The Colorado State Rams are back in Canvas Stadium for their third consecutive home game as they host the UTEP Miners for State Pride! The Rams are debuting brand new, modified State Pride uniforms that saw changes to the helmet, stripes and the wood marking to perfectly encapsulate the pride of the state of Colorado. This is a big “prove-it” game for Colorado State as they look to rebound from their crushing loss to Colorado last week in the Rocky Mountain Showdown. The opportunity is there for the Rams as they close out their out-of-conference schedule against a UTEP team that enters the game at 0-3.
The Rams started with the ball first and made the most of their opening drive. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi was also looking to prove that he can lead this Rams team as their quarterback after a disastrous performance in last week’s Showdown. He was able to get the arm going early with passes to Caleb Goodie and Jamari Person, but it was a deep throw to the freshman Jordan Ross for 36 yards that set up the Rams for an Avery Morrow touchdown run in the endzone.
The big question however was going to be the defense, and they had an equally good start able to force a punt and get the ball back to the Rams offense. Colorado State, looking to take advantage, started off with an end-around run by Caleb Goodie for 25 yards, entering UTEP territory. It wouldn’t be that easy for CSU as some struggles from the offense continued into this game as the Rams on 4th down had a pass go incomplete, dropped by Armani Winfield, resulting in a turnover on downs. Dropped passes from Winfield and coming up short on 4th down in the wildcat formation was the story of the 1st half for the Rams’ offense as it felt like some of their struggles were continuing to show.
Luckily the Rams’ defense knew how to bring back the momentum. Henry Blackburn was able to get an interception off UTEP’s quarterback, Skylar Locklear and get the ball back to the Rams offense. However, UTEP thought that anything CSU could do, the Miners could do better, and they came away with an interception of their own off a tough-out route pass from BFN to Caleb Goodie that was read like a book. With the interception occurring in CSU territory, UTEP was able to get the field goal and make it a 7-3 game.
The pressure was on for the Rams, and if anyone has dealt with pressure going into this season, it’s Avery Morrow. The following drive after the UTEP field goal for Colorado State only lasted for 2 plays, because Morrow was able to break free on 2nd down for 73 yards for his second touchdown of the game! It was the momentum shift this team needed as they extended their lead to 14 – 3.
Coming out of halftime, UTEP had to make some adjustments, and it came in the quarterback position as Cade McConnell came in relief of Skylar Locklear and finally got the offense rolling. Despite reaching the 1st down a couple of times in their opening drive, UTEP was still forced to punt it away, and that’s when it really started to come together for CSU as Dane Olsen made the big-time special teams play and got a crucial block on the punt, setting up the Rams offense in UTEP territory with goal to go. Avery Morrow found his redemption, and so did Armani Winfield as he was able to come away with the goal-line fade touchdown catch from Fowler-Nicolosi after previously having two gut-wrenching drops. CSU extended their lead 21-3.
The Rams defense stopped UTEP once again and the Rams were able to score one more time on a 37-yard field goal from Jordan Noyes before UTEP’s offense finally got things clicking. McConnell was able to keep the Miners alive with a screen pass to Kenny Odom that went the distance for their first touchdown of the game, cutting the lead to 24-10.
UTEP was able to stop the Rams once more and get the ball back to close out the 3rd quarter. As the 4th quarter kicked off, so did UTEP as McConnell once again put the Rams on their heels completing a 55-yard pass to Kenny Odom for another touchdown putting the game within one score, 24-17.
CSU had to close it out, after what was almost a pic-6 from UTEP was called back by a defensive offsides, the Rams took advantage and got Noyes back in field goal range, this time from 39 yards, and got the crucial field goal to set the final score at 27-17. The Rams defense was able to hold on and stop the Miners, and the Rams offense setting up in the victory formation was able to put the fans at ease knowing that the green and gold came away with the win.
This was a big game, but a bigger game for Avery Morrow who had gone through a lot of struggles last season and this past offseason to get to where he is now. When asked about his journey so far, these past few games the first thing he stated was: “I’m blessed.”
“I’ve been through so much man. I hit rock bottom at a point. Being arrested. Being out of shape. Not being the player that I was supposed to be last year. Mentally out of it… hearing all that stuff from the judge, my life being on the line, you know, facing 2 to 4 years in prison. My mind couldn’t focus.” Morrow had gone through some legal trouble from an altercation a year and half ago that resulted in him receiving a second-degree assault charge and being suspended by the team.
He continued by stating, “I got a story to tell for the young guys. You can get through anything if you stay true to yourself… I stayed true to the coaching. I knew what type of player I was, and I got these guys motivating me to keep going,” as he grabbed offensive tackle Saveyon Henderson’s shoulder and smiled, appreciative of the brotherhood he’s a part of.
Morrow finished the game with 21 carries for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns. It was a good feeling of redemption and something this Rams team can ride on as they now sit at .500 with a 2-2 record after defeating UTEP, 27-17. The Rams will now be entering a bye week before they make the trip to Corvallis to face a future PAC-12 conference opponent: the Oregon State Beavers.