Colorado State comes back from 18point deficit to shock Arkansas 3427.
COLORADO STATE 34, ARKANSAS 27
FORT COLLINS» Groans and moans were palpable.
Throughout the stands, people rubbed their faces, rested hands upon their heads and stared up to the heavens in disbelief. What, they wondered, was happening to Colorado State football?
Finally, the Rams were playing defense. A muchmaligned unit throughout the opening two weeks of the season was showing progress. It generated turnovers and held firm in the red zone to a Southeastern Conference foe in Arkansas, no less.
But the offense was missing in action. CSU couldn’t run the ball. Third downs were a constant struggle. There was almost no time in the pocket to deliver a pass. Arkansas seized advantage and jumped out to an 18point lead by the late third quarter. The CSU faithful were losing their conviction.
Then an answer fell from the sky, only it was no miracle. Just a spiraling brown piece of leather dropping out of the night and into the clamping fingers of a 6foot4, 210pound godsend from Georgia.
If fans were prepared to forsake the Rams, then Preston Williams offered them something worth believing in, manhandling his way to a unlikely CSU 3427 comeback victory Saturday night at Canvas Stadium.
The Rams’ ubertalented wide receiver transfer from Tennessee put on full display all the physical talents that had a program, which knows a little something about gamebreaking receivers, drooling over Williams’ potential.
Saturday night was his stage. A chance to submit his name among the Green and Gold greats before him. Move aside, Rashard Higgins. Take a seat, Michael Gallup. You’re so last year.
This is the age of Preston Williams.
Trailing 279 late in the third quarter, a fledgling CSU offense turned the ball loose in desperation, and No. 11 was always the desired destination.
Quarterback K.J. Cartasamuels pounded the ball to Williams time and again, striking his indefensible target for eight receptions, 121 yards and two touchdowns. In the second half alone.
Cartasamuels connected with Williams on a 4yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to breathe life into an otherwise anemic offense to that point, then found him again as Williams made an incredible individual effort to place the Rams near the end zone.
Needing a critical score in the fourth quarter, there was no doubt where the ball would go. Put it on No. 11. The Rams were within three points.
Cartasamuels guided the offense down the field after a key stop by the defense, settling for a field goal to equalize at 27 with 5:19 remaining and a second stand by the defense supplied the offense one last shot.
CSU (13) went to Williams. Then again. And again. He would finish with 12 catches and 154 yards as running back Izzy Matthews rushed the ball across the goal line for the winning touchdown and eight seconds on the clock.
The victory was a muchneeded boost to the season for the Rams, who suffered an upset loss to open the year against Hawaii and were blown out by rival Colorado last week.