Colorado State University Athletics

Rams drop heartbreaker to No. 14 Utah State, 29-24
11/17/2018 4:48:00 PM | Football
Last-second Hail Mary called back due to penalty
CSU quarterback Collin Hill completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Preston Williams as time expired, appearing to give CSU a 30-29 victory with no time left on the clock. The play was called back by the officiating crew, calling a penalty on Williams for illegal touching. It was determined that Williams stepped out of bounds voluntarily and was the first player to touch the ball upon returning to the field of play.
The Aggies led 10-0 in the second quarter, but the Rams responded with 10 consecutive points of their own off an Izzy Matthews rushing touchdown and a 22-yard field goal by Wyatt Bryan.
Utah State doubled its point total to take a 20-10 lead in the third frame. CSU scored 14 of the next 17 points to take its first lead of the day, capped by a 17-yard touchdown connection from Hill to Williams, giving the Rams a 24-23 lead with 1:36 to play.
The Aggies then stormed down the field, scoring a touchdown on a six-play, 71-yard drive in just 0:53 to reclaim a 29-24 lead with 0:43 on the clock.
IN THEIR WORDS...
"I was proud of the effort and the fight and the heart. There was a lot of hurt in that locker room today because they played their tails off. I was proud of that. I thought we looked like a football team today [for] really the first time all year." -- CSU head coach Mike Bobo on what he told the players after the game
"We were going to build on this program and the future of this program. The seniors were going to leave a legacy of fighting and I saw that today. We talked about having poise and confidence all game and I thought they displayed that the whole game." -- Bobo on the discussions he had with the team prior to the game
"I'm proud of [how the defense played]. We gave up that touchdown and that was tough, but it was a good offense. To overcome [the two pick-sixes] and have a chance to win a ball game, they kept battling when things weren't going our way." -- Bobo's thoughts on the game overall
"I could not even believe it. Going from pure joy to having your heart ripped out? It was tough. We fought. We fought today. I have never seen us fight like that this whole season. Guys came together. It was Senior Day and everybody really bought in today." -- senior wide receiver Olabisi Johnson on the end result
NOTES (MORE NOTES AND POSTGAMEÂ SOUND)
- Today was Senior Day for Colorado State at Canvas Stadium.
- 18 seniors were recognized pregame: CB V.J. Banks, OL Tyler Bjorklund, K Wyatt Bryan, QB K.J. Carta-Samuels, WR Chandler Drachslin, S Jordan Fogal, WR Olabisi Johnson, OL Ben Knox, S Kavapele Maka, RB Izzy Matthews, OL Colby Meeks, QB J.C. Robles, OL T.J. Roundtree, FB Nate Ryken, DE Caleb Smith, P Brandon Summer, LB Tre Thomas and LB Josh Watson.
- CSU outgained No. 14/13 Utah State 506-310 and led in time of possession 42:05-17:55.
- Utah State entered the game averaging 517.5 yards per game -- 10th in the FBS
- CSU outgained Utah State 276-124 in the first half and outpossessed the Aggies 21:11-8:49.
- The Rams limited the Aggies to eight offensive possessions in the game, exactly two in each quarter, and ran 82 plays to USU's 52.
- The Aggies' 310 total yards is the third-fewest the Rams have allowed this year.
- At SJSU (285) and vs. New Mexico (299).
- Colorado State's 199 rushing yards were their second-most of 2018, trailing only the 219 rushing yards gained at San Jose State (10/6/18).
- Utah State led 3-0 after one quarter. It's the first time this season that the Aggies had not scored a TD in the first quarter.
- The Aggies, who entered the game ranked first in the nation in scoring offense (51.1) scored their 29 points off of two defensive touchdowns, one offensive TD and three field goals.
- Seniors Wyatt Bryan, Tre Thomas and Josh Watson all played in their 50th career games today. They are all tied for fifth in games played in CSU history and are three of the 12 players to reach 50 games played in a CSU uniform.
- Assuming they each play at Air Force on Thursday, the trio will end their CSU careers tied for fourth in career games played (Trent Matthews, 2012-15).
- No. 14/13 Utah State is the highest-ranked visiting team to play in Fort Collins since  No. 5/6 Boise State on Oct. 15, 2011 (Boise State won 63-13).
Team Stats

USU 3, CSU 0
USU - EBERLE, Dominik 23 yd field goal 11 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:42

USU 10, CSU 0
USU - WADE, Aaron 95 yd interception (EBERLE, Dominik kick)

USU 10, CSU 7
CSU - MATTHEWS, I. 8 yd run (BRYAN, W. kick), 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:38

USU 10, CSU 10
CSU - BRYAN, W. 22 yd field goal 13 plays, 61 yards, TOP 6:20

USU 13, CSU 10
USU - EBERLE, Dominik 26 yd field goal 10 plays, 61 yards, TOP 3:25

USU 20, CSU 10
USU - ROCQUEMORE, J. 32 yd interception (EBERLE, Dominik kick)

USU 20, CSU 17
CSU - WILLIAMS, P. 9 yd pass from HILL, C. (BRYAN, W. kick) 15 plays, 90 yards, TOP 6:04

USU 23, CSU 17
USU - EBERLE, Dominik 37 yd field goal 8 plays, 55 yards, TOP 3:36

USU 23, CSU 24
CSU - WILLIAMS, P. 17 yd pass from HILL, C. (BRYAN, W. kick) 2 plays, 20 yards, TOP 0:49

USU 29, CSU 24
USU - VAUGHNS, Aaren 33 yd pass from LOVE, Jordan (LOVE, Jordan passfailed) 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 0:53