Colorado State University Athletics
Pick Six: Six takeaways from CSU’s 38-10 win over Abilene Christian
9/10/2017 2:38:00 PM | Football
The Colorado State Rams defeated Abilene Christian, 38-10, on Ag Day at CSU Stadium on Saturday.
The win bumped the Rams to 2-1 on the year, and 2-0 at the new on-campus stadium.
CSU had several highlights on both sides of the ball. The defense has not allowed a touchdown in more than 100 minutes of game time, and the offense produced its highest total yardage number under Head Coach Mike Bobo.
RAMS' DOMINANCE AT HOME CONTINUES
CSU is now 2-0 in the new on-campus stadium. The Rams had a 5-1 record in home games in 2016, and have won eight of their last nine games in the friendly confines of Fort Collins dating back to a win over UNLV on Nov. 14, 2015.
Over that nine-game stretch, CSU has averaged 37.6 points, with an average scoring margin of 15.4 points.
DEFENSE STALWART YET AGAIN
The Rams defense did not surrender a touchdown to Abilene Christian on Saturday (the Wildcats' lone TD was on a punt block). CSU's stalwart 'D' has not allowed a touchdown since the 13:38 mark of the second quarter against Colorado last week, equaling 1:03:36 of game time.
ACU's field goal in the third quarter yesterday ended a shutout streak of 84:22 for the CSU defense.
GALLUP, STEVENS CONTINUE TO PUT UP NUMBERS
Seniors Michael Gallup and Nick Stevens have gotten off to a hot start to 2017.
Gallup, a wide receiver from Monroe, Ga., had 10 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against ACU. It's his eighth 100-yard game in just 16 games as a Ram. Gallup is now alone in fifth all-time at CSU in 100-yard outings, and is averaging 103 yards per game this season.
Stevens, a quarterback from Murrieta, Calif., eclipsed the 300 passing yard plateau for the fourth consecutive game and third in a row to begin 2017. Stevens now has six 300-yard outings in his career, the fourth-most of any CSU signal caller. Stevens currently leads the NCAA in passing yards (985).
2-PICK HICKS
Sophomore safety Jamal Hicks picked off two ACU passes on Saturday. The first came at the end of the first half, as the Wildcats threw a long ball to the end zone as time expired. The second was in the third quarter on an ACU trick play attempt off a pass from a wide receiver. Hicks hauled it in, and CSU scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
Hicks became the first CSU player to have a pair of INTs in a game since… teammate Kevin Nutt, Jr., did the same thing a week ago against Colorado. Before that, the last Ram to have two interceptions in a contest was Tyree Simmons against New Mexico on Nov. 22, 2014.
RAMS RACKING UP INTs
The Rams have tallied seven interceptions through three games this season. Compare that to last season, when CSU totaled eight for the entire year.
Five different Rams have notched an INT so far – Jamal Hicks and Kevin Nutt, Jr., with two apiece and Anthony Hawkins, Tre Thomas and Josh Watson each have one. Thomas returned his 44 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Oregon State.
600 YARD DAY FOR THE OFFENSE
CSU totaled 605 yards of total offense (337 through the air, 268 on the ground) against ACU. That total is the most the Rams have compiled during Head Coach Mike Bobo's tenure and the most of any Rams team since posting a school-record 698 yards against New Mexico in 2014.
Several Rams stood out on Saturday. Quarterback Nick Stevens went for 300-plus passing yards for the fourth consecutive game. Wide receiver had 103 yards receiving, while Olabisi Johnson (3 catches, 83 yards) and Detrich Clark (6-67) were also prominent. Running back Izzy Matthews had 89 yards on the ground and another 34 through the air, while Dalyn Dawkins rushed for 73.
The win bumped the Rams to 2-1 on the year, and 2-0 at the new on-campus stadium.
CSU had several highlights on both sides of the ball. The defense has not allowed a touchdown in more than 100 minutes of game time, and the offense produced its highest total yardage number under Head Coach Mike Bobo.
RAMS' DOMINANCE AT HOME CONTINUES
CSU is now 2-0 in the new on-campus stadium. The Rams had a 5-1 record in home games in 2016, and have won eight of their last nine games in the friendly confines of Fort Collins dating back to a win over UNLV on Nov. 14, 2015.
Over that nine-game stretch, CSU has averaged 37.6 points, with an average scoring margin of 15.4 points.
DEFENSE STALWART YET AGAIN
The Rams defense did not surrender a touchdown to Abilene Christian on Saturday (the Wildcats' lone TD was on a punt block). CSU's stalwart 'D' has not allowed a touchdown since the 13:38 mark of the second quarter against Colorado last week, equaling 1:03:36 of game time.
ACU's field goal in the third quarter yesterday ended a shutout streak of 84:22 for the CSU defense.
GALLUP, STEVENS CONTINUE TO PUT UP NUMBERS
Seniors Michael Gallup and Nick Stevens have gotten off to a hot start to 2017.
Gallup, a wide receiver from Monroe, Ga., had 10 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against ACU. It's his eighth 100-yard game in just 16 games as a Ram. Gallup is now alone in fifth all-time at CSU in 100-yard outings, and is averaging 103 yards per game this season.
Stevens, a quarterback from Murrieta, Calif., eclipsed the 300 passing yard plateau for the fourth consecutive game and third in a row to begin 2017. Stevens now has six 300-yard outings in his career, the fourth-most of any CSU signal caller. Stevens currently leads the NCAA in passing yards (985).
2-PICK HICKS
Sophomore safety Jamal Hicks picked off two ACU passes on Saturday. The first came at the end of the first half, as the Wildcats threw a long ball to the end zone as time expired. The second was in the third quarter on an ACU trick play attempt off a pass from a wide receiver. Hicks hauled it in, and CSU scored a touchdown on the ensuing drive.
Hicks became the first CSU player to have a pair of INTs in a game since… teammate Kevin Nutt, Jr., did the same thing a week ago against Colorado. Before that, the last Ram to have two interceptions in a contest was Tyree Simmons against New Mexico on Nov. 22, 2014.
RAMS RACKING UP INTs
The Rams have tallied seven interceptions through three games this season. Compare that to last season, when CSU totaled eight for the entire year.
Five different Rams have notched an INT so far – Jamal Hicks and Kevin Nutt, Jr., with two apiece and Anthony Hawkins, Tre Thomas and Josh Watson each have one. Thomas returned his 44 yards for a touchdown in the season opener against Oregon State.
600 YARD DAY FOR THE OFFENSE
CSU totaled 605 yards of total offense (337 through the air, 268 on the ground) against ACU. That total is the most the Rams have compiled during Head Coach Mike Bobo's tenure and the most of any Rams team since posting a school-record 698 yards against New Mexico in 2014.
Several Rams stood out on Saturday. Quarterback Nick Stevens went for 300-plus passing yards for the fourth consecutive game. Wide receiver had 103 yards receiving, while Olabisi Johnson (3 catches, 83 yards) and Detrich Clark (6-67) were also prominent. Running back Izzy Matthews had 89 yards on the ground and another 34 through the air, while Dalyn Dawkins rushed for 73.
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