McBride brothers dominate as CSU finally returns the Bronze Boot to Fort Collins

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — There was no way that Trey McBride was going to let a defensive back bring him down Thursday night, not in the Border War, and not with the Bronze Boot on the line. 

On 2nd and eight, one minute after Wyoming cut CSU’s lead to a single score for the first time since the opening quarter (24-17), McBride caught the ball on the run around Wyoming’s 11-yard-line. With Keyon Blankenbaker’s arms wrapped completely around his hips, McBride proceeded to carry the Cowboys nickel back all the way into the endzone; capping off a 38-yard scoring play between the versatile tight end and Patrick O’Brien, and reclaiming a double-digit lead for the Rams heading into the fourth quarter (31-17). 

“It’s just a mentality — every time I touch that ball, I’m trying to score,” McBride said postgame. “The way I look at it is, I don’t think one defender should be able to tackle me. I’m 250 pounds and a corner is not going to tackle me. 

“So, that’s just the way it is — especially in a rivalry game,” McBride continued. “It’s not going to happen and I wasn’t going to let it happen…I’m trying to get the offense off the field and score points — and I’m just not going to let one person tackle me.”

When it comes to Trey McBride, the standout performance was nothing new. Ever since the first time that the Fort Morgan product put on a Rams uniform, No. 85 has been an absolute problem for opposing defenses. 

But while putting up big numbers has been a common theme throughout his career, the feeling of victory has been much less common. Over the last two years, the Rams had won only seven games coming into the 2020 Border War and none of them were against true rivals.

The encouraging thing is that after four straight years of letdowns in the Border War, it finally felt like there was a moment of cleansing for the veteran players, including Trey’s brother, Toby. After being the whipping boys for the league’s best teams throughout the Mike Bobo era, the Rams finally won a game that truly matters this time. 

“This game means a lot to him because he hasn’t won the boot,” Trey said of his brother. “Just seeing the passion he has and the love he has for this game. I mean, I know that was one of the biggest reasons he came back — he didn’t want to be a loser his whole life, knowing that he’s never beaten a rival. So, he came back, and I’m glad we got that win — and I’m even more happy for him.”

“He’s been around here the longest and he has a great sense of (the rivalry),” Steve Addazio said of Toby. “He’s a passionate guy. He played with tremendous intensity and physicality. And I thought that as a leader, he set a great tone here for everybody with what this game meant.”

For the McBrides, the Border War meant everything, and their play on the field proved it. Trey caught both of CSU’s passing touchdowns on the night and blocked linebackers like it was his personal mission to bring pain to the people of Laramie, Wyo. On the other side of the ball, Toby was a dominant presence for the defensive line, finishing with four tackles for a loss in the victory (7 total tackles). If anyone deserved to hoist the Bronze Boot at the end of the night, by far, it was the McBride brothers. 

“I know my brother was hauling. I didn’t know he was that fast,” Trey said of Toby’s postgame sprint for the boot. “It’s just exciting. All the guys are sprinting over there — it should be on our sideline (anyways), so that was the first thing we wanted to do was go get it off their sideline because it belongs here in Fort Collins.”

Following the home victory over the Pokes (1-2), the Rams (1-1) now turn their attention to Boise State. Prior to taking on CSU next Thursday, the Broncos (2-0) must first survive the undefeated BYU Cougars (7-0) Friday night.