Colorado State Rams @ Utah State Aggies Football Recap

Colorado State 35, Utah State 34

In a game controlled by Utah State throughout, a late fumble and a questionable overtime decision put Colorado State on top at the end, as the Rams escaped Logan, Utah, with a 35-34 overtime win late Saturday night over the crestfallen Aggies, who once again allowed victory to slip through their fingers. Three weeks after letting Auburn get away with a poor performance, Utah State allowed Colorado to find the escape hatch as well. This is a pattern for the Aggies, and until they learn to close the sale, they’ll experience more nights like this one.

After a scoreless first quarter, Utah State got going after a 51-yard dash by Michael Smith set up Kerwynn Williams for a 14-yard touchdown run. Colorado State then ate almost eight minutes off the clock with a balanced drive that ended with a 42-yard Ben Deline field goal to make the halftime score 7-3.

Utah State took control early in the second half on a 13-play drive that used only one pass attempt. On the talented legs of Smith, Williams, Robert Turbin, and quarterback Chuckie Keeton, the Aggies rushed for 63 yards capped when Turbin punched in a three-yard run to give Utah State a 14-3 lead. But the game turned for Colorado State after pinning a punt at Utah State’s four-yard line. Two plays later, Michael Smith fumbled a short rushing gain, and it was returned by the Rams’ Shaquil Barrett for a touchdown. The play was reviewed, and Smith appeared to be down when the fumble occurred, but the call was not reversed. Despite a sputtering offense, the Rams had life now behind 14-10.

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The Aggies would pound it right at Colorado State again midway through the fourth quarter after inheriting a short field. Utah State ran it eight straight times for 27 yards until it found the endzone to take a 21-13 lead with just five minutes left. The Rams finally got going in an attempt to answer, as Pete Thomas led Colorado State to Utah State’s 29-yard line. But a sack and a personal foul penalty took the Rams out of field goal range. The Rams punted to Eric Moats at the USU 15-yard line, whose muffed catch was recovered by Tanner Hedstrom for the Rams. It was Utah State’s fourth lost fumble of the night. Four plays later, Chris Nwoke found the endzone. The Rams converted the two-point conversion, and the two teams headed to overtime tied at 21-21.

Both teams made quick work on the ground in the first overtime. Utah State gave the ball to Turbin three times for a score, while Colorado State gave it to Nwoke four times for a touchdown. The Rams converted first in the second overtime again on the legs of Nwoke, and it was up to the Aggies to answer. Utah State needed one play, a 25-yard run from Turbin. But in an odd decision, the Aggies decided to go for two at home for the win, despite having controlled the game throughout. On the conversion attempt, Chuckie Keeton fired an incomplete quick slant into the endzone, but drew a pass interference flag. With another attempt from the one-yard line, the Aggies handed it to Turbin, who tried to bounce it outside after inside holes collapsed, but he was forced out of bounds. Colorado State escaped with a 35-34 win.

Utah State outgained Colorado State by a 367-232 tally on the strength of a 281-yard rushing performance.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer