Colorado State University Athletics
Memorable Moments: Border War Fires up Fan Bases
11/4/2021 3:00:00 PM | Football
Holland, Anderson lead 2005 air show
Border War!
Â
Say those two words to a Colorado State fan and their eyes light up and immediately yell, "We want The Boot!"
Â
There is no school CSU has played more times and battled for great games than the Wyoming Cowboys. Played continuously since 1946, the only home game for the Rams in 2020 was a defeat of Wyoming and bringing home the Bronze Boot after a long hiatus. This week's contest will mark the 76th consecutive Border War game and the 112th meeting overall – not including the forfeit of 1899 that CSU does not recognize in the record – between the two schools.
Â
The 2005 game, Border War battle No. 96, occurred on October 22nd at Hughes Stadium before a crowd of 32,081, the 12th-largest in school history to that date. Both the Rams and Cowboys needed a win to keep their bowl hopes alive, and the Rams donned special gold jerseys with green pants to psych up the team and the crowd with something different. Led by quarterback Justin Holland and CSU Hall of Fame receiver David Anderson, the Rams and Cowboys faced off for another classic rivalry game.
Â
Wyoming boasted one of the best defenses in the nation at the time, recording 21 sacks in their first seven games of the year. The Cowboys were no pushover, and with the added emotion of the Border War, this was a game that would be a fight. Wyoming struck first with 10 early points and the Rams had their backs against the concrete walls of Hughes Stadium.
Â
The first half belonged to Wyoming after quarterback Justin Holland threw an interception and early mistakes by the Rams allowed Wyoming the advantage. The Rams trailed 24-13 with 44 seconds remaining in the half when Holland drove the Rams quickly down the field. With 9 seconds remaining on the clock, Holland hit Luke Roberts on a 50-yard strike for a touchdown to cut Wyoming's lead to 24-20 as the two teams headed to the locker rooms.Â
Â
Wyoming received the ball at the start of the third quarter and the Rams stopped them cold, allowing Holland to get the ball again and continue with the best game of his career. On the 12th play of an 83-yard drive, Holland connected with Kory Sperry for a 5-yard touchdown pass to put the Rams in the lead 27-24.
Â
When the final cannon shot sounded from Comatose, CSU came out on top 39-31, keeping the Bronze Boot in Fort Collins for a second year in a row. Coach Sonny Lubick improved his record against Wyoming to 10-3. Only Harry Hughes has beaten Wyoming more than the legendary Lubick.
Â
It was a record-breaking day to say the least. Holland's 419 passing yards and four touchdowns made the difference in the game, and still ranks eighth in school history for most yards passed in a game by a CSU quarterback. Holland's 82-yard pass for a touchdown to David Anderson remains as the ninth longest passing play for a touchdown in school history
Â
Anderson's 169 receiving yards and one touchdown along with Kyle Bell's 123 yards on the ground proved to be an offensive battle against Wyoming's tough defensive team. The Rams went on to beat New Mexico and UNLV to finish 2005 with a 6-5 regular season record and invitation to the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. It would be the last bowl game by a Lubick coached team.
Â
The Border War of 2005 was a CSU victory and yet another battle in the long and storied rivalry that not even the worst pandemic in more than 100 years could interrupt. As the Rams venture over the border in 2021 for battle No. 112, coach Steve Addazio's first game in enemy territory, will bring yet another chapter of this great tradition.Â
Â
Â
Say those two words to a Colorado State fan and their eyes light up and immediately yell, "We want The Boot!"
Â
There is no school CSU has played more times and battled for great games than the Wyoming Cowboys. Played continuously since 1946, the only home game for the Rams in 2020 was a defeat of Wyoming and bringing home the Bronze Boot after a long hiatus. This week's contest will mark the 76th consecutive Border War game and the 112th meeting overall – not including the forfeit of 1899 that CSU does not recognize in the record – between the two schools.
Â
The 2005 game, Border War battle No. 96, occurred on October 22nd at Hughes Stadium before a crowd of 32,081, the 12th-largest in school history to that date. Both the Rams and Cowboys needed a win to keep their bowl hopes alive, and the Rams donned special gold jerseys with green pants to psych up the team and the crowd with something different. Led by quarterback Justin Holland and CSU Hall of Fame receiver David Anderson, the Rams and Cowboys faced off for another classic rivalry game.
Â
Wyoming boasted one of the best defenses in the nation at the time, recording 21 sacks in their first seven games of the year. The Cowboys were no pushover, and with the added emotion of the Border War, this was a game that would be a fight. Wyoming struck first with 10 early points and the Rams had their backs against the concrete walls of Hughes Stadium.
Â
The first half belonged to Wyoming after quarterback Justin Holland threw an interception and early mistakes by the Rams allowed Wyoming the advantage. The Rams trailed 24-13 with 44 seconds remaining in the half when Holland drove the Rams quickly down the field. With 9 seconds remaining on the clock, Holland hit Luke Roberts on a 50-yard strike for a touchdown to cut Wyoming's lead to 24-20 as the two teams headed to the locker rooms.Â
Â
Wyoming received the ball at the start of the third quarter and the Rams stopped them cold, allowing Holland to get the ball again and continue with the best game of his career. On the 12th play of an 83-yard drive, Holland connected with Kory Sperry for a 5-yard touchdown pass to put the Rams in the lead 27-24.
Â
When the final cannon shot sounded from Comatose, CSU came out on top 39-31, keeping the Bronze Boot in Fort Collins for a second year in a row. Coach Sonny Lubick improved his record against Wyoming to 10-3. Only Harry Hughes has beaten Wyoming more than the legendary Lubick.
Â
It was a record-breaking day to say the least. Holland's 419 passing yards and four touchdowns made the difference in the game, and still ranks eighth in school history for most yards passed in a game by a CSU quarterback. Holland's 82-yard pass for a touchdown to David Anderson remains as the ninth longest passing play for a touchdown in school history
Â
Anderson's 169 receiving yards and one touchdown along with Kyle Bell's 123 yards on the ground proved to be an offensive battle against Wyoming's tough defensive team. The Rams went on to beat New Mexico and UNLV to finish 2005 with a 6-5 regular season record and invitation to the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. It would be the last bowl game by a Lubick coached team.
Â
The Border War of 2005 was a CSU victory and yet another battle in the long and storied rivalry that not even the worst pandemic in more than 100 years could interrupt. As the Rams venture over the border in 2021 for battle No. 112, coach Steve Addazio's first game in enemy territory, will bring yet another chapter of this great tradition.Â
Â
Thursday, May 14
Monday, May 11
Friday, May 08
Tuesday, April 28