Colorado State University Athletics
This Week in History: Rams Topple No. 25 BYU
9/19/2019 1:00:00 PM | Football
Myers' picks help pave path
September 17, 1994 – BYU head coach Lavelle Edwards had hopes of winning his 200th college football game when his Cougars met Sonny Lubick's Rams on a 90-degree day in Provo, Utah. Lubick knew BYU quarterback John Walsh would be a tough opponent.
The Rams offense opened the first quarter extremely flat, unable to gain yards with a very raucous Cougar crowd giving BYU an advantage. On its first possession BYU, drove to the CSU 17 before the Ram defense held the hosts to a field goal. Still, the offense is confident, but looking for answers as Rams wide receivers coach Urban Myer talks things over with CSU quarterback Anthoney Hill.
Cougar Stadium, still loud with 65,000 fans screaming with BYU leading 3-0, is silenced by a Greg Myers interception. The Rams offense still could not get going, and after three plays punt as an already hot and exhausted CSU defense takes the field again. As CSU offensive coordinator Dave Lay chews out his men for a lack-luster performance, Myers grabs his second interception of the first quarter, this time taking it 37 yards for a touchdown.
The offense is now fired up to help the defense stay off the field for a while, and although they move the ball, CSU cannot score. Once again the defense cames out to play, and this time Walsh drove his team and put them in the end zone to retake the lead 10-7.
This time Hill and the offense get things together, and thanks to a leaping catch by Paul Turner, the Rams drive to the 1-yard line. Hill then makes a sweep around the end to score, giving CSU a 14-10 lead. The defense holds off a Cougar threat following E.J. Watson's fumble at the BYU 8-yard-line and forces them to punt. This time Hill, Turner and Jeremy Burkett drive the Rams to fourth-and-goal on the 1. Hill punches it in again, and the Rams headed to the locker room at the half with a shocking 21-10 lead.
The heat and a tough BYU offense continued to batter the best defense in the WAC all day long. Lubick said, "It was hot, we were worn out. I kept going over to the bench, chiding the defense to just keep going."
The third quarter is nothing short of a fight in the trenches on both sides of the ball as a listless Cougar crowd cannot urge their team on for any more points. The Rams head into the fourth quarter with an 11-point lead, knowing they need at least one more score to put the game away.
The Rams defense continues to pummel Walsh on every play with Sean Moran, Steve Hodge, Kirk Bowman and Brady Smith flattening Walsh time and time again, preventing him from releasing the ball with effectiveness as they rush the line. Finally the Cougars muster a field goal with 11:10 remaining in the game. The Rams offense, scolded by Meyer, Lay and Dave Magazu knew they must keep their defense off the field and get the ball in the end zone.
The Rams offense again goes three and out, but on BYU's next possession, CSU strong safety Scott Lynch intercepts the ball, handing it to the Rams offense one more time. Behind barreling runs by E.J. Watson, CSU drove to the 1, where Van Ward punched it in for a touchdown.
Now with 5:15 on the clock and Lubick still riding his hot and tired defense, the Cougars and Walsh keep punching at the Rams. After Moran recovers a fumble and the CSU offense stalls, the Rams try a 50-yard field goal that misses. BYU takes it to the CSU 8-yard line, but the tough Rams defense holds the Cougars on downs. Now with only 2:56 to play, the CSU offense is determined to end the game with the ball in their hands, but Matt McDougal has to punt and the Cougars take over at mid-field.
This time BYU drives in for the touchdown and scores a two-point conversion. Trailing by only seven points and 1:10 left on the clock, a BYU onside kick fails and CSU holds on for the 28-21 victory. It was the Rams' first win in Provo since 1986, and it is the first time they had started a season 3-0 since 1977. Clearly the 1994 Rams were on a path to one of the greatest seasons in school history.
The Rams offense opened the first quarter extremely flat, unable to gain yards with a very raucous Cougar crowd giving BYU an advantage. On its first possession BYU, drove to the CSU 17 before the Ram defense held the hosts to a field goal. Still, the offense is confident, but looking for answers as Rams wide receivers coach Urban Myer talks things over with CSU quarterback Anthoney Hill.
Cougar Stadium, still loud with 65,000 fans screaming with BYU leading 3-0, is silenced by a Greg Myers interception. The Rams offense still could not get going, and after three plays punt as an already hot and exhausted CSU defense takes the field again. As CSU offensive coordinator Dave Lay chews out his men for a lack-luster performance, Myers grabs his second interception of the first quarter, this time taking it 37 yards for a touchdown.
The offense is now fired up to help the defense stay off the field for a while, and although they move the ball, CSU cannot score. Once again the defense cames out to play, and this time Walsh drove his team and put them in the end zone to retake the lead 10-7.
This time Hill and the offense get things together, and thanks to a leaping catch by Paul Turner, the Rams drive to the 1-yard line. Hill then makes a sweep around the end to score, giving CSU a 14-10 lead. The defense holds off a Cougar threat following E.J. Watson's fumble at the BYU 8-yard-line and forces them to punt. This time Hill, Turner and Jeremy Burkett drive the Rams to fourth-and-goal on the 1. Hill punches it in again, and the Rams headed to the locker room at the half with a shocking 21-10 lead.
The heat and a tough BYU offense continued to batter the best defense in the WAC all day long. Lubick said, "It was hot, we were worn out. I kept going over to the bench, chiding the defense to just keep going."
The third quarter is nothing short of a fight in the trenches on both sides of the ball as a listless Cougar crowd cannot urge their team on for any more points. The Rams head into the fourth quarter with an 11-point lead, knowing they need at least one more score to put the game away.
The Rams defense continues to pummel Walsh on every play with Sean Moran, Steve Hodge, Kirk Bowman and Brady Smith flattening Walsh time and time again, preventing him from releasing the ball with effectiveness as they rush the line. Finally the Cougars muster a field goal with 11:10 remaining in the game. The Rams offense, scolded by Meyer, Lay and Dave Magazu knew they must keep their defense off the field and get the ball in the end zone.
The Rams offense again goes three and out, but on BYU's next possession, CSU strong safety Scott Lynch intercepts the ball, handing it to the Rams offense one more time. Behind barreling runs by E.J. Watson, CSU drove to the 1, where Van Ward punched it in for a touchdown.
Now with 5:15 on the clock and Lubick still riding his hot and tired defense, the Cougars and Walsh keep punching at the Rams. After Moran recovers a fumble and the CSU offense stalls, the Rams try a 50-yard field goal that misses. BYU takes it to the CSU 8-yard line, but the tough Rams defense holds the Cougars on downs. Now with only 2:56 to play, the CSU offense is determined to end the game with the ball in their hands, but Matt McDougal has to punt and the Cougars take over at mid-field.
This time BYU drives in for the touchdown and scores a two-point conversion. Trailing by only seven points and 1:10 left on the clock, a BYU onside kick fails and CSU holds on for the 28-21 victory. It was the Rams' first win in Provo since 1986, and it is the first time they had started a season 3-0 since 1977. Clearly the 1994 Rams were on a path to one of the greatest seasons in school history.
Thursday, May 14
Monday, May 11
Friday, May 08
Tuesday, April 28