Colorado State University Athletics
Saturday, October 12
Fort Collins, CO
1:30 PM
Colorado State
3-3 , 1-0
31
vs
24
San Jose State
4-2 , 2-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
San Jose St.
7
7
0
10
24
Colorado St.
7
7
7
10
31
Opening Conference on a Winning Note
10/12/2024 7:01:00 PM | Football
Box ScoreDefensive Players Press ConferenceOffensive Players Press ConferenceJay Norvell Press ConferencePhoto Gallery
Rams rush for three scores vs. Spartans
There were times. Times when Colorado State looked darn good. Times when they didn't, leaving momentum teetering in the balance.
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What there wasn't was a time when the Rams let the game slip away Saturday at Canvas Stadium. A balanced attack, some responsiveness on defense and they opened Mountain West play with a 31-24 victory over San Jose State.
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"We play a sport of adversity and momentum. I challenged them: What does it take to break you as a player," CSU coach Jay Norell said, referring to a message he delivered to the team earlier in the week. "Is it one bad play, is it a fumble, is it somebody throwing a touchdown on you? We play a series of plays in a game, and you have to be able to come back when negative things happen, and the only thing that matters is the play you're doing at that time. We tried to get our guys recentered and refocused. It was important, and I though we responded well."
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The first half was when the team was on the brink of taking control of affairs. Up 14-7 and time dwindling down, Colorado State had reached the red zone on a short pass to Tory Horton, a bit ominous as he went down on the play. One snap later, Avery Morrow was stripped from behind and San Jose State's DJ Harvey raced 85 yards the other way for a game-tying touchdown. And the Spartans would get the ball first in the second half.
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As if to impart their desire, Colorado State took the remaining 56 seconds and drove the field for a 61-yard field goal attempt, one Jordon Noyes nailed despite the play not counting due to a SJSU timeout. His second attempt didn't clear as the snap was bobbled. Even still, a point was made.
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Then Colorado State's defense came out with a stop to open the second half. It was an impressive performance for the unit without the use of splash plays. There were no sacks registered nor a tackle for loss to be found. The Rams didn't earn a turnover until late, when Elias Larry intercepted a pass with less than three minutes remaining.
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The Rams' defense had to grind its way to limiting the Spartans to just 4-of-12 on third down and allowing just 17 points to a team averaging 35.4.
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"We were finding our way today. Everyone was playing together, playing fundamental football," said safety Jack Howell, who finished with 11 tackles. "We didn't give up any big run game or pass game stuff for the most part. Coach (Freddy) Banks (the defensive coordinator) had a great game plan. He had seen how explosive that offense was, and that's not something you can sleep well at night knowing you're going against that. Nick Nash in the slot is pretty good, but Dom Morris and Ayden Hector were just better today."
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Offensively, Colorado State flipped the script on its style of play. There was more balance from the jump, with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi throwing more first-half passes than in the previous five games. All the while, the Rams were still running the ball effectively, and even Fowler-Nicolosi took part.
Â
Avery Morrow, who for the third consecutive week carried the ball more than 20 times and surpassed 100 yards, opened the scoring with a 2-yard run out of the wildcat to open an impressive opening drive which consumed nine plays and 75 yards.
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The downside – San Jose State countered to tie the game.
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It was a 23-yard scoring run by Fowler-Nicolosi – the longest of his career – came off a bootleg pass where the evaded the contain defender and then saw nothing but open space.
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At one point, Fowler-Nicolosi completed a school record 16 consecutive passes, a streak which began in the second quarter and carried him into the beginning of the fourth. The designed balance was something he felt gave the entire offense a chance to gain a flow.
Â
"I think we got in a rhythm early and we were able to take some shots and get some completions early, and that was very beneficial for me and the receivers as well," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "It was awesome to be able to stay balanced throughout the game and run an even attack, and as an offensive, really understood where we had to attack the defense today. We did a great job of it."
Â
The Rams were able to push ahead with the only score of the third quarter, another short run by Morrow. Early in the fourth, they pushed it to 10 when Noyes nailed a 58-yarder, tying the mark for the fourth longest in school history.
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But as Norvell has told him team over and over, wins in the conference are going to be hard fought. It led to the changes they made, particularly on offense. They could revert back to the week before when they dropped a double-overtime decision to Oregon State. The team could easily refer to the season prior, when six contests were decided by one score.
Â
"I think this is probably pretty indicative of all of our conference games, how they're going to be," he said. "We're going to play teams that are very similar and are knowledgeable about us, they're well coached. You're going to have to fight and you're going to have to do the right things all the way through the end of the game to win. It takes toughness and discipline and mental toughness and all the things we work on all year long.
Â
"We talk a lot about that. The mentality of our football team has got to show now."
Â
To open conference, the Rams answered the call.
Â
With the game at 24-21 and facing third-and-8 after a rare flag against them, Fowler-Nicolosi found Armani Winfield on a short pass, and the wideout did more than move the chains. Finding open space and blocking downfield from Dane Olson, he turned it into a 62-yard score.
Â
"I saw the backer blitz, so I knew the shallow route was there – I was expecting to get the ball," Winfield said. "Once I saw the green grass in front of me, my legs just started running faster than they ever ran before. That's really what it was about. It happened really fast."
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Fowler-Nicolosi hit 22-of-his 30 passes for 269 yards, while Winfield had the first 100-yard game of his Ram career, closing with 108 on six catches.
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The score virtually sealed the game. Not without some additional angst. Â
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Fowler-Nicolosi made his lone mistake – an interception – which San Jose State turned into a field goal. After recovering the onside kick, all the Rams had to do was take a knee a couple of times to wind out the clock.
Â
Then came the best part – the celebration. The important part of the season had appeared, and the Rams were right on time.
Â
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What there wasn't was a time when the Rams let the game slip away Saturday at Canvas Stadium. A balanced attack, some responsiveness on defense and they opened Mountain West play with a 31-24 victory over San Jose State.
Â
"We play a sport of adversity and momentum. I challenged them: What does it take to break you as a player," CSU coach Jay Norell said, referring to a message he delivered to the team earlier in the week. "Is it one bad play, is it a fumble, is it somebody throwing a touchdown on you? We play a series of plays in a game, and you have to be able to come back when negative things happen, and the only thing that matters is the play you're doing at that time. We tried to get our guys recentered and refocused. It was important, and I though we responded well."
Â
The first half was when the team was on the brink of taking control of affairs. Up 14-7 and time dwindling down, Colorado State had reached the red zone on a short pass to Tory Horton, a bit ominous as he went down on the play. One snap later, Avery Morrow was stripped from behind and San Jose State's DJ Harvey raced 85 yards the other way for a game-tying touchdown. And the Spartans would get the ball first in the second half.
Â
As if to impart their desire, Colorado State took the remaining 56 seconds and drove the field for a 61-yard field goal attempt, one Jordon Noyes nailed despite the play not counting due to a SJSU timeout. His second attempt didn't clear as the snap was bobbled. Even still, a point was made.
Â
Then Colorado State's defense came out with a stop to open the second half. It was an impressive performance for the unit without the use of splash plays. There were no sacks registered nor a tackle for loss to be found. The Rams didn't earn a turnover until late, when Elias Larry intercepted a pass with less than three minutes remaining.
Â
The Rams' defense had to grind its way to limiting the Spartans to just 4-of-12 on third down and allowing just 17 points to a team averaging 35.4.
Â
"We were finding our way today. Everyone was playing together, playing fundamental football," said safety Jack Howell, who finished with 11 tackles. "We didn't give up any big run game or pass game stuff for the most part. Coach (Freddy) Banks (the defensive coordinator) had a great game plan. He had seen how explosive that offense was, and that's not something you can sleep well at night knowing you're going against that. Nick Nash in the slot is pretty good, but Dom Morris and Ayden Hector were just better today."
Â
Offensively, Colorado State flipped the script on its style of play. There was more balance from the jump, with Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi throwing more first-half passes than in the previous five games. All the while, the Rams were still running the ball effectively, and even Fowler-Nicolosi took part.
Â
Avery Morrow, who for the third consecutive week carried the ball more than 20 times and surpassed 100 yards, opened the scoring with a 2-yard run out of the wildcat to open an impressive opening drive which consumed nine plays and 75 yards.
Â
The downside – San Jose State countered to tie the game.
Â
It was a 23-yard scoring run by Fowler-Nicolosi – the longest of his career – came off a bootleg pass where the evaded the contain defender and then saw nothing but open space.
Â
At one point, Fowler-Nicolosi completed a school record 16 consecutive passes, a streak which began in the second quarter and carried him into the beginning of the fourth. The designed balance was something he felt gave the entire offense a chance to gain a flow.
Â
"I think we got in a rhythm early and we were able to take some shots and get some completions early, and that was very beneficial for me and the receivers as well," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "It was awesome to be able to stay balanced throughout the game and run an even attack, and as an offensive, really understood where we had to attack the defense today. We did a great job of it."
Â
The Rams were able to push ahead with the only score of the third quarter, another short run by Morrow. Early in the fourth, they pushed it to 10 when Noyes nailed a 58-yarder, tying the mark for the fourth longest in school history.
Â
But as Norvell has told him team over and over, wins in the conference are going to be hard fought. It led to the changes they made, particularly on offense. They could revert back to the week before when they dropped a double-overtime decision to Oregon State. The team could easily refer to the season prior, when six contests were decided by one score.
Â
"I think this is probably pretty indicative of all of our conference games, how they're going to be," he said. "We're going to play teams that are very similar and are knowledgeable about us, they're well coached. You're going to have to fight and you're going to have to do the right things all the way through the end of the game to win. It takes toughness and discipline and mental toughness and all the things we work on all year long.
Â
"We talk a lot about that. The mentality of our football team has got to show now."
Â
To open conference, the Rams answered the call.
Â
With the game at 24-21 and facing third-and-8 after a rare flag against them, Fowler-Nicolosi found Armani Winfield on a short pass, and the wideout did more than move the chains. Finding open space and blocking downfield from Dane Olson, he turned it into a 62-yard score.
Â
"I saw the backer blitz, so I knew the shallow route was there – I was expecting to get the ball," Winfield said. "Once I saw the green grass in front of me, my legs just started running faster than they ever ran before. That's really what it was about. It happened really fast."
Â
Fowler-Nicolosi hit 22-of-his 30 passes for 269 yards, while Winfield had the first 100-yard game of his Ram career, closing with 108 on six catches.
Â
The score virtually sealed the game. Not without some additional angst. Â
Â
Fowler-Nicolosi made his lone mistake – an interception – which San Jose State turned into a field goal. After recovering the onside kick, all the Rams had to do was take a knee a couple of times to wind out the clock.
Â
Then came the best part – the celebration. The important part of the season had appeared, and the Rams were right on time.
Â
Team Stats
SJU
CSU
Total Yards
448
455
Pass Yards
347
269
Rushing Yards
101
186
Penalty Yards
112
30
1st Downs
21
24
3rd Downs
4
8
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
28:31
31:29
1st Quarter
SJU 0, CSU 7
CSU - Morrow,Avery 2 yd run (Noyes,Jordan kick), 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:04
SJU 7, CSU 7
SJU - Nash,Nick 27 yd pass from Brown,Emmett (Halvorsen,Kyler kick) 9 plays, 77 yards, TOP 04:22
2nd Quarter
SJU 7, CSU 14
CSU - Fowler-Nicolosi,Brayden 23 yd run (Noyes,Jordan kick), 3 plays, 44 yards, TOP 00:39
SJU 14, CSU 14
SJU - Harvey,DJ 85 yd fumble recovery (Halvorsen,Kyler kick)
3rd Quarter
SJU 14, CSU 21
CSU - Morrow,Avery 2 yd run (Noyes,Jordan kick), 9 plays, 91 yards, TOP 04:54
4th Quarter
SJU 14, CSU 24
CSU - Noyes,Jordan 58 yd field goal 11 plays, 35 yards, TOP 04:21
SJU 21, CSU 24
SJU - Chalk,Floyd 21 yd run (Halvorsen,Kyler kick), 10 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:28
SJU 21, CSU 31
CSU - Winfield,Armani 62 yd pass from Fowler-Nicolosi,Brayden (Noyes,Jordan kick) 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:23
SJU 24, CSU 31
SJU - Halvorsen,Kyler 31 yd field goal 6 plays, 54 yards, TOP 00:55
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
22
TD
1
YDS
269
INT
1
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
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