualified for the postseason all three years under Head Coach Mike Bobo, playing in the Arizona Bowl in 2015 and Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2016.

All-time, CSU has played in 16 bowl games, including 15 since 1990, in addition to the 1949 Raisin Bowl. The Rams are looking for their 16th conference title, and first since 2002.

LIKE MIKE
Through Week 10 of the 2017 season, Michael Gallup ranks first in the country with 1,196 receiving yards, second in receiving yards per game (119.6) and seventh in receptions per game (7.6). He has five 100-yard games on the year, and a pair of 200-yard performances (212 at Hawai'i, 263 vs. Nevada). In a matchup against No. 1 Alabama, Gallup lined up against projected first-round draft pick Minkah Fitzpatrick and pulled in five catches for 81 yards, the most by a receiver against Alabama this season.

In the first three games of Mountain West play, (Sept. 30 at Hawai'i, Oct. 7 at Utah State, Oct. 14 vs. Nevada), Gallup posted 28 catches for 563 yards – the best three-game receiving stretch in CSU history. For his efforts against Nevada, Gallup was named MW Offensive Player of the Week.

Gallup now has 11 100-yard games in his career, the fifth-most in program history. His career average of 110.9 yards per game leads all active FBS players.

The Monroe, Ga., native now ranks sixth all-time in receiving yards at CSU, recording 2,468 in 23 games as a Ram. He is also tied for fifth in receiving TDs (20) and fifth in 100-yard games.

A JUCO transfer, Gallup filled the hole left by WRs Rashard Higgins and Joe Hansley in 2016, recording one of the best receiving seasons in CSU history. Gallup finished his first year with the Rams with 76 catches (3rd in CSU single-season history) for 1,272 yards (3rd) and 14 touchdowns (2nd). Gallup scored at least one touchdown in each of his final eight games, including three apiece in the final two.

STEVENS STARS FOR CSU
Senior QB Nick Stevens has had an incredibly productive 2017 season. Stevens ranks ninth in the FBS in passing yards (2,865), 11th in passing TDs (22) and 19th in passing yards per game (306.1).

Stevens put on a QB clinic at Hawai'i on Sept. 30, going 18-of-22 for 351 yards and four touchdowns. He also completed his last 12 passes in a row, beginning with his first completion of the second quarter.

Stevens' accolades included:
• Davey O'Brien "Great 8" list
• Manning Award "Stars of the Week"
• Honorable Mention, CFPA National Performer of the Week

He is now second all-time at CSU in passing yards (7,616) and fourth in completions (559), while ascending to fourth place in pass attempts (905). He is now just one TD behind all-time career leader Garrett Grayson (64).

Stevens threw for 384 yards and 4 TDs against Nevada (Oct. 14). With his fifth 300-yard game of the season and eighth of his career, Stevens is now tied for second all-time, four behind Grayson (12).

In the win at New Mexico, the signal-caller passed for a season-low 231 yards but still completed over 50 percent of his passes and threw two touchdowns with no interceptions.

His streak of 18 consecutive quarters (and 145 pass attempts)without an interception was broken the following week against Air Force (Oct. 29), but Stevens still completed over 50 percent of his passes and threw for two touchdowns.

RAMS IN THE NCAA RANKINGS
• K Wyatt Bryan: 13th in field goal percentage (87.5).
• RB Dalyn Dawkins: 16th in rushing yards (1,050).
• WR Michael Gallup: First in receiving yards (1,196), seventh in receptions per game (7.6), second in receiving yards per game (119.6).
• WR Olabisi Johnson: 36th in punt return average (7.6).
• QB Nick Stevens: Ninth in passing yards (2,865), 11th in passing touchdowns (22), 19th in passing yards per game (286.5), 20th in total offense per game (289.5), 34th in completions per game (20.4), 20th in passer efficiency rating (150.4), 16th in passing yards per completion (14.0).
• P Ryan Stonehouse: Fourth in gross punting average (48.3).

HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN
The homecoming matchup against Nevada marked the second sellout of the season and the fourth game of 2017 for which Colorado State sold all tickets for a game. The opening game at the new stadium Aug. 26 vs. Oregon State was a sellout (37,583) and CSU sold all of its ticket allotment for the Sept. 1 Rocky Mountain Showdown in Denver vs. Colorado (32,727). All public tickets for the Oct. 28 game vs. Air Force also sold out.

After going 10 years without a sold-out game, from 2004-2014 (Last: Oct. 22, 2004, vs. Wyoming), the Rams have sold out seven of their last 20 home games.

SENIORS STEAL SHOW IN HOMECOMING WIN
The Rams were led by a collection of seniors in their thrilling 44-42 homecoming victory over the Nevada Wolf Pack. Quarterback Nick Stevens passed for 384 yards and four touchdowns, while running back Dalyn Dawkins rushed for a career-high 191 yards on just 17 carries. Wide receiver Michael Gallup totaled 262 yards and three touchdowns—two yards short of CSU's single-game receiving record—and tight end Dalton Fackrell hauled in his third receiving touchdown in as many games.

On the defensive side, safety Jordan Fogal tied for the team lead with seven tackles including 1.0 tackle for loss, and fellow safety Jake Schlager followed closely behind with five tackles.

Anchored by three fifth-year seniors—Jake Bennett, Zack Golditch and Trae Moxley—the offensive line was its usual dominant self, extending its streak of conesuctive quarters without a sack allowed to 22. The Wolf Pack came into the game ranked sixth in the country, averaging 8.3 tackles for loss per game, but mustered just 1.0 against the Rams' offensive front.

DEFENSE MAKES STATEMENT AT UTAH STATE
The Rams defense had one of its most dominant performances in recent history, recording seven sacks and 13 tackles for loss, while allowing just 212 total yards in CSU's 27-14 win at Utah State. The seven sacks are the most by the Rams defense since 2011, while the 212 yards allowed is the fewest by an FBS opponent since 2013.

In his first start of the season, sophomore DE Arjay Jean led the Rams with six tackles, two sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble. True freshman LB Emmanuel Jones recorded the first two sacks of his career, while Richard King, Caleb Smith, Jakob Buys and Evan Colorito tallied the Rams' other sacks.

GOING FOR 500 (and 600)
CSU has eclipsed 500 yards of total offense five times this season, and reached 600-plus yards three times. Under Coach Bobo and offensive coordinator Will Friend, the Rams have exceeded 500 yards of total offense 14 times (4 in 2015, 5 in 2016, 5 in 2017).

The Rams posted 610 yards at Hawaii on Sept. 30 - a season high and the most under Coach Bobo. The total also ranks 10th all-time.

The offense came just short of beating that mark two weeks later against Nevada (Oct. 14), putting up 608 yards of total offense.

BOBO KNOWS TALENT
Of the 73 CSU student-athletes who have appeared in a game this season, 38 are from Coach Bobo's last two signing classes—his first two full classes as Colorado State's head coach. This included 8 of the 22 starters in the season opener versus Oregon State. Those 36 are either from the 2016 and 2017 signing classes or have joined the team as walk-ons since the end of the 2015 season, Bobo's first as CSU's head coach.

START 'EM YOUNG
A year after #RamFam16 took the Mountain West by storm—highlighted by true freshmen Hicks, Jean, Kinsey Jr. and McBride's dominance in Mountain West play—#RAMPAGE17 has already put the country on notice. P Ryan Stonehouse currently ranks first in the country, averaging 48.7 yards per punt. TE Cameron Butler has nine catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns, and WR Warren Jackson recorded two touchdown receptions at No. 1-ranked Alabama. LB Emmanuel Jones has 20 tackles and 2.0 sacks, while Ellison Hubbard has 13 tackles and 1.0 sack. OL Scott Brooks, CB Darius Campbell, RB Marcus McElroy, LB Patrick Moody, DL Livingston Paogofie, OL Joctavis Phillips, S Jadon Walker and WR Darius Wise are the other true freshmen to play this season.

CSU has now played 13 true freshmen this season.

CSU, UNDER ARMOUR REVEAL #STATEPRIDE UNIFORMS
The Colorado State football program and CSU Athletics' official apparel provider Under Armour unveiled on Sept. 21 a special State Pride uniform that the Rams will wear for this week vs. Boise State.

"Our partnership with Under Armour provides for specialty uniforms and the UA design team does a tremendous job driving the creative process," said Joe Parker, Director of Athletics. "The use of our iconic state flag as the base element for this uniform speaks to the pride across Colorado for the University and also our mission as a land grant institution."

The State Pride uniforms are white and incorporate elements of the Colorado state flag, with the helmet and jersey displaying the red and gold "C" and the pants including a patch of the flag at the left hip. The royal blue stripes of the flag run along the center of the helmet from front to back, and down the outside of each pant leg. Jersey numbers are royal with red trim, and the words "Colorado State" appear in royal above the number on the front of the jersey.

Under Armour is in its fifth year as the official apparel and uniform provider for Colorado State's athletics programs. The partnership originated in 2013 and a multi-year renewal began in 2016. In addition to the standard home and away uniforms and the Ag Day orange jerseys for the football team, Under Armour has produced an all-gray uniform that debuted in 2016.

BREAKING IN THE NEW END ZONES
The Rams scored seven touchdowns in their first game at the new on-campus stadium, successfully breaking in both end zones.

CSU's seven touchdowns were scored by six different players:
Rushing (3): Dalyn Dawkins, Marvin Kinsey, Jr., Izzy Matthews
Receiving (3): Cameron Butler, Detrich Clark, Dalyn Dawkins
Defensive (1): Tre Thomas (44-yard INT return)

Matthews scored the first CSU TD in the new stadium - a 1-yard rush into the south end zone to tie the game at 7-7. OSU WR Timmy Hernandez scored the first points in the stadium on a 39-yard TD pass from QB Jake Luton.

A LOOK AT THE SCHEDULE

With 16 starters returning from last year's bowl team, CSU will challenge itself in 2017, playing a pair of Pac-12 programs (Oregon State, Colorado) and preseason No. 1 Alabama before opening up conference play on Sept. 30 at Hawai'i.
The 2017 season marks the first time since 2004 that CSU has played three Power-5 teams in non-conference. That year, the Rams faced Colorado, No. 22 Minnesota and No. 1 USC. According to FBSschedules.com, CSU's 2017 non-conference slate is ranked as the second-toughest in all of college football.
CSU's 11 FBS opponents went a combined 84-60 (.583) in 2016, with seven playing in bowl games and three competing in their conference title game (Alabama, Colorado, Wyoming).
CSU has a winning record against five of its eight conference opponents (Hawai`i, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming) and is tied with San José State.
CSU begins conference play with back-to-back road contests for the first time since 1986. On the flip side, CSU will close the regular season with back-to-back home games for the first time since 2011.
With the Oregon State date change to a Week 0 contest, CSU played Colorado during Week 1. It marked just the second time in the past six years (2015) that the Rocky Mountain Showdown has not been the season opener. Attendance for the annual rivalry game has increased each of the past five seasons, including the largest crowd since 2003 last fall.
The Rams traveled to Hawai`i for the first time since 2013. After winning 51-21 on Sept. 30, CSU is now is 15-9 all-time against the Rainbow Warriors, winning seven in a row.
CSU won its first game at Utah State since 2011 with a 27-14 victory on Oct. 7.
The Rams and Wolf Pack played for the first time since the 2015 Arizona Bowl. CSU is 11-3 all-time against Nevada, including a perfect 7-0 in Fort Collins.
The Rams have now beaten New Mexico eight consecutive times and hold a 41-25 advantage in the series.
CSU fell to Air Force on Oct. 28, marking the first time in the series since 2011 that the visiting team won.
The Rams have played Wyoming more than any other team, holding a 57-46-5 advantage in the series.
CSU is looking for its first win over Boise State. The Broncos are 6-0 against the Rams, playing each of the past six seasons.
CSU is 4-4 all-time against San José State, winning in the most-recent meeting, in 2014 in San Jose.

#RAMPAGE17
Colorado State Football's 2017 signing class was the highest ranked in program history. Among CSU's signing class were several three-star commits, according to various recruiting sites. 247Sports lists 19 of the Rams' 27 signees as three-star prospects, while Scout named 16 - both are the most in school history. ESPN has 15 while Rivals has 12. Overall, there were 10 consensus three-star prospects among the four recruiting sites. WR Tyler Smith was named a four-star prospect by ESPN, 247 Sports and Scout.

The combined 2016 winning percentage of the Rams' 21 high school signees is .770 (197-59). Seven players won conference titles during their senior seasons (Firment, Hubbard, Lebron, Moody, Phillips, Scott and Smith), while four others played in their state championship or semifinals (Firment, Hubbard, Paogofie and Phillips). Hubbard helped Grayson High School to the 2016 Georgia Class 7A state championship and a No. 4 national ranking. Meanwhile, Corte Tapia led the Windsor Wizards to a 2015 Colorado 4A title.

GREEN AND GLOBAL - SERVICE AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN JAMAICA

13 student-athletes and four staff members traveled to Petersfield, Jamaica from May 18-28.
The athletes experienced cultural immersion, social action and community-based learning. Students were hosted by local families, with 2-4 students per home.
Participating football players: Deonte Clyburn, Zack Golditch, Houston Haynes, Levi Osborn, Nate Ryken.
CSU's student-athletes have seen their opportunities expand dramatically in recent years. The most visible expansion of the student-athlete experience has come in the way of investments in nutrition, facilities and academic support to further fulfill the department's mission to Educate, Engage and Excel.
The trip was organized by Dr. Albert Bimper, CSU's senior associate athletic director for diversity and inclusion.
Bimper was a 2006 CSU graduate and four-year starting center on the football team (2002-05).

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Players Mentioned

Jake Bennett

Scott Brooks

Wyatt Bryan

Cam Butler

Jakob Buys

Darius Campbell

Detrich Clark

Deonte Clyburn

Evan Colorito

Dalyn Dawkins

Dalton Fackrell

Jordan Fogal

Michael Gallup

Zack Golditch

Houston Haynes

Jamal Hicks

Ellison Hubbard

Warren Jackson

Arjay Jean

Olabisi Johnson

Manny Jones

Richard King

Izzy Matthews

Marcus McElroy, Jr.

Patrick Moody

Trae Moxley

Levi Osborn

Livingston Paogofie

Joctavis Phillips

Nate Ryken

Jake Schlager

Caleb Smith

Tyler Smith

Nick Stevens

Ryan Stonehouse

Corte Tapia

Tre Thomas

Jadon Walker

Josh Watson

Darius Wise

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