Rams rally behind Mike Bobo to upset Fresno State on the road

FRESNO, Calif. — We’re going streaking!

Okay, maybe a win over Fresno State (3-4) doesn’t justify running naked in the streets like Will Ferrell in Old School — but after everything that this team has experienced over the past two seasons, Colorado State football (3-5) finally has a reason to celebrate. The Rams, led by head coach Mike Bobo, went into Bulldog Stadium as 14.5 point underdogs Saturday night but left as 10 point victors.

Behind a strong performance from quarterback Patrick O’Brien and just enough production from the running game, CSU defeated Fresno State 41-31 to extend their winning streak over their foes from the West division to three games. Since 2003, CSU now is 6-1 against the Bulldogs and the Rams lead the overall series, 10-5.

“We can still improve but I’m proud of those guys for how they played,” Bobo said postgame. “To come on the road and get a victory against a very talented team is something special about our guys.”

Although he refused to acknowledge it to the media afterwards — Bobo always preaches that he cannot get too high or low for a single game — the road win is arguably the biggest of his CSU career.

“It’s an important win because it was the game we were playing,” Bobo said. “We had to come on the road — we’ve come on the road in two straight weeks and found a way to win. I don’t rank wins.”

Even if Bobo won’t say it, though, the potential season-saving victory is absolutely the high point for the Rams thus far, and he knows it. In a video posted by the CSU football team on Twitter, Bobo addressed the locker room and said the following in his postgame speech: “Fourteen-point underdog my ass. Nobody knows we are except for us. We set the plan in motion — that’s two (wins in a row). I told you, we ain’t losing. But tonight, we’re going to celebrate.”

Diving into the most important wins of Bobo’s CSU career, what separates Saturday’s from the rest is the context of the victory. Unlike when CSU went into San Diego State’s house and beat down the Aztecs in 2016, the Bulldogs actually had something to play for. Sitting at 3-3, Fresno State already had let wins against USC and Minnesota slip through their finger tips — so going into the matchup, Fresno State knew that securing a Homecoming victory would be paramount for their chances of reaching the postseason.

And while beating an SEC team at home in 2018 was certainly an impressive feat for a Mountain West program, we all know that the Arkansas Razorbacks are currently a dumpster fire. So while you can make an argument in defense of the SDSU win or Arkansas upset, really, neither was as big as upsetting the preceding conference champions on the road with a backup quarterback and the team’s leading rusher suspended.

In the victory, O’Brien completed 23-of-42 pass attempts for 322 yards. The redshirt junior did throw a brutal interception in the fourth quarter. Luckily for the Nebraska transfer, the turnover didn’t end up hurting CSU.,

“We didn’t flinch. We were able to push through and make plays at the end of the game, when we needed to,” O’Brien said.

Along with a strong showing from O’Brien, the Rams were able to lean on the legs of Marcus McElroy and the sure hands of Warren Jackson. Making his second start at running back this season, McElroy went over the century mark for the first time in his career (117 yards). The junior out of Mullen High School in Denver, Colo., also found the end zone for the first time this season.

Jackson, who has been an absolute monster since returning from injury, led the Rams with nine catches for 178 yards (19.8 yards per reception). The 6-foot-6, 219-pound, wideout also scored the game-winning touchdown with just over 3 minutes remaining in the game.

After the huge showing, a humble Jackson praised his teammates and credited Bobo for helping keep the team together.

“It feels great. He’s been through a lot,” Jackson said. “He truly does love his players — he cares about us more than anything. It’s not even about football for him, honestly, it’s about preparing young men for what’s in life because football doesn’t last forever. I think he’s a great head coach — he’s definitely my favorite coach of all-time.”

Bobo, O’Brien, Jackson and the rest of the 2019 Rams will look to carry the momentum of back-to-back road wins into next Saturday’s matchup with UNLV.

“There’s great spirit in that locker room,” Bobo said. “We’re going to enjoy this one and then get ready for UNLV.”