Folsom's Greatest Games #20 - Colorado vs. Colorado State 2005

September 3, 2005 – Colorado 31, Colorado State 28

Before what remains the largest crowd in Folsom Field history – 54,972 – this sequel to the previous year’s walk-off goal-line stand brought even more insanity to the Rocky Mountain Showdown. Lawrence Vickers provided an all-time classic moment when he trucked a Ram defender to score CU’s first touchdown on 4th-and-goal  in the second quarter. It has since become the rivalry’s iconic reaction GIF (with apologies to Faton Bauta). 

But that would be the only Buffalo touchdown until the fourth quarter, which they entered trailing 21-10 amid a slew of turnovers. TBS announcer Ron Thulin mused that he was surprised the Buffs had any toes left with how often they’d shot themselves in the foot. 

CU opened the final period with an interception, which led to Hugh Charles atoning for a recently lost fumble with a 30-yard touchdown run. A successful two-point conversion made it 21-18 with 13:26 remaining, and that’s where the score stood with 2:37 remaining. Then the game became, to use a modern expression, a bit drunk.

First, Mason Crosby hit a 48-yard field goal to tie the score at 21. Then, Ram quarterback Justin Holland threw his third interception of the day; giving the Buffs the ball at the CSU 23 yard line with 1:37 remaining.

Rather than simply run the clock out and kick a game-winning field goal, Hugh Charles uncorked another spectacular touchdown run on the first play of the drive, and the cork was popped on a delirious Folsom Field. CU had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. Or had they? Unbothered by his recent interception, Holland marched Colorado State down the field in just 54 seconds for a game-tying touchdown with just half a minute to play.

Folsom was stunned. Overtime seemed inevitable. It wasn’t. A big Stephone Robinson kickoff return and two Joel Klatt completions were all it took to get Crosby in range to try a 47-yarder for the win. On his 21st birthday, the CU legend drilled his first career game-winning kick to send the record crowd home happy. 

Links:
Full game on YouTube
CU at the Game Recap