Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, November 18
Fort Collins, CO
1:00 PM
Colorado State
5-6 , 3-4
30
vs
20
Nevada
2-9 , 2-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Nevada
3
10
7
0
20
Colorado State
14
6
3
7
30
Rams Close Out Nevada on Senior Day
11/18/2023 6:39:00 PM | Football
Ten players exit final home game with a victory
Call it resiliency. Or just a better grasp of the understanding required to finish a game.
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It's not like Colorado State still doesn't make mistakes or give fans and coach Jay Norvell a few tense moments on Saturday afternoons – but credit where credit is due – the Rams are winning.
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The story is not as old as time, but it is rather common for the current season. Colorado State gets off to a good start, then hits a lull. Saturday's contest with Nevada was no different, but the result was more similar to the last week than some prior, a 30-20 victory over the Wolf Pack as the program honored 10 seniors in a pre-game ceremony.
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"I do think our players have started to develop some competitive stamina. I think that's what we need," Norvell said. "That's what this program has been missing, especially this second half of the season and the last month of the season. I think we're finding some competitive stamina to get us through these tough moments.
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"We've been trained. We've had a lot of tough games. We've had a lot of close games. I think that's helped us develop that."
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The next step is to start avoiding the angst which comes from such contests. Up 20-3, late in the first half, nothing suggested the Rams were going to have to sweat their way to another victory. The defense intercepted two passes in the first quarter, the turnovers leading to 10 points.
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The first – by Henry Blackburn – came on Nevada's opening drive, leading to an Avery Morrow touchdown run. The second, an athletic play on a screen by Nuer Gatkuoth, led to a Jordan Noyes field goal, one of two in the opening 30 minutes. Mixed in there was a solid drive capped by an 8-yard scoring connection between Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Tory Horton.
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Yet a solid first half was somewhat undone in the final 30 seconds, as Nevada moved back into contention with 10 points. It started with Brandon Talton's second field goal of the game and ended when Fowler-Nicolosi threw behind Tory Horton, with Richard Toney Jr. collecting the misfire and returning it 66 yards for a score as time expired.
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Norvell said he kicked himself for that play, but it's his offense's expectation to be aggressive.
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"We could have run the clock out, it's just not our nature though, to be honest with you. It's just not." Norvell said. "We had time to try to score, we felt like we had the plays to score, we felt like we had the players to score, and our players expect us to do that. There's some guys that wanted to throw it at the very end there. We had the play, but I just couldn't do it.
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"I did think we'd tackle him, even if we did turn it over."
The Rams did extend the lead opening the second half with a 31-yard field goal by Noyes, points set up by a flea-flicker to Horton which gained 53 yards. But in the red zone, the drive stalled.
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Nevada produced the brunt of it's yardage in the third quarter – 146 of the 327 total – responding with a 12-play march to cover 75 yards, completed with a Brandon Lewis 9-yard run.
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Lewis was a problem, which he introduced a bit in the second. He hit timely passes, but his ability to move the chains with his legs was an issue. He finished with 61 on the ground (thanks to sacks), and 169 in the air.
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And when Colorado State didn't reply in kind, the Wolf Pack went back to work, eating up the rest of the third and moving into the fourth. By the quarter change, they were already in striking distance, but then Mohamed Kamara helped turn the tide.
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He sacked Lewis on a third-down play, a 12-yard loss which resulted in a long field goal attempt. More importantly, a miss. The sack made him the second Ram in history to reach 30 in a career.
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"It was an attitude and a refocus adjustment," said linebacker Chase Wilson, who had 11 stops to reach 101 on the season. "We were losing a little bit of focus, not executing the way we know how. We just kind of had to regroup. We held up for that drive and told each other to get back in our right mindset and play our type of football and we're going to be just fine, and we'll find a way, and that's what we did."
Â
The Rams had been scuffling on offense. Fowler-Nicolosi finished 15-of-30 for 245 yards, hitting two touchdown passes. He wasn't overly sharp, not by his standards, definitely not by Norvell's. He missed some passes. He also had three drops, one which would have been a big gainer to Dylan Goffney.
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He completed all three of his passes on the next drive – a 10-yarder for a first to Horton, a 21-yard connection to Ross-Simmons then a 38-yard scoring strike to Louis Brown IV. Suddenly, some breathing room again.
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Hitting big and missing big is part of the overall picture for this team.
Â
"I felt like in the second quarter and the third quarter we missed opportunities that we felt we had great opportunities. A tackle here, a little bit long on a throw there, a guy gets bumped on an out-and-up, just a couple of things," Norvell said. "I'm proud of the big plays we did make. They were important in the game, and I'm proud of how our defense hung in there."
Â
Colorado State's defense never allowed Nevada to threaten again. Offensively, the Rams were able to take the final 3:54 on the clock running the ball, with Justin Marshall backing last week's 100-yard debut with a solid 98 against the Pack.
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Nothing perfect but the bottom line. Which at this point is a definite improvement.
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"We've got guys that are fighting for each other. We might be in the wrong call, offense or defense, it doesn't matter," said safety Jack Howell, who became the first CSU defensive back to officially reach the century mark in tackles in consecutive seasons. "Our job as players is to execute and find a way, and that's what guys are doing. We're done making excuses and we're finding a way to win football games. It might not be pretty, but these are tough, gritty wins, and that's what you need to do. At the end of the day, it's all about winning."
Â
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It's not like Colorado State still doesn't make mistakes or give fans and coach Jay Norvell a few tense moments on Saturday afternoons – but credit where credit is due – the Rams are winning.
Â
The story is not as old as time, but it is rather common for the current season. Colorado State gets off to a good start, then hits a lull. Saturday's contest with Nevada was no different, but the result was more similar to the last week than some prior, a 30-20 victory over the Wolf Pack as the program honored 10 seniors in a pre-game ceremony.
Â
"I do think our players have started to develop some competitive stamina. I think that's what we need," Norvell said. "That's what this program has been missing, especially this second half of the season and the last month of the season. I think we're finding some competitive stamina to get us through these tough moments.
Â
"We've been trained. We've had a lot of tough games. We've had a lot of close games. I think that's helped us develop that."
Â
The next step is to start avoiding the angst which comes from such contests. Up 20-3, late in the first half, nothing suggested the Rams were going to have to sweat their way to another victory. The defense intercepted two passes in the first quarter, the turnovers leading to 10 points.
Â
The first – by Henry Blackburn – came on Nevada's opening drive, leading to an Avery Morrow touchdown run. The second, an athletic play on a screen by Nuer Gatkuoth, led to a Jordan Noyes field goal, one of two in the opening 30 minutes. Mixed in there was a solid drive capped by an 8-yard scoring connection between Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Tory Horton.
Â
Yet a solid first half was somewhat undone in the final 30 seconds, as Nevada moved back into contention with 10 points. It started with Brandon Talton's second field goal of the game and ended when Fowler-Nicolosi threw behind Tory Horton, with Richard Toney Jr. collecting the misfire and returning it 66 yards for a score as time expired.
Â
Norvell said he kicked himself for that play, but it's his offense's expectation to be aggressive.
Â
"We could have run the clock out, it's just not our nature though, to be honest with you. It's just not." Norvell said. "We had time to try to score, we felt like we had the plays to score, we felt like we had the players to score, and our players expect us to do that. There's some guys that wanted to throw it at the very end there. We had the play, but I just couldn't do it.
Â
"I did think we'd tackle him, even if we did turn it over."
The Rams did extend the lead opening the second half with a 31-yard field goal by Noyes, points set up by a flea-flicker to Horton which gained 53 yards. But in the red zone, the drive stalled.
Â
Nevada produced the brunt of it's yardage in the third quarter – 146 of the 327 total – responding with a 12-play march to cover 75 yards, completed with a Brandon Lewis 9-yard run.
Â
Lewis was a problem, which he introduced a bit in the second. He hit timely passes, but his ability to move the chains with his legs was an issue. He finished with 61 on the ground (thanks to sacks), and 169 in the air.
Â
And when Colorado State didn't reply in kind, the Wolf Pack went back to work, eating up the rest of the third and moving into the fourth. By the quarter change, they were already in striking distance, but then Mohamed Kamara helped turn the tide.
Â
He sacked Lewis on a third-down play, a 12-yard loss which resulted in a long field goal attempt. More importantly, a miss. The sack made him the second Ram in history to reach 30 in a career.
Â
"It was an attitude and a refocus adjustment," said linebacker Chase Wilson, who had 11 stops to reach 101 on the season. "We were losing a little bit of focus, not executing the way we know how. We just kind of had to regroup. We held up for that drive and told each other to get back in our right mindset and play our type of football and we're going to be just fine, and we'll find a way, and that's what we did."
Â
The Rams had been scuffling on offense. Fowler-Nicolosi finished 15-of-30 for 245 yards, hitting two touchdown passes. He wasn't overly sharp, not by his standards, definitely not by Norvell's. He missed some passes. He also had three drops, one which would have been a big gainer to Dylan Goffney.
Â
He completed all three of his passes on the next drive – a 10-yarder for a first to Horton, a 21-yard connection to Ross-Simmons then a 38-yard scoring strike to Louis Brown IV. Suddenly, some breathing room again.
Â
Hitting big and missing big is part of the overall picture for this team.
Â
"I felt like in the second quarter and the third quarter we missed opportunities that we felt we had great opportunities. A tackle here, a little bit long on a throw there, a guy gets bumped on an out-and-up, just a couple of things," Norvell said. "I'm proud of the big plays we did make. They were important in the game, and I'm proud of how our defense hung in there."
Â
Colorado State's defense never allowed Nevada to threaten again. Offensively, the Rams were able to take the final 3:54 on the clock running the ball, with Justin Marshall backing last week's 100-yard debut with a solid 98 against the Pack.
Â
Nothing perfect but the bottom line. Which at this point is a definite improvement.
Â
"We've got guys that are fighting for each other. We might be in the wrong call, offense or defense, it doesn't matter," said safety Jack Howell, who became the first CSU defensive back to officially reach the century mark in tackles in consecutive seasons. "Our job as players is to execute and find a way, and that's what guys are doing. We're done making excuses and we're finding a way to win football games. It might not be pretty, but these are tough, gritty wins, and that's what you need to do. At the end of the day, it's all about winning."
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Team Stats
NEV
CSU
Total Yards
327
414
Pass Yards
194
245
Rushing Yards
133
169
Penalty Yards
70
44
1st Downs
21
23
3rd Downs
5
4
4th Downs
2
0
TOP
35:30
24:30
1st Quarter
NEV 0, CSU 7
CSU - Morrow,Avery 2 yd run (Noyes,Jordan kick), 4 plays, 24 yards, TOP 01:05
NEV 3, CSU 7
NEV - Talton,Brandon 37 yd field goal 10 plays, 56 yards, TOP 04:57
NEV 3, CSU 14
CSU - Horton,Tory 8 yd pass from Fowler-Nicolosi,Brayden (Noyes,Jordan kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:24
2nd Quarter
NEV 3, CSU 17
CSU - Noyes,Jordan 30 yd field goal 7 plays, 38 yards, TOP 02:11
NEV 3, CSU 20
CSU - Noyes,Jordan 42 yd field goal 8 plays, 42 yards, TOP 03:06
NEV 6, CSU 20
NEV - Talton,Brandon 31 yd field goal 12 plays, 50 yards, TOP 04:13
NEV 13, CSU 20
NEV - Toney Jr.,Richard 66 yd interception (Talton,Brandon kick)
3rd Quarter
NEV 13, CSU 23
CSU - Noyes,Jordan 31 yd field goal 7 plays, 61 yards, TOP 02:20
NEV 20, CSU 23
NEV - Lewis,Brendon 9 yd run (Talton,Brandon kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:46
4th Quarter
NEV 20, CSU 30
CSU - Brown IV,Louis 38 yd pass from Fowler-Nicolosi,Brayden (Noyes,Jordan kick) 6 plays, 74 yards, TOP 01:57
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
15
TD
2
YDS
245
INT
1
CMP
0
TD
0
YDS
0
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
LB
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