CSU loses control late, lets Utah off hook

FORT COLLINS — Colorado State fans were left in the cold after a potential upset slipped through their fingers Saturday. Utah free safety Robert Johnson intercepted the ball three times as the Utes came back from a 14-point defecit to defeat CSU, 24-17. The Rams looked ready to take the next step in regaining respect in the Mountain West, but late offensive mistakes tired out a defense that could no longer contain the Utes.

After holding a powerful offense to a 3-3 tie through halftime, Colorado State took the lead over Utah, for the first time since 2005, early in the third quarter. Utes quarterback Terrance Cain then fumbled a handoff on the next posession to give CSU the ball near midfield. The Rams would capitalize on this turnover, with a great 36-yard catch and twisting run by receiver Dion Morton for another touchdown, making it 17-3.

The same score that gave the Rams a two-score lead would be the spark that triggered a 21-point run by Utah. Two plays and 29 seconds later, the lead was cut back to seven when Cain found wideout David Reed for a 46-yard touchdown strike. Two more plays, and Utah had the ball again when CSU quarterback Grant Stucker threw the first of three late interceptions. Utah then spent nearly nine minutes on a 73-yard drive, capped off by a one-yard Eddie Wide rushing touchdown. Midway through the fourth quarter, the score was tied at 17.

CSU would get the ball two more times, but each drive lasted only three plays, and both ended with Stucker picks. After the first of these, Utah took the lead with a short TD pass to Wide, part of another 73-yard scoring drive.

Utah then had its way with a gassed CSU defense, which was on the field for 30 snaps in the final quarter compared with only six for the Utes. “I thought our defense played well for the most part,” said Rams coach Steve Fairchild. “They just played a lot of snaps because we turned the ball over late.”

Down by seven with just over three minutes to go, Stucker made two good passes to get CSU back to the middle of the field. On the next play, he threw his final interception, finishing off any hope. Utah returned the pick to the CSU 29 but ran the clock out in the red zone.

After the game, both players and coaches commented on the pain of losing in such fashion.

“It’s . . . I can’t tell you how horrible it feels. Words can’t really describe it. This is definitely one that hurts a lot,” said Stucker, who finished 12 for 24 and 184 yards passing with one touchdown.

“That just leaves an awful taste. It’s hard to lose that game, I mean hard.” said Fairchild.

Before the flurry of interceptions, the Rams offense was running the ball well. Leonard Mason was very physical, pushing piles for an extra few yards at the end of each carry. He averaged 5.4 yards per attempt for a 131-yard day.

The highly ranked Utes running game didn’t suffer after their backup running back, receiver Shaky Smithson, was injured in the first quarter. Lone RB Wide carried for 105 yards, and Cain scrambled for 71, most of those coming in the second half. Utah totaled 209 yards on the ground. Cain also passed for 248 yards, completing 24 of 32 attempts with two touchdowns and one interception.

Although pain was present in the voices of the Colorado State team, so was resolve. Although he didn’t take responsibility for the loss, Stucker took a cue from Tim Tebow’s book.

“I will guarantee we will come out tomorrow and be ready to turn our eyes toward TCU and work as hard as we can to get an edge,” the quarterback promised.