Rams Regain Ownership of Bronze Boot

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5:00 PM

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Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Wyoming	3	3	7	0	13
Colorado State	7	7	7	14	35

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Wyoming

Colorado State

There was no denying it was a moment.

Canvas Stadium was packed like it had never been before (40,548), with 73 percent of the students in Fort Collins – more than 17,000 strong – creating energy.

First game in the Pac-12. First game of the Jim Mora era. And don't forget the rival was in town with the coveted Bronze Boot awaiting someone to claim ownership Saturday evening.

In a blink, a 14-3 lead became 14-13.

A key moment. Seize it or shrink.

The Rams chose option three and pounced. A third interception ignited a trio of touchdown drives and a 35-13 victory, the first season-opening triumph for the program since 2017.

"I was impressed that they stayed composed and focused and trusted their training and trusted each other. And it's simple as that," Mora said, the Bronze Boot on the table in front of him. "You know, the moment wasn't too big for them. The momentum could have changed, but they just kept playing the next play. And that's what we preach and that's what our culture is.

"I wasn't sure how they'd react. And I'm not going to say I was surprised, but I'll tell you what, I was impressed."

An Oumar Diomande interception started it all, just the third time in the past 10 seasons the defense intercepted three passes in a game. Quarterback Hauss Hejny, who had thrown two touchdown passes in the first half, threw three more in the next three series, two of them to RJ Vick, the last coming with just 1:05 remaining.

Hejny finished the game with five scoring tosses, matching a mark on opening day he now shares with Nick Stevens (2015) and K.J. Carta-Samuels (2018). He competed 23-of-33 passes for 214 yards, rushing for39 more.

He was sharp, but his performance was polished in Mora's eyes.

"This is his second start. The first snap he took was his 23rd play as a college football player," Mora said. "You would have never known it from the way he performed tonight against a good defense. Those guys are physical, they're tough, they're hard-nosed, they're well-coached; I should have started by saying I was really impressed with that football team we played. So that makes what Hauss did even more impressive."

He completed passes to 10 different receivers. He also hauled in what may have been the most impressive catch of the night, a flea-flicker into tight coverage and a pass interference flag and a ball which tipped off a second defender.

"I was rolling out, I saw the ball in the air, and I saw two defenders on me, so I was like, I'm going to try and draw a P.I. if I can, and luckily they called P.I.," he said. "I just had great focus, and I caught the ball into his tip, but it was a lucky play. You know, the football gods are on our side right there."

A bunch of Rams caught passes, but Vick caught the most, six in total for 75 yards and three scores – also matching an opening-game mark (Kory Sperry, 2007).

His first score of the second half was a 57-yarderas he burned the Wyoming secondary, a drive set up by the third interception.

Complementary football at its finest.

Diomande, who along with Jaseim Mitchell had 11 tackles to lead the team, credited the offense, not just in this game but in the lead up to the contest.

"You know what, I like to thank our offense, because, you know, they gave it to us a little bit (in camp), but they helped us prepare for a game like this," Diomande said. "I just want to get one win out there; it's just going to be easier for us."

Not only did the defense create four turnovers, it never relented on key downs. Wyoming didn't convert on eight third-down attempts and failed the one time it tried on fourth down.

The Cowboys, who had two first-half field goals and a scoring run from quarterback Tyler Hughes early in the third, finished with just 273 yards of total offense. The Rams collected a pair of sacks and six tackles for loss.

"I was worried early because I felt like they were dragging us around a little bit running the football. The stats didn't indicate it, but I kind of felt that," Mora said. "What I like is they stayed resilient. We didn't bust a lot of assignments. You get a game like that, and they're going to make some plays on you.

"That's college football nowadays, but to be able to hold a team to 13 points, that's impressive. We ended the game on defense with a sack, strip, recover, so we could take a knee. I just was impressed with their resilience more than anything."

A program with a massive change in coaching and personnel walked into an opener in a rivalry game they didn't know a whole lot about. Mora said he gained a bit more of an appreciation Friday during the traditional Boot run.

The roster is not only loaded with transfers, but nearly 20 players from Mora's UConn teams who don't know anything about rivalries at all.

They caught on quickly.

"I'm not really used to rivalries," Diomande said. "So when I came to Colorado, they said we hate Wyoming, so I decided to hate Wyoming too."

When Hejny tossed the ball high into the air on the final play, the team was swarmed by fans rushing the field before the ball returned to earth. The Boot was collected. The win celebrated.

It was a moment. One they'll definitely remember.

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Oumar Diomande

Hauss Hejny

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RJ Vick

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Hejny Hauss

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Hauss Hejny

Jaseim Mitchell

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