Colorado State (6-2, 4-0 Mountain West) earned a hard-fought road win, 27-24, Friday night at New Mexico (3-4, 1-3). Denver Post college football reporter Kyle Fredrickson provides five quick observations from the victory.
1. Crisis averted. New Mexico scored a touchdown with 24 seconds remaining, hauled in an onside kick, and trailed Colorado State by three points. But senior defensive end Evan Colorito, on the night of his 23rd birthday, sacked Lobos’ quarterback Tekava Tuioti as time expired. CSU fans held their breath to the final second, but the Rams are now bowl eligible for a fifth consecutive season.
It's Colorito's bday and he gives us a present! 💪🐏 pic.twitter.com/5sVNcgNucf
— Sycamore Tree (@_aaronkelly) October 21, 2017
2. Run over. Last week, CSU’s defense was torched through in the air against Nevada. On Friday night, it was the opposing ground game that flourished. The Rams struggled to stop the Lobos’ triple-option attack all night. Thirteen of New Mexico’s 48 carries went for 10 or more yards and the Lobos finished with 318. CSU better address its run defense deficiencies quick with yet another option attack looming next Saturday against Air Force.
.@tyroneowens25 with 25-yard TD scamper for @UNMLoboFB! Lobos trail @CSUFootball 21-17 with 8 minutes left in 3Q #mwfb #MWLateNight pic.twitter.com/zOboE4b17b
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) October 21, 2017
3. Missed connections. The normally potent duo of quarterback Nick Stevens and Michael Gallup wasn’t clicking in Albuquerque. Gallup was targeted 16 times, but finished with only six catches for 58 yards and no touchdowns. Stevens was visibly frustrated by a lack of communication and several overthrown passes. One disappointing game shouldn’t sound alarm bells as Gallup is still among the nation’s top receivers. He became first in the country to top 1,000 receiving yards.
4. Physical toll. Several prominent Rams appeared to get dinged up with varied degrees of injury against the Lobos: cornerback Shun Johnson, receiver Olabisi Johnson, linebacker Max McDonald, defensive lineman Darnell Thompson and safety Jamal Hicks. The Rams’ ability to hold on despite so many sidelined players is a testament to the depth created by several talented recruiting classes. CSU can be thankful the Friday kickoff allows for another day of rest to heal up before facing Air Force next Saturday.
5. Kicker love. In a tight one like this, the little things get magnified: such as CSU kicker Wyatt Bryan hitting field goals from a season-high 52 and 40 yards. One miss and the entire complexion of this game is flipped. Bryan has been solid this fall, converting 10-of-12 attempts.
