Second half comeback sparks upset win for Rams

FORT COLLINS – Colorado State got a much-needed win Saturday night over Utah State in Fort Collins. The Rams came from behind in the second half to beat the Aggies 31-24.

CSU’s offense stormed out of the gate on their first possession, thanks to 52 rushing yards from Dalyn Dawkins. But the drive bogged down in the red zone, ending in just three points.

The Aggies needed just four plays to get on the board on their first possession. Gerold Bright ran for a 41-yard touchdown, giving Utah State a 7-3 lead.

CSU answered, though. Following four consecutive runs by Izzy Matthews, Collin Hill connected with Olabisi Johnson for a 19-yard touchdown.

Kent Myers and the Aggies would regain the lead before the quarter ended. Utah State converted on third down deep in Rams’ territory before Myers ran for a 4-yard touchdown.

The second quarter was all Utah State.

The Utah State quarterback recorded his second rushing touchdown of the night when he ran 14 yards to pay dirt, giving his team a 21-10 lead. Brock Warren tacked on a late field goal to make it 24-10 at halftime.

Through two quarters, the Aggies racked up 174 yards on the ground. But the Rams’ defense would make adjustments. And they would get some help from the offense.

Facing third down, Hill got the ball to his favorite target in Michael Gallup, who ran away from the Aggies’ defense. The 60-yard catch and run trimmed Utah State’s lead to 24-17.

CSU got a scare late in the quarter when Hill went down with a knee injury and left the game. Mike Bobo inserted Nick Stevens, who completed a 22-yard pass to Gallup on third and long to keep the drive alive.

Matthews barreled his way into the endzone for a 1-yard score and the score was tied at 24 heading into the fourth quarter.

The CSU defense continued its stout play and gave the offense a chance to take the lead. A Dawkins 56-yard run led to a 10-yard touchdown run by Matthews and the Rams had the lead again.

Utah State’s next three possessions resulted in a punt, turnover on downs and an interception by linebacker Kevin Davis. The stops helped CSU secure their first conference win of the season and evened up their record at 3-3.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

It’s got to be Gallup, who led CSU receivers with seven catches for 140 yards and that momentum-changing 60-yard touchdown.

PLAY OF THE GAME

Third-and-long rarely spells success for an offense, especially for the backup quarterback. But Stevens stayed poise and hit Gallup for 22 yards on a drive that led to the game-tying touchdown.

QUOTE OF THE GAME

“We were having a blast. Everyone was just flying around and making plays. The energy was just going from one person to the other. The energy flowed from the offense to the defense. When the offense could not pick it up a little bit, the defense picked it up. Everybody kept the train rolling, and when that’s going on it’s good for everybody. Special teams held up their end of the deal. It was a total team win today, and that’s what we like to see.” – safety Jake Schlager

TURNING POINT

Stevens, the 2015 starter for the Rams, is a rare backup quarterback in that he has so much previous game experience. He rallied the offense when Hill went down and made some big-time throws.

BY THE NUMBERS

0 – The number of second half points for Utah State

37 – Combined carries of the Dawkins-Matthews running back duo

126 – Rushing yards for Dawkins, who became CSU’s first 100-yard rusher in 2016

LASTING IMPACT

The Rams played turnover-free and got some huge plays from the defense in this one. The win definitely puts bowl aspirations back in play.

WHAT’S NEXT

CSU travels to Boise State next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 8:15 p.m.