Aztecs’ loss opens door for new front-runner
Colorado State defeated Nevada 44-42 on Saturday night at Sonny Lubick Field. Before the Rams (5-2, 3-0) travel to face New Mexico (3-3, 1-2) at 8:15 p.m. Friday, The Denver Post’s Kyle Fredrickson takes one last look back at Week 7 in the Mountain West and what it means for CSU moving forward:
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1. The Rams can run it, too. Wide receiver Michael Gallup stole the headlines with another outstanding performance but tailback Dalyn Dawkins also had a big game, with runs of 10, 13, 19, 21, 33 and 56 yards — totaling 191 yards on the ground, with a score. Dawkins’ success forced the Wolf Pack to drop an extra defensive back into the box, allowing the Rams’ wideouts to thrive in mostly single coverage. It’s that kind of balance, with improved decision-making from quarterback Nick Stevens, that makes this offense so difficult to defend.
2. What’s with the defense? Nevada’s passing offense had not exceeded 300 yards all season, but it blossomed against CSU with 508 — the most allowed by the Rams this season. And it was the big play that hurt CSU, including 13 receptions of 15 or more yards and three touchdowns of 50-plus yards. There’s not much explaining it considering the Rams had been stout in defending the pass one week earlier at Utah State. CSU’s offense is talented enough to bail out a poor defensive showing, for now, but consistency will be key moving forward.
3. An abysmal secondhalf crowd. CSU drew an impressive attendance (36,765) for the third game inside its new on-campus stadium, but the second half told a different story. Fans headed toward the exits en masse with ESPN2 cameras panning across empty bleachers. This isn’t a problem unique to CSU, especially the student departures, and the late kickoff, plus frigid temperatures, made for an uncomfortable outdoor setting. But if a play for a Power Five conference is still the goal, CSU must prove it has the community support that comes with it.
Around the Mountain West
1. Shake-up at the top. The MW’s final unbeaten team fell. Boise State defeated San Diego State 3114, opening the door for a new conference front-runner. Four teams — CSU, Boise State, Fresno State and Wyoming — remain perfect in league play after limping into October with nonconference losses. San Diego State is by no means out of the race, but parity in the Mountain West should provide some stunning finishes as the Dec. 2 conference championship game nears.
2. Finally Falcons. The wait is over. After four consecutive losses, Air Force is back in the win column with a dramatic, comefrom-behind, 34-30 home victory against UNLV. The Falcons trailed 27-0 in the first half and mounted the second-largest comeback in program history. Quarterback Arion Worthman was once again the star with a career-high five touchdowns rushing. Air Force must win four of its six remaining games to reach a bowl.
3. Josh Allen on track. Wyoming’s star quarterback hasn’t looked like a first-round NFL draft pick of late but showed noted improvement in a 28-23 road win at Utah State. He completed a season-high 69.2 percent of his passes and displayed toughness with a goal-line rushing score. The Cowboys have won ugly to remain undefeated through three Mountain West games. They’ll become even more dangerous if Allen continues his upward trend.
Bottom line for the Rams
The final result was much closer than expected against Nevada (CSU entered as a 24½ -point favorite), but a gritty win can sometimes help a team as much as a blowout victory. Yes, the Rams have questions to answer on defense, but veteran leadership on both sides of the ball carried the team through adversity. And those are the types of teams that hold trophies at the end of the season. The Rams appear poised to do just that.