Injuries, penalties, and missed field goals were all pains for both the Colorado State University Rams and the San Jose State University Spartans. The match-up between the Rams and Spartans marks the first Mountain Western Conference game the Rams had this season. The Rams came into the game after a brutal double overtime loss from the previous week while the Spartans were on a roll only losing one game in the season and consistently scoring high. Two of the top Mountain West wide receivers were also featured in this game with CSU’s Tory Horton and SJSU’s Nick Nash.
The green and gold started the game off hot getting the ball first and starting with a 32-yard completion to Jamari Person. Then with runs from quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and runningback Avery Morrow to set up the Rams comfortably in the redzone already on their first drive. Morrow was able to finish the job breaking into the endzone. That wouldn’t be the only team to score on their opening drive however as the Spartans received the ball and after a penalty and 4th down conversion, they threw a big yard touchdown to Nash.
The Rams weren’t able to get the offense going on their second drive after penalties on both teams and an overthrown pass intended for Horton by Fowler-Nicolosi the Rams punted back to SJSU. The Spartans made a 13-yard pass to end off the first quarter but were stopped on a 4th down attempt by the Rams’ defense handing the ball back over to the Rams’ offense. The offense didn’t waste the opportunity of starting at SJSU’s own 44-yard line with the help of a facemask penalty on SJSU and a 23-yard rush from Fowler-Nicolosi they scored a touchdown to take back the lead.
For the rest of the second quarter both the Rams and Spartans would see three-and-out drives then a struggling SJSU offense with a plethora of penalties would punt to the Rams near the end of the first half. The Rams found success moving down the field with three completed passes in a row for a total of 51 yards. Then, Rams fans all held their breath as star wide receiver Horton would go down and need assistance getting up and off the field and back to the locker room after injuring his knee.
Things only went worse for the Rams after the injury with the very next play Morrow fumbled on a run and was scooped up and returned for an 85-yard touchdown by SJSU cornerback DJ Harvey. The Rams took back the ball from the kickoff and once again made consistent passes downfield to set the team up for a last-minute field goal to put them up before halftime. Kicker Jordan Noyes set up for a 60-yard field goal and booted it down the middle but the Spartans would call a last-minute timeout forcing Noyes to rekick and miss the second attempt.
After halftime, the Rams had what was perhaps the most impressive drive of the day for both teams, Rams running backs Morrow and freshman Jalen Dupree started the drive with a pick-up of 30 in three plays from the freshman. Then another first down from a reception made by Armanu Winfield and a rest for the Rams as they used a time-out. Morrow was set up to gain 25 yards and place the Rams at the Spartans 17-yard line. Knocking at the door Morrow punched through the Spartan’s defensive line and scored another 6 for the Rams again placing them in the lead.
Morrow, after his fumble was returned for the touchdown just before the end of the first half was able to get some redemption with the help of the freshman Dupree. The two would combine for 150 yards, and 2 touchdowns, on 28 carries by the end of the game.
“It takes a lot to break him,” said CSU Head Coach Jay Norvell on Morrow. “He came off the injury he had the fumble. You know the fumble kind of took the wind out of everybody’s sails and I could feel it. You know I just reminded him that we talked about this before the game that we have to handle adversity and when it strikes we have to be strong enough to push through.”
As for the freshman Dupree who was a key factor in this important momentum-swinging drive, Norvell has plans for him to hopefully continue the chemistry between the two running backs that can be created on the field.
“He did a good job today. We’re going to use him on special teams and he’s proven that he’s ready to play when he gets his opportunity,” said Norvell.
Both the runningbacks played a significant role in today’s game and as a whole in the Rams’ offense. With all four running backs averaging high yardage on runs.
“Coach said in the locker room he had four running backs total up to an average of over five yards per carry,” said CSU quarterback Fowler Nicolosi. “That’s unheard of. That’s incredible.”
The Spartans would get another chance at the end of the third quarter with their driving going into the fourth with some help of penalties as the Rams were called for pass interference. Even with the penalties the Spartans were held short and kicked a 42-yard field goal attempt going left of the goalposts to keep the Spartans at a 7-point deficit.
Fowler-Nicolosi would try to move the ball through the air but with short gains and incomplete passes, Rams kicker Noyes was also able to get some redemption in this game with a 58-yard field goal to extend the Rams’ lead. The Spartans received the CSU Ram’s kickoff with a touchback starting them off at the 25-yard line. With under 10 minutes left in the game, the Spartans needed to find results in this drive to win the game. The Spartans found what they needed after catches from Justin Lockhart, Cooper Hoch, and Nash set up the 21-yard touchdown road for runningback Floyd Chalk.
With less than 6 minutes left in the game and only a field goal holding the Ram’s lead, they needed to find a way to seal away the game. Fowler-Nicolosi threw a deep ball downfield to Winfield who caught it and ran to the endzone extending the lead to 10 points. Then the Ram’s defense would intercept a pass in the Spartan’s next drive only for them to intercept the Ram’s the following drive. After a flip-flop of interceptions, the Spartans failed to find the endzone for the rest of the day and instead settled for a field goal ending the game CSU 31 and SJSU 24.
That marks two games in a row where the Rams have scored over 30 points even with the previous week’s resulting in a loss. The Rams are putting up big numbers. Fowler Nicolosi credited two key factors for that success, communication and efficiency.
“The communication was very effective today,” said Fowler Nicolosi who also credited the change of environment from last week’s game and the better management of the game clock. Fowler Nicolosi also gave credit to his wide receivers. “They were the ones getting open. I’m just doing my job, I’m just throwing the ball.”
The Rams are now back at .500 with their next game away against another Mountain Western Conference match-up against, Air Force.