Colorado State University Athletics

CSU vs. San Jose State -- Postgame Notes & More

 
Colorado State vs. San Jose State – POSTGAME NOTES
Oct. 6, 2018 | CEFCU Stadium | San Jose, Calif.
Colorado State 42, San Jose State 30
 
 
Game
  • Colorado State drove the ball 77 yards on just six plays on its opening possession, culminating in a 5-yard TD pass from K.J. Carta-Samuels to Preston Williams to give the Rams a 7-0 lead.
    • Marked the first time this season CSU has jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its opponent.
  • CSU held SJSU scoreless on its opening drive. CSU’s opponents have been scoreless on their opening drives in each of the last four contests.
  • The Rams took a 14-0 lead with 3:04 remaining in the first quarter. That was the first time this season that the Rams had held a double-digit point lead on their opponent.
  • CSU forced SJSU to punt on each of its first five receptions of the game. It’s the first time CSU has forced its opponent to punt on its first five possessions since Oct 7, 2017 at Utah State (Rams won 27-14).
  • CSU rushed for a season-high 219 yards in the game.
    • This included 169 yards in the first half, which eclipsed CSU’s previous season-high total for a game (134 vs. Illinois State)
    • CSU outrushed SJSU 169 to -6 in the first half.
    • The last time CSU rushed for 200+ yards was also against SJSU, last season. The Rams ran for 301 yards against the Spartans on 11/18/17.
  • SJSU scored 30 unanswered points, all in the third quarter, to take a 30-28 lead going into the final frame.
  • In their first drive of the 4th quarter, the Rams put together an 11-play, 83-yard scoring drive to reclaim the lead at 35-30. RB Izzy Matthews capped the drive with a 1-yard TD rush on the Rams’ third attempt from the 1-yard line.
  • CSU had a season-high 6 sacks.
    • It’s the most sacks the Rams have tallied since registering 7 sacks at Utah State last year (10/7/17).
  • Junior DE Jan-Philip Bombek sacked SJSU’s Josh Love on consecutive plays in the Spartans’ first possession of the 4th quarter. CSU had just reclaimed the lead (35-30), then Bombek had sacks on first and second down. On 3rd-and-15, Rashad Ajayi intercepted Love and returned it 55 yards for a TD to give the Rams a 42-30 lead.
  • The Rams outgained the Spartans 391-285 for the game.
    • This included a 275-80 edge for the Rams in the first half.
    • SJSU outgained CSU 185-25 in the third quarter.
    • After scoring 30 unanswered points to take the lead in the third quarter, SJSU gained only 20 total yards in the fourth quarter (average of 1 yard per play).
 
Individual
 
  • CB RASHAD AJAYI
    • Picked SJSU’s Josh Love and returned it for a 55-yard touchdown to give the Rams a 42-30 lead with 9:48 remaining in the 4th quarter.
      • First career INT
      • First INT return for a TD by a Ram since LB Tre Thomas had a 27-yard TD return against Oregon State (8/26/17)
  • DE JAN-PHILLIP BOMBEK
    • Had 3.0 sacks – the first 3-sack game by a CSU Ram since Kevin Davis had 3.0 against UTSA on Sept. 17, 2016.
      • Sacked SJSU’s Josh Love on consecutive plays during the Spartans’ first possession of the 4th quarter. CSU had just reclaimed the lead (35-30), then Bombek had sacks on first and second down. On 3rd-and-15, Rashad Ajayi intercepted Love and returned it 55 yards for a TD to give the Rams a 42-30 lead.
  • QB K.J. CARTA-SAMUELS
    • Was 14-for-27 for 162 yards and 4 touchdowns
    • Finished with 4 TD passes, marking the second game this season that he’s had at least 4 TDs (5 TDs vs. Hawai’i on 8/25)
      • It’s the 14th time in program history that a QB has thrown 4+ TD passes (second by Carta-Samuels)
  • WR WARREN JACKSON
    • Tallied his first TD reception of the season with 3:24 to go in the 2nd quarter.
    • Added another TD shortly after, putting the Rams up 28-0 with 0:23 to go in the 1st half.
    • Finished with 4 receptions for 44 yards.
  • CB/WR ANTHONY HAWKINS
    • Started at WR for the Rams
      • Totaled 32 yards on 3 carries, including a 25-yarder
      • Has not played on the offensive side of the ball since his true freshman season (2016)
    • Also played at cornerback, recording one tackle (for loss)
    • Was also the Rams’ primary kick returner (3 returns for 38 yards)
  • RB IZZY MATTHEWS
    • Rushed for a season-high 125 yards on 22 carries (5.7 avg)
      • It’s his first 100-yard game of the season and fifth of his career.
        • Last 100-yard game: 116 yards at New Mexico (10/20/17)
      • His second-most rushing yards in a game in his career.
        • Had 140 vs. Fresno State as a true freshman (11/28/15)
    • Had 58 yards rushing on three carries in CSU’s first possession. Entering the game, his season high for rushing was 71 rushing yards (vs. Illinois State, 9/22)
      • All three of his rushes on the drive were 16+ yards with a long of 22 on the first offensive play of the game for CSU.
    • Scored CSU’s go-ahead TD at the 11:26 mark of the 4th quarter, putting CSU up 35-30.
  • DE CALEB SMITH
    • Had 2 tackles, including a sack, and 2 pass breakups.
  • LB JOSH WATSON
    • Tied for the team lead in tackles with Darius Campbell with 7.
      • Watson has led or tied for the team lead in tackles in every game this season.
  • WR PRESTON WILLIAMS
    • Hauled in 2 TD receptions in the first quarter, marking the third time this season that he’s had 2 TD receptions in a game.
    • Led the Rams with 4 receptions for 67 yards.