What We Saw: The Improbable End of a Streak

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The finish was one which was hard to fathom and even more difficult to put into words.

"I can't say I've ever been a part of a game where it happened for us until tonight," CSU head coach Jay Norvell said early Sunday morning.

Add to the fact it came against a team Colorado State had never beaten, a team it trailed by 20 in the fourth quarter and needed the final play of the game to produce a 31-30 victory over Boise State, it became historic.

As in matching the largest deficit overcome. As in it was against Boise State and evened the Rams' record across the board at 3-3 overall, 1-1 in Mountain West play.

What Colorado State does hope from the Hail Mary victory is it becomes a transformative type of win.

"I kind of looked at this as a big learning lesson. We start off slow," wide receiver Tory Horton said. "We didn't start the game how we wanted. That just goes to show what we can do and how we can fight back in a game. I feel this is a huge learning lesson for the team to go out there and start fast, and when things go on the other side of the court, keep fighting and just keep building. That's something we proved today. We had a lot of heart and went out there strong."

Slow start is an understatement. Colorado State's first six possessions on offense led to punts, five of them three-and-outs. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi looked out of sorts again, throwing for just nine yards in the first quarter, 43 in the first half. He then threw for 207 in the fourth quarter with three touchdowns and an interception to finish with 357 yards through the air.

Horton dropped a sure touchdown pass in the first half but came back to have 10 receptions for 130 yards.

The numbers flipped both ways. Boise State rushed for 177 yards in the first two quarters, just 67 more the rest of the way. Colorado State's defense gave up some rushing yards, but also collected three turnovers in the first half. For the first time this year the Rams didn't have a sack and very few tackles for loss, but it did stand tall and force field goals on three Boise State drives.

"It's probably the most amazing game I've ever had a chance to coach in," Norvell said. "Just to see a group of guys continue to fight and make things happen."

Doing Their Part

The running back room was down to the bare bones. The Rams lost starting linebacker Chase Wilson to a targeting call early. Before the contest started, and throughout the night, Colorado State needed contributions across the board and no role was too small.

With Vann Schield the only healthy running back available, Peter Montini was taught the position on the fly and added some depth up until he had to leave the game. Buom Jock and Drew Rodriquez both played substantial snaps at linebacker. And when the Rams were trying to rally, it was backup tight end Vince Brown who recovered an onside kick to keep it going.

Do your job. Norvell's been asking his players to do it for weeks and Saturday night enough of them did.

"I think 100 percent. Peter got called up, literally had to learn the whole playbook for running back this week and then was able to go in there and do it," tight end Dallin Holker said. "Vince, just stepping up, hasn't played the whole game but special teams, but in that moment being locked in and run down there and get that ball is amazing."

Jock, who has been playing more of late, was second on the team with nine tackles, five of them solo stops. Rodriquez, who had not played this season, had three. Montini had two carries for 2 yards, but collected three receptions for 21, the last one good for a first down but taking a hit that sent him to the sidelines.

The Best Of Norvell

When a coach wins, he can have a little fun in the postgame press conference. Norvell did.

On the crowd: "The last five minutes were just incredible. I imagine there will probably be a lot of people who years from now will say they were at this game and probably went home early."

Speaking of giving up early and waking up surprised: "I woke up really confident this morning. I heard some of the scores from last night, and that helped my confidence a little bit and put a smile on my face."

And to wrap up, the unsportsman like penalty flag he drew: "I really don't think that was deserving. I've done a lot worse. I told him that too. I said, 'really?'"

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