Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
3-9 , 2-6
Air Force
5-7 , 3-5
Rams fall at Air Force in Thanksgiving clash to close 2018 season
11/22/2018 5:32:00 PM | Football
Second-half rally comes up short
Williams' third touchdown, on a 31-yard reception from Carta-Samuels, came with 9:53 to play and pulled the Rams to within one point of the Falcons, 20-19, after the point-after attempt was missed by Wyatt Bryan. Air Force responded with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed 6:18 off the clock to give the Falcons a 27-19 lead with 3:35 to play. The Rams' ensuing drive was promising, reaching the Falcons' 22-yard line, where, on 1st-and-10, with 1:54 to play, Carta-Samuels was intercepted by Kyle Flood to end the threat.
Carta-Samuels completed 6 of 9 for 89 yards with the one score, and one interception, while Hill completed 13 of 23 for 284 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion.
Senior running back Izzy Matthews led Colorado State in rushing with 52 yards on 10 carries (5.2) to finish his career ranked eighth on CSU's all-time rushing list. Today he passed Cecil Sapp (2,642; 1999-2002). Senior wide receiver Olabisi Johnson caught four passes for 88 yards in his final game, and moved into the Rams' all-time top 10 in receiving yards with 2,019, passing previous 10th-place Todd Tyrrell (1,994; 1984-87).
The Rams' defense responded to some early success by Air Force's option attack, forcing two punts and a missed field goal, and putting up a goal-line stand in the third quarter with a fourth-down stop at the 1-yard line. Senior linebackers Tre Thomas (18 tackles) and Josh Watson (17) led the way, with sophomore safety Jamal Hicks adding 15 stops and freshman safety Quinn Brinnon 10. Thomas, Watson and Brinnon each had a tackle for lost yardage.
The Rams conclude the 2018 campaign with a 3-9 record.Â
Team Stats
CSU 0, AF 7
AF - FAGAN, Cole 3 yd run (KOEHNKE, Jake kick), 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:54
CSU 0, AF 14
AF - BENNETT, Marcus 16 yd pass from HAMMOND III, DJ (KOEHNKE, Jake kick) 4 plays, 74 yards, TOP 1:35
CSU 6, AF 14
CSU - WILLIAMS, P. 34 yd pass from HILL, C. (BRYAN, W. kickfailed) 10 plays, 92 yards, TOP 3:21
CSU 6, AF 17
AF - KOEHNKE, Jake 29 yd field goal 12 plays, 63 yards, TOP 5:58
CSU 13, AF 17
CSU - WILLIAMS, P. 58 yd pass from HILL, C. (BRYAN, W. kick) 5 plays, 75 yards, TOP 0:43
CSU 13, AF 20
AF - KOEHNKE, Jake 39 yd field goal 18 plays, 76 yards, TOP 6:51
CSU 19, AF 20
CSU - WILLIAMS, P. 31 yd pass from CARTA-SAMUELS (BRYAN, W. kickblocked) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:56
CSU 19, AF 27
AF - REMSBERG, Kadin 4 yd run (KOEHNKE, Jake kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 6:18
