What We Saw: Fowler-Nicolosi Growing on the Fly

FORT COLLINS – On a joyous plane back to Fort Collins, Matt Mumme settled into his seat before takeoff, already watching film.

What he was going to view over the next few hours was a young quarterback throw for more that 300 yards in Saturday's 31-23 victory over Middle Tennessee State. It was Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi doing it for a second consecutive week for Colorado State's football team, the first time that's happened in four years. Patrick O'Brien was the last Ram to do so, against New Mexico and Fresno State in 2019.

"That should be the norm," Mumme said.

In just his second start of the season, Fowler-Nicolosi helped breathe some life into the Colorado State offense in the second half, leading back-to-back long touchdown drives, each capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass to Tory Horton. The only blemish in completing 29-of-42 passes was an interception which was a perfectly thrown deep ball which was bobbled by the target.

From week to week the expectation is he will learn a little bit more, perform a bit better and continue to grow into the role. This week he'll continue forward with a win under his belt. The learning process will be important, and nobody knows it more than Fowler-Nicolosi.

"I think I'm embracing it, per se. I think embracing it is the key," he said. "Obviously you're going to have ups and downs, you're going to have mistakes, hiccups here and there. I think limiting the turnovers this week was huge. We had that one unfortunate one, but other than that played pretty clean. There were no super-risky throws that were like, 'oh shoot.' I felt like we played pretty consistent football in the second half, and we need to carry that over into next week."

What head coach Jay Norvell has liked is the redshirt freshman hasn't flinched since he was elevated to the starting role after the first game. He had one start the year before, one where he was probably thrust into the role before he was ready, and it didn't help he was dinged early in the game at Nevada.

After throwing three interceptions against Colorado, Fowler-Nicolosi came back unfazed for the next go-round.

"There's no question. He's a confident guy, and this is a tough team to play against," Norvell said. "They blitz a lot. They gave us a lot of pressure, so for him to play as clean as he did … The one interception was not his fault. I'm just proud of him for how he handled the game on the road in a tough place like this against a good team. He can build on that.

"He's a very confident guy and a quick study. We just have to build off this performance."

He showed a bit of that inside the 60 minutes Saturday. The first half was a rough go, with a couple of first-quarter drives producing a field goal and then a fake field goal which became a touchdown.

In the second quarter, the offense stalled, generating just 35 yards. The first drive of the third quarter was a complete loss. The next two, however, magic. Fowler-Nicolosi threw for 208 of his 306 yards in the second half.

Tight end Dallin Holker was a big part of it with 11 catches for 112 yards, his second consecutive 100-yard outing. Horton had another 10-catch game, finishing with 99 yards.

It changed for Fowler-Nicolosi and the offense because he adapted.

"I think understanding their scheme and kinda getting an idea for where the pressure was coming from, because obviously they love to send heat. It was getting a better grasp of that and staying calmer," he said. "I feel I was more in a rush in the first half, and it led to some unfortunate throws and just bad balls. It was stepping into throws and trusting my receivers to make plays was key in the second half."

Mr. Trick Play

For the second week in a row, Holker was on the receiving end of a trick-play touchdown, this week on a fake field goal. The pass came from Giles Pooler, who came in as the holder in place of Paddy Turner.

The week before, the pass was thrown by Horton. In both cases, Holker is just one of two options, but that may change in the future.

"I guess so. I was just lucky enough to be in the right spot at the right time," Holker said. "Giles threw a great pass, so I guess so. I'm not complaining. We got the win tonight, so that was awesome.'

Pooler, who was given a game ball in the locker room, had to keep composed going in, having worked on the play in practice but finally having his number called.

It was his first career touchdown pass, and he'll remember it because it was a perfectly placed pass under duress. Peter Montini was on a deeper route, but he was covered almost immediately, which was part of the plan.

"There were some nerves, but I'm glad I got it done," Pooler said. "I was very excited. I just went in there and did what I was trained to do. I wasn't too amped up. I had to go out there and slow the game, go out and execute the best I can."

Norvell is proving he's not afraid to get creative in certain situations. Part of it is the new mantra of the team that they're going to go all-in to win games.

If going deep in the playbook helps the cause, he's not afraid to make the call.

"Whatever it takes. We've kind of made a decision as a team we're going to go for it, and kids gotta make plays and we're going to put them in position," Norvell said. "I was really proud of Giles on the fake field goal. He made a heck of a play on that, and we needed it. It was important."

Here and There

The Rams stretched the depth chart in the game, with both Pooler and Vann Schield earning praise from Norvell. When both Avery Morrow and Kobe Johnson were hurt in the game, Schield came in and had his first collegiate rushes (six for 12 yards) and even snared his first reception, good for 12 yards. … Grady Kelly's blocked PAT was the first for the Rams since 2014. … Horton now has five career touchdown receptions against MTSU. … Holker tried to hurdle a defender in the game, a plan which wasn't executed the way he expected. He figured his wife, Taye, on the CSU track team, may be of assistance. "Maybe she can give me some tips on that because that was pretty bad." … Both starting linebackers, Chase Wilson and Justin Sanchez, finished with 11 tackles to lead the defense. It was a career-best for Sanchez, and the second double-digit game for Wilson (12 vs. Wazzu).

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