Memorable Moments: Forty-Three Seconds to Victory

The Border War has always been a game of meaning and memories over the course of its lifespan. There have been many great and many no-so-great Border War games over the past 125 years of CSU football. One game that has withstood the test of time occurred 45 years ago at Hughes Stadium in front of a massive crowd on a bright, sunny day. Those who witnessed or played in this game will always remember it as one of the greatest ever in the battle for the Bronze Boot.

On November 1, 1980, CSU quarterback Steve Fairchild found himself in the most prolific passing game of his collegiate career. He tore up the Hughes Stadium air and utilized every receiver he knew as the Rams and Cowboys matched one another head-to-head in a battle for the ages. A crowd of 31,087 fans packed the stadium for the second largest crowd in Hughes Stadium history to that point.

CSU entered the game with a 3-0-1 conference record, the best WAC record the Rams had mustered that late in a season since joining in 1968. Wyoming wanted to spoil CSU's season and came in with fire and gusto, along with many of the Laramie faithful.

After playing nearly equal football in the first half, the Rams took a commanding 21-10 lead in the third quarter. Fairchild looked back on that day from his home in Denver in an October 2025 interview, "We were playing well all day, moving the ball and that is where the team gained confidence throughout the game."

Wyoming was not about to give up and mounted a quick drive to score a touchdown and two-point conversion with 8:04 left in the fourth quarter. Fairchild said, "They had that tough wishbone offense that took them to the end zone."

On the next series with CSU ahead 21-18, Rams wide receiver Tony Goolsby fumbled the ball at Wyoming's 30-yard line. With 5:30 left on the clock in the fourth, Wyoming mounted a sustained drive and scored what appeared to be a game-winning touchdown with only 48 seconds left on the clock.

As the Cowboys danced over the football, they thought the game was in the bag and had won in the last seconds over their greatest foe. The Rams suddenly found themselves trailing 25-21 as they received the kickoff and started from their own 20 with only 48 seconds remaining on the game clock.

Fairchild said, "Coach Sark [Arslanian] was a good motivator and a tough guy who never flinched." The Rams did not flinch either, even with 48 seconds and 80 yards to go, they knew they were playing well and had the ball for the last time.

Fairchild's first pass of the drive was batted down by a Wyoming player and 5 seconds ticked off the clock. Fairchild said, "After 45 years, it was that play I remember so well because it almost took the wind out of the guys on the sidelines."

Now, with only 43 seconds on the clock and still 80 yards to go, the Rams needed to move the ball fast. The senior quarterback hit Goolsby on three consecutive passes for 15, 19 and 18 yards, stepping out of bounds each time. Fairchild said, "I watched the YouTube video, and you can see I had a clean pocket to pass from allowing me time to find the receiver."

Before the Cowboys knew what hit them, 15 seconds remained on the clock and the Rams knocked on the door from the Wyoming 28-yard line. Jon Poole's leg meant nothing for a field goal; the Rams needed the end zone and needed it in less time than a TV commercial.

When asked how he could keep the team's composure in the huddle, Fairchild said, "The clock kept stopping because we were throwing to the sidelines and the receivers were stepping out of bounds. That allowed us to get the plays together without a clock ticking."

Wyoming double-covered Goolsby on the next play, but Fairchild found Alvan Lewis for 9 yards to stop the clock on second down. Then, with only 4 seconds remaining, Fairchild found tight end Mike Camp in the flat as the junior from Costa Mesa, Calif., caught the pass and scored the winning touchdown. Pandemonium broke out on the Hughes Stadium field as Rams players celebrated and the Cowboys hung their heads. Poole finished the game with an extra point, and the Rams retained the Bronze Boot, remained undefeated in the WAC and Fairchild was named the Sports Illustrated's Back of the Week.

Fairchild was 28-of-35 on the day with 406 yards passing and three touchdowns, his career best. He broke the single-game and single-season record for passing to that date in the 1980 Border War, surpassing Mark Driscoll for 2,098 yards. He would end 1980 with 2,578 yards, a CSU record which only lasted two years in the Wacky WAC when Terry Nugent broke his mark.

The former CSU quarterback and Rams head coach still teaches young quarterbacks from his quarterback clinic in Denver, mostly retired now he enjoyed looking back on what was arguably one of the greatest games CSU has ever played against Wyoming.

Thanks to Wyoming archives and former CSU student and Channel 7 videographer Major King, a short video using both film and video has survived to be seen on YouTube. You can watch the full highlight film from the 1980 Border War, complete with NFL Film style music to see for yourself how exciting that day was 45 years ago.

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