Rams Drop Border War Matchup

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LARAMIE, Wyo. – The game started off well enough. Complementary, even.

Colorado State's defense stopped Wyoming on fourth-and-short near midfield. The offense responded with a touchdown – in the red zone even – for a quick strike in the Border War.

Then Wyoming ran away, literally. The Cowboys rushed for 253 yards in the first half alone, with both Titus Swen and Levi Williams having already surpassed the 100-yard mark. They did it with tough yards and explosive plays, building up a 17-10 lead at halftime which eventually turned into a 31-17 victory.

As the clock hit 0:00, the Wyoming sideline cross the field to grab the Bronze Boot, and their fans poured out of the stands behind them to celebrate on the field. It was a scene Colorado State head coach Steve Addazio was devastating. It was a memory he will never forget.

Nor will Trey McBride.

"It's devastating. This game means a lot, being from Colorado," McBride said. "Playing this game means a lot, so seeing those guys storm the field hurts. It's just frustrating, because I know I'll never have another chance to play these guys again. That's' what hurts the most. I wanted to keep that Boot in Fort Collins. It just hurts."

That sums up a lot about Saturday's game at War Memorial Stadium for the Rams – now 3-6 overall, 2-3 in Mountain West played -- who played uncharacteristically on defense throughout the day. Until the loss to Boise State the week before, the Rams had never allowed a play of 50 yards or longer. Wyoming two runs longer than that 51-yard scoring pass by the Broncos, including an 87-yard scamper by Swen at the first quarter which set up Wyoming's go-ahead touchdown.

Williams would have a 52-yard run in the second quarter after producing a 43-yard scoring run for a touchdown as Wyoming responded immediately to Colorado State's opening jab.

"I just think guys are trying to do too much," safety Logan Stewart said of the explosive runs. "We've got to hone in and go back to our fundamentals and just do your job and eliminate those big plays."

Colorado State's offense was one dimensional in the first half, missing a traditional run game for the first two quarters. When the defense produced a fumble near midfield, the offense went three-and-out. Cayden Camper hit his 23^rd field goal of the year to cut into the lead at 14-10, but right before halftime, Wyoming countered with a field goal if its own for a 17-10 margin at half.

The third quarter hasn't been kind to Colorado State much of the year, but this had a chance to be different. Wyoming drove into field goal range, but missed the kick. The Rams countered with a threat of their own, and remarkably, it was all fun fueled. Five consecutive runs generated 62 yards, setting up first-and-10 at the Wyoming 11.

Then it was gone. Three runs, four yards and a red-zone field goal attempt off the upright.

Then Wyoming kept running, and even without the big plays, it was effective in keeping the Rams off the field and defense worn down. Wyoming went on an 11-play, 80-yard drive at the end of the third, capped by 25-yard scoring pass from Williams to Isaiah Neyor.

They iced the game when Neyor scored on a 15-yard pass play midway through the fourth, making it a 31-10 game.

Wyoming finished with 477 yards of total offense, 385 of it on the ground. It's the most rushing yards the Rams have allowed to a team since the 436 allowed to Toledo in 2019. And this Colorado State defense hadn't allowed that many total yards since giving up 466 to South Dakota State to start the campaign, but now it has allowed more than 400 two weeks running.

Colorado State never found a consistency on offense, which has been haunting them most of the year. The one thing the Rams have been able to count on is McBride, who pulled down nine catches for 98 yards. The Rams hope they have a piece back in Dante Wright, who scored both touchdowns on short passes, the first covering 4 yards, the last late in the fourth from 11 out.

Todd Centeio finished 20-of-36 passing for 187 yards and the two scores, but he was also intercepted twice for the first time in a CSU uniform.

The Rams dealt with injuries, too be sure. Linebacker Dequan Jackson tried to go, but couldn't. They've had different starting lineups in the secondary and along the offensive line. None of it helps, true, but McBride said it shouldn't matter.

"At the same time, nobody cares," he said. "We've got to go. We have to be more consistent, and we didn't do that today."

And because of it, they lost to rival Wyoming for the fifth time in six years.

To win, Addazio said they had to stop the run and they had to be able to run it. The first didn't happen, the second part not until later.

"I obviously didn't do a good enough job getting our team prepared," he said. "That falls straight on me, and I need to go back and take a look at our week, what we did, what we didn't do, because I don't feel like we played anywhere near to our capability."

His frustration, and McBride speaking through near-tears, told that tale all too well.

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Todd Centeio

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Cayden Camper

Todd Centeio

Dequan Jackson

Trey McBride

Logan Stewart

Dante Wright

Players Mentioned

Cayden Camper

Todd Centeio

Dequan Jackson

Trey McBride

Logan Stewart

Dante Wright

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