What We Saw: An Amazing Send-Off

There will be no trip to the championship game. Relying on somebody else didn't work out this time for Colorado State's football team, but what they learned Friday night was they could count on each other.

When the players look back, it will be one of the most amazing memories. For the exiting seniors. For some players, the Rams are counting on to be the stars of tomorrow. It will be because of a 29-point fourth quarter to erase a 17-point deficit at the start of the frame, the fourth-best outburst in a stanza in program history, led to a 42-37 victory over Utah State.

"We finally got on the same page and were able to make that happen. We were able to capitalize on the defense's turnovers and make something out of that," quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi said. "I think that's huge for our team moving forward, no matter what the next step is, continuing to play that type of football."

Sixth-year senior Dane Olson, who had 345 teammates in his career, played the greatest game of his career. He scored his first touchdown in a key stretch at the end of the first half, finishing with five catches for 140 yards. One of his biggest catches was a 29-yard gain on a fourth-down play in the fourth.

"We saw it was man pre-snap and … they can't cover me," Olson said. "I was hoping (Fowler-Nicolosi) was going to see it, and of course he did and I'm glad to be able to take advantage of when they went in cover one."

The Rams turned two turnovers into touchdowns to start the stretch, and when the defense continued to get stops, the offense continued to roll. Vince Brown the II had touchdown catches to start and end the outburst, Fowler-Nicolosi had a rushing score, and freshman Jordan Ross had a 22-yard scoring catch, the first of his career.

Safeties Jack Howell and Henry Blackburn led the Rams in tackles, with 14 and 11, respectively. Howell now has 360 stops in his career, which ranks seventh for the program. Like the fourth quarter, it's been a long career of ups and downs.

This season has been the payoff. An 8-4 mark and a chance to play in his first bowl game. Not every step has been perfect, but he wouldn't reroute in any way.

"I take great pride in that. I did that, and I did take a lot of pride in that," Howell said. "Those tackles add up, and I'd do it all over again, putting my body on the line for these guys. I wouldn't think about it again."

But his final game in Canvas Stadium, he won't be alone in remembering the 42-37 win fondly.

A Wave Goodbye

When Colorado State's Dom Jones intercepted a Utah State pass with 7 seconds remaining, the team could start to celebrate. It also allowed coach Jay Norvell a chance to execute a tribute he hoped would happen.

Sending receiver Tory Horton out on the field for a final snap.

The two-time All-Mountain West wideout was lost for the season with an injury just as the team started its run to turn the season around. Hurt in the win over San Jose State, he wasn't on the field for the final four games of the five-game win streak which secured the team's postseason plans for the first time since 2017.

But with 7 seconds remaining and the team going to kneel down on the snap, Horton could serve as the back man, far away from the action.

"There were a lot of things happen tonight that I wanted to see happen, and that was one of them. He came to me a couple of days ago and said, 'Coach, I might want to suit up for senior night, and I said, 'that would be cool if you did. It's your last game at Canvas, you might as well gear up with your teammates.'

"Then (on Thursday), we always end practice with our victory take a knee, and I started thinking that would be kind of cool if Tory was out there. I said something to him (Friday), and he wasn't dressed in the first half. I told him at halftime you can go get dressed. At the end of the game, I saw he was dressed, and I said we're going to put him in. That was very cool."

When he went on the field, the Colorado State sideline started to salute their teammate, and soon the crowd joined in when they figured out Horton was on the field. Before the snap, he acknowledged the moment, waving to those in the crowd, a great way to celebrate his 22^nd birthday.

His teammates were among those who were moved by the moment.

"It breaks my heart what happened to him, but Tory's a fighter dude, and he's a baller. Whatever team ends up having him is going to be extremely lucky,' Howell said. "That made my night getting to see him out there. He said he was possibly going to get to do it if it was a blowout and we were winning, but I wasn't sure if he was going to suit up then. He must have gone back into the locker room and changed quick.

"Being able to see him out there one last time … Everything he's done for the green and gold, for the Rams, it's very fitting he got the applause he did and the standing ovation and went out the way he did because he's done so much for this team. On the field but off the field as well."

Here and There

Boum Jock finished the game with nine tackles, giving him 100 in his first season as a starting linebacker. He also started the turnover parade by recovering a fumble. … After the game, Norvell announced to the team in the locker room walk-on wideout Tommy Maher was put on a full scholarship. Olson said afterward it was a fitting move and surprised no one with the way Maher works. … The Rams will find out their bowl destination on Dec. 8, the day the field is set for the College Football Playoffs. ... Fowler-Nicolosi, off a pair of 300-yard games, now ranks fifth in career completions (516), sixth in attempts (842), ninth in yards (6,129) and is tied for ninth with Justin Holland and Kelly Stouffer in touchdowns (36).

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Players Mentioned

Henry Blackburn

Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi

Tory Horton

Jack Howell

Dom Jones

Tommy Maher

Dane Olson

Jordan Ross

Upcoming Events

Recent Results

Colorado State University Athletics