Sept. 12, 2009

Final Stats |  Quotes |  Notes |  Photo Gallery 1  |  Photo Gallery 2 

By Zach Balside
Athletic Media Relations

FORT COLLINS, Colo. - Colorado State's Guy Miller recovered a fumble with 42 seconds remaining at the Rams' 10-yard line to secure a 24-23 win over Weber State at Sonny Lubick Stadium at Hughes Field Saturday evening.

Miller, a junior nose guard, helped the Rams win their home opener in front of the first student-section sellout since Sept. 8, 2007, against then-No. 10 Cal. The win gives the Rams their first 2-0 start since 2006.

WSU (0-2) did not go down without a fight, converting 11 of 21 third-down opportunities. CSU failed to convert in eight third-down chances, but still was able to defeat the Wildcats.

"They played a good game," Miller said. "They threw a lot of different stuff at us. They were fast, they were quick and we were just lucky to come out with a win."

The game started well for the Rams, who scored first with a unique senior-to-senior connection. A double-reverse pass from wide receiver Dion Morton back to quarterback Grant Stucker for a 40-yard touchdown pass gave the Rams a 7-0 lead.

After the Wildcats missed a 34-yard field goal on their next drive, CSU struck again with a 28-yard field goal from sophomore kicker Ben DeLine, which gave the Rams a 10-0 edge going into the second quarter.

Weber State added its first points with a 9-yard run by senior running back Trevyn Smith less than 3 minutes into the quarter. After a missed PAT, the Rams answered with a seven-play, 85-yard drive, thanks in part to Rashaun Greer's 39-yard, one-handed reception that set up the Rams on the WSU 2-yard line. Then, just before crossing the goal line, running back Leonard Mason fumbled but center Tim Walter recovered for a Rams touchdown, giving CSU a 17-6 lead with 8:16 left in the half.

Not deterred, WSU pushed the ball downfield, starting with a 33-yard kick return by freshman running back Bo Bolen to its own 48-yard line. A 10-yard pass from Higgins to senior tight end Cody Nakamura brought the score to 17-13.

After CSU's next drive was halted on three plays by a WSU sack of Stucker by senior defensive end Kevin Linehan, the Wildcats came roaring right back. After the Wildcats drove to the CSU 26-yard line, the Rams appeared to get the ball back with an interception at the 1 by junior cornerback DeAngelo Wilkinson. However, a roughing the passer penalty was called against the Rams, giving the Wildcats a first down at the CSU 14. Higgins connected with Nakamura for the second time on the following play to give WSU a 20-17 lead, which they maintained going into halftime. WSU finished the first half completing eight of 10 third-down opportunities.

On CSU's opening drive of the second half, a pass from Stucker was intercepted by WSU's junior free safety Jordan Brown. Starting with good field position on CSU's 47-yard line, the Rams were able to hold the Wildcats to only 4 yards on the drive, which concluded with a 47-yard field goal by senior kicker Mike Snoy, giving WSU a 23-17 lead.

The score would stay the same until the fourth quarter, when WSU drove to the CSU 21-yard line and Higgins had a screen pass picked off by freshman linebacker James Skelton, who took the ball 18 yards to the CSU 44.

Skelton, a walkon linebacker, got his chance to shine, and he took advantage of it.

"That was a great play," Rams head coach Steve Fairchild said. "In a football game, every play is precious and you end up needing everybody. That was a big play by James and we're certainly fortunate that he made that play."

After Skelton's INT, Stucker again connected with Greer for a big gain, this time a 57-yard pass to the WSU 1-yard line. Greer finished the game with six catches for 162 yards.

Greer's reception set up a unique set of circumstances. After what officials initially incomplete pass to junior tight end Eric Peitz in the end zone, the replay official took a second look at the contested reception and ruled the Peitz had control with one leg down in the end zone, giving him his first career touchdown reception and the Rams a 24-23 lead with 8:31 left in the game.

"The booth decided to review that and it's clear he caught it," Fairchild said.

Peitz was elated to find out he had indeed gotten six points for the Rams.

"Honestly I did not know if they were going to call it a touchdown," Peitz said. "It could have gone either way. I was just so happy when the (referee) put his arms up."

Stucker finished his second career start 10 of 23 for 203 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

WSU started its comeback attempt with 8:24 left at its own 20-yard line. The Wildcats slowly drove down the field, including a fourth-down conversion on a 1-yard rush by Higgins to the CSU 32-yard line. The Wildcats wore down the clock and continued to push forward, all the way to the CSU 9, before Miller made the game-saving play. A fumbled snap between senior center Cameron Molifua and Higgins was recovered by Miller at CSU's 10. Stucker kneeled twice to seal the win for the Rams.
Fairchild was relieved to see Miller pounce on the loose ball.

"At this point, I didn't care," Fairchild said. "All I wanted was the ball out somehow, someway. You could tell (Higgins) fell back and the ball fell out and when that happens you usually have a pretty good chance of one of your defensive lineman falling on it. And it was Guy Miller. Give credit to him because those things become ugly when the pile goes on and he fought hard enough to keep the ball."

The Wildcats outgained the Rams 316-306, but missed opportunities to win the game.

"You can't take a quarterback exchange when you're down there trying to get right in the middle," WSU head coach Ron McBride said. "You throw a screen, you throw a pick on the screen. We got two chances to put this game away."

Higgins also recognized the blown chance at the end of the game.

"Everything was working for us," said Higgins, who finished the game 29 of 47 for 258 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. "We ran all the right plays. We just fumbled the snap."

Smith, the WSU back who tallied 73 yards on the ground with one touchdown, said that the Wildcats thought they had it in the bag.

"I think we played our butts off," Smith said. "I think if one play goes differently we win that game."

The Rams were challenged hard by the Wildcats and know they narrowly escaped with this one.

"We know we got lucky today," sophomore linebacker Michael Kawulok said. "We have to put this one away and start thinking about next week."

Greer's 162 yards receiving were the second most in one game in his career, trailing only his 211 yard performance Oct. 4, 2008 against UNLV.

The Rams return to the field Saturday at home against Nevada. The game starts at 3 p.m. MT.