Colorado State University Athletics

CSU vs. Utah State: Postgame Notes & More

Colorado State vs. #14/13 Utah State – POSTGAME NOTES
Nov. 17, 2018 | Canvas Stadium | Fort Collins, Colo.
Utah State 29, Colorado State 24
 
MW STATEMENT ON THE FINAL PLAY OF THE GAME:
"The ruling by the on-field officials was the Colorado State receiver stepped out-of-bounds and was the first to touch the ball in violation of NCAA Football Playing Rule 7-3-4. Instant replay confirmed the receiver did step out and that the game clock had expired." 

GAME
  • Today was Senior Day for Colorado State at Canvas Stadium.
    • 18 seniors were recognized pregame: CB V.J. Banks, OL Tyler Bjorklund, K Wyatt Bryan, QB K.J. Carta-Samuels, WR Chandler Drachslin, S Jordan Fogal, WR Olabisi Johnson, OL Ben Knox, S Kavapele Maka, RB Izzy Matthews, OL Colby Meeks, QB J.C. Robles, OL T.J. Roundtree, FB Nate Ryken, DE Caleb Smith, P Brandon Summer, LB Tre Thomas and LB Josh Watson.
  • CSU outgained No. 14/13 Utah State 506-310 and led in time of possession 42:05-17:55.
    • Utah State entered the game averaging 517.5 yards per game -- 10th in the FBS
    • CSU outgained Utah State 276-124 in the first half and outpossessed the Aggies 21:11-8:49.
    • The Rams limited the Aggies to eight offensive possessions in the game, exactly two in each quarter, and ran 82 plays to USU’s 52.
    • The Aggies’ 310 total yards is the third-fewest the Rams have allowed this year.
      • At SJSU (285) and vs. New Mexico (299).
  • Colorado State’s 199 rushing yards were their second-most of 2018, trailing only the 219 rushing yards gained at San Jose State (10/6/18).
  • Utah State led 3-0 after one quarter. It’s the first time this season that the Aggies had not scored a TD in the first quarter.
  • The Aggies, who entered the game ranked first in the nation in scoring offense (51.1) scored their 29 points off of two defensive touchdowns, one offensive TD and three field goals.
  • Seniors Wyatt Bryan, Tre Thomas and Josh Watson all played in their 50th career games today. They are all tied for fifth in games played in CSU history and are three of the 12 players to reach 50 games played in a CSU uniform.
    • Assuming they each play at Air Force on Thursday, the trio will end their CSU careers tied for fourth in career games played (Trent Matthews, 2012-15).
  • No. 14/13 Utah State is the highest-ranked visiting team to play in Fort Collins since  No. 5/6 Boise State on Oct. 15, 2011 (Boise State won 63-13).
 
INDIVIDUAL
 
K WYATT BRYAN
  • Made 1 field goal and 3 extra points
    • Extended his CSU record for points scored to 336
    • Extended his CSU record for field goals to 53
 
DB TYWAN FRANCIS
  • Made his first career start today at nickel… Had six tackles, a pass breakup and a forced fumble.
 
QB COLLIN HILL
  • Finished 24-27 for 296 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions in seventh career start, third in a row.
    • Completed 14-of-17 for 184 yards in the first half
    • Two fourth-quarter touchdowns went to WR Preston Williams, covering 9 yards at 10:36 to pull CSU to within 3 at 20-17, and 17 yards with 1:36 to play to give CSU a 24-23 lead.
 
WR OLABISI JOHNSON
  • Had 7 catches for 107 yards
    • Moved into 11th in CSU history in career receiving yards with 1,931, passing 13th place Joe Hansley (1,842; 2012-15), 12th place Rashaun Greer (1,848; 2007-09) and 11th place J.D. Brookhart (1,873; 1985-87).
    • Fifth 100-yard game of his career, third this season.
 
RB IZZY MATTHEWS
  • Had 20 rushes for 100 yards and a touchdown
    • Moved into 9th in program history in rushing yards with 2,602, passing 10th place Alvin Lewis (2,522; 1977-80) and 9th-place Oscar Reed (2,581; 1965-67).
    • 8-yard TD run in second quarter provided the yards to move into top 10, surpassing Lewis.
    • Seventh 100-yard outing of his career, third this season
      • One of three Rams with at least one 100-yard game in four different seasons
        • Damon Washington (1995-98), Steve Bartalo (1983-86)
  • Scored the 30th TD of his career, putting him alone in fourth place in school history
    • Was tied with Cecil Sapp (1999-2002) for fourth with 29
    • Kapri Bibbs hold third place with 31
 
CB DAJON OWENS
  • Made his first career start today at cornerback… Had four tackles and a pass breakup.
 
FB ADAM PRENTICE
  • Had a career-high eight carries for 29 yards
 
LB TRE THOMAS
  • Led the team with 10 tackles… also had 0.5 TFL and a pass breakup.
 
LB JOSH WATSON
  • Had five tackles (1 TFL)
    • Moved into sixth in CSU history in career tackles with 350, passing former teammate Max Morgan (348, 2011-14). Entered the game tied with Aaron Davis (2011-14) with 345.
 
WR PRESTON WILLIAMS
  • Caught six passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns, both of which came in the fourth quarter. Narrowly missed a third TD, for the win, on the final play of the game, when it was ruled he had stepped out of bounds en route to catching a 34-yard pass from Collin Hill.
    • Increased his season TD total to 11
      • 11 TDs ranks third on CSU’s all-time single-season list:
        • 17, Rashard Higgins, 2014
        • 14, Michael Gallup, 2016
        • 11, Preston Williams, 2018
    • For the season he has 84 receptions for 1,097 yards
      • 84 receptions ranks 4th on CSU’s single-season list
      • 1,097 yards ranks 8th on CSU’s single-season list