Colorado State University Athletics
Postgame notes: Wyoming at Colorado State
11/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 27, 2009
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TEAM NOTES
Border War lead changes: Today’s contest featured five lead changes. Including three in last year’s game, and six in 2007, this heated series has had 14 lead changes in three years. There also was one tie, in 2008.
Second-half opening drive: The Rams broke through on a targeted area for improvement, assembling a nine-play, 61-yard touchdown drive (4 minutes, 31 seconds) to take the lead out of the locker room. The other game this season in which the Rams put points on the board on their initial second-half drive was a touchdown march vs. Utah (Oct. 10).
100th Border War: Today officially marked the 100th Border War, not including the first meeting in 1899, which was ruled a forfeit CSU victory. After confirming with the NCAA this past offseason that schools should not recognize forfeits in the all-time series, CSU removed the game from its official calculations.
Bronze Boot update: Painfully for CSU, Wyoming today will keep the Bronze Boot for a 21st time. CSU also has kept the Boot in Fort Collins 21 seasons. The Boot was conceived and featured as a traveling trophy for the first time in 1968.
Recent history: CSU’s five-game home winning streak against Wyoming ended today. Wyoming had not won in Fort Collins since Nov. 7, 1998.
Fairchild against the Cowboys: Steve Fairchild now owns an 8-4 record against Wyoming as a member of the CSU football program, including a 1-1 record as a head coach.
Multiple starting QBs: With Jon Eastman’s first Division I start today, replacing an injured Grant Stucker (shoulder), the Rams started more than one QB in a season for the first time since 2004. That year, Justin Holland (six) and then-true freshman Caleb Hanie (five) split the assignments. Holland started all 12 games in 2005, while Hanie went on to start all 12 in 2006 and 2007. Billy Farris started all 12 in 2008.
First-time starters: Eastman joined fellow 2009 junior-college transfer Travis Ford in the starting lineup. Ford, the Rams’ third starting strong safety this year, also made his initial Division I start, in place of an injured Ivory Herd (leg).
• All told this season, 20 CSU players made their first career starts in a Rams uniform, in addition to Eastman and Ford: TE Adam Seymore, WR T.J. Borcky, LB Davis Burl, S Ivory Herd, OT Paul Madsen, LB James Skelton, DL Nuku Latu, CB DeAngelo Wilkinson, RB Leonard Mason, QB Grant Stucker, RB John Mosure, LB Alex Williams, DT Guy Miller, DE Cory Macon, WR Tyson Liggett, LB Chris Gipson, DE Zach Tiedgen and G Jake Gdowski, who incidentally celebrated his 21st birthday in his start Sept. 6 at Colorado.
• Of all those 20 players, only Stucker will not return next year.
Blocked FG: John Fletcher’s critical second-quarter blocked PAT was the fourth blocked kick by a CSU opponent this season. BYU blocked a punt Sept. 26, while Idaho (Oct. 3) and New Mexico (Nov. 21) blocked PATs.
• CSU kicker Ben DeLine was 26-for-29 on PATs this year; each of his three misses was a block.
Conference schedule: The Rams went without a win in conference for the first time since 1981.
• But unlike that season, when CSU went 0-12 and lost by an average of 28.17 points per game, the Rams this year won three games and had an average margin of defeat of 13.33 points.
Hard-fought losses: Today marked CSU’s fourth loss this year of one score or less. The Rams also lost 31-29 at Idaho (Oct. 3), 24-17 vs. Utah (Oct. 10), and 29-27 at New Mexico (Nov. 21)
Injury city: Including QB Grant Stucker, LB Davis Burl and SS Ivory Herd today, key CSU contributors this year combined to miss 44 starts, and 37 games. Plus, 31 of those starts, and 25 overall games, are on the defensive side of the ball.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Leonard Mason: Went over 100 yards rushing for the third time this season (also 130 vs. Utah Oct. 10; 107 at Colorado Sept. 6).
Jon Eastman: Made his first Division I start, and completed his first nine passes before a deep incompletion with 4 minutes remaining in the first half.
Mychal Sisson: Registered multiple sacks to record a single-game career best. His sacks this season are the most by a Rams defender since Bryan Save had seven in 2003.
Adrian Martinez: Finished his career having started 46 games, believed to be the second most all-time among CSU players. Only John Laurita, who started on the offensive line all 47 contests of his career from 1987-90, started more in a Rams uniform.
C.J. James: Picked up the first two sacks of his career today.
Dion Morton: Finished the year with 35 kickoff returns for 862 yards (both CSU single-season records), and a 24.6-yard average, tied for ninth in CSU history.
Zac Pauga: Had a career-high six receptions, earning the mark on his 4-yard touchdown that gave the Rams a 13-7 lead. In the 2008 Border War, Pauga had three catches for 39 yards, including a 19-yard play.
Rashaun Greer: Finished his career tied for 10th on CSU’s all-time receiving yards list with 1,848, matching Dallas Davis (1997-2001).