Bobo opens competition at QB after loss to Aztecs

FORT COLLINS» Colorado State celebrated 150 years of school history Saturday night with an undeniable homecoming buzz at kickoff against San Diego State.

But after a 24-10 defeat — the Rams’ 10th straight loss to a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent dating to last season — maybe it’s best to leave this era of CSU football collecting dust.

The latest low marked one of coach Mike Bobo’s worst days of offensive production in Mountain West play over his five seasons as head coach. And, with seven games left in 2019, Bobo told reporters he will move forward with an open competition for starting quarterback probably among Patrick O’Brien, Justice McCoy and Judd Erickson.

“We have zero identity right now as an offense,” Bobo said. “We’re searching and trying to find something. We’ve got to go back to the drawing board. … We’re going to put out (the quarterback) who gives us the best chance to win and not turn it over.”

O’Brien, in his third start since taking over for Collin Hill (ACL), found success targeting freshman wide receiver Dante Wright for deep completions of 57 and 21 yards. However, the total lack of a running game — 25 carries for 18 yards — halted offensive rhythm. Running back Marvin Kinsey lost a fumble during a poor handoff exchange on the first play of the second half, with the Aztecs recovering it at the CSU 11-yard line.

Bobo made a change at quarterback late in the third quarter after an O’Brien interception. McCoy faired no better, though, tossing picks on each of his first two pass attempts. O’Brien returned in the fourth quarter and finished the game 19-of-30 passing for 217 yards and one touchdown.

“It’s like the same sad story every week,” O’Brien said. “We say the same thing, but it’s true. I honestly believe how close we are to being a good football team. I feel like the big thing for us is that we need to learn how to win. … We get to a point where we kind of fall apart at the end.”

The Rams (1-5, 0-2 MWC) reached the red zone only twice in the first half and squandered their opportunities. Wide receiver Ty McCollugh dropped a potential touchdown catch. With less than two minutes until halftime and CSU facing fourth-and-goal from the Aztecs’ 1-yard line, running back Marcus McElroy was stood up at the line of scrimmage, giving the Rams nothing after a 95yard drive. The Rams’ lone touchdown, a 13-yard reception from wide receiver Nate Craig-Myers, arrived late in the fourth quarter with the game out of reach.

A snarky silver lining for CSU? Another late-night start (the Rams’ third 8 p.m. kickoff this season) meant fewer eyeballs on Saturday night’s lackluster performance. The crowd at Canvas Stadium started strong with 29,767 in attendance but thinned out in the second half to expose wide swaths of empty bleachers. CSU also debuted a new hornless helmet to coincide with homecoming: white with the Rams-head logo on each side of a green stripe down the middle.

CSU’s next opportunity to break its losing streak comes Friday night at New Mexico (2-3, 0-1 Mountain West) — where the Rams last earned an FBS victory, 20-18 over the Lobos on Oct. 13, 2018.