November 30th 2024.
A thrilling comeback at Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins turned what could have been a Black Friday disaster into a stunning victory for the Colorado State Rams. After defeating Utah State 42-37 in a nail-biting game, the Rams head into the final day of the regular college football season with a chance to secure a spot in the Mountain West championship game.
It was a rollercoaster of a game, with the Rams falling behind by 17 points in the fourth quarter. But they refused to give up, and thanks to some key takeaways and impressive performances by Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi and Dane Olson, they were able to turn the tide and secure the win. The Rams now have the wind at their backs as they head into the postseason, having achieved their first eight-win season since 2014.
CSU head coach Jay Norvell couldn't be prouder of his team's grit and determination. "This is probably the finest moment that we've had as a team this year," Norvell said. "Being down 17 points and coming back, very similar to the Boise State game but in different circumstances, and we just never stopped and we never gave up. We talk a lot about Ram grit, and having mettle in your veins and not giving up, and this team has that. Nobody flinched tonight."
While their hopes for a Mountain West title game berth now rely on a Nevada upset over UNLV, the Rams are already looking ahead to their next challenge. "Saturday, we're going to come in and gameplan for Boise State, and we'll shut it down around 6 o'clock and we're all going to watch and cheer for Nevada," Norvell said.
The game didn't start off well for the Rams, with a slow and lackluster first quarter in front of a sleepy, sparse crowd. Things started to turn around in the second quarter, but Utah State's quarterback Bryson Barnes proved to be a formidable opponent, running for 185 yards and a touchdown.
Norvell acknowledged Barnes' skill and craftiness, stating, "We really struggled with the quarterback run, and he was basically their offense."
But the Rams' eventual victory was a testament to their resilience. After falling behind 13-0, they managed to score two field goals before the end of the first half, bringing the score to 16-6. Then, with just 19 seconds left in the half, Olson's touchdown gave the Rams the momentum they needed to keep fighting.
"Olson just manages to find a way to get open, a lot," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "Knowing that he would be open was definitely a factor down the stretch of the game."
The third quarter looked like it would seal the Rams' fate, as they gave up a 14-yard touchdown pass and then suffered a pick-six on their very next play. But they refused to give up, and in an incredible fourth quarter, they managed to score 29 unanswered points and secure the win.
"That was an unfortunate series of events," Fowler-Nicolosi said about the pick-six. "Credit to them, they read it nicely and made a good play out of it. But I knew I just needed to bounce back from that play and stay consistent the rest of the game, and that's what I did."
With this incredible comeback, the Rams have proven that they have the heart and determination to face any challenge that comes their way. As they head into their next game against Boise State, they do so with the confidence and momentum of a team that never gives up.
The game at Canvas Stadium started off with a potential disaster, but ended in a stunning comeback for Colorado State. After an intense 42-37 win over Utah State, the Rams still have a chance at making it to the Mountain West championship game on the final day of the regular college football season. It was a game full of twists and turns, with CSU coming back from a 17-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
Things were looking bleak for the Rams after a late third quarter defensive touchdown by the Aggies. But the team never gave up, thanks to some key takeaways and impressive passes by quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. Wide receiver Dane Olson also had a standout day, helping to spur the Rams' victory. And even if they don't make it to the Mountain West title game, CSU can still hold their heads high after securing their first eight-win season since 2014.
According to head coach Jay Norvell, this game was the team's finest moment of the year. "Being down 17 points and coming back, very similar to the Boise State game but in different circumstances, and we just never stopped and we never gave up," he said. "We talk a lot about Ram grit, and having mettle in your veins and not giving up, and this team has that. Nobody flinched tonight."
But the Rams' fate now lies in the hands of another team. They need Nevada to pull off an upset against rival UNLV in order to secure their spot in the Mountain West championship game against Boise State. It's a tall order, with the Wolfpack being 17.5-point underdogs and the Rebels holding the tiebreaker over the Rams. But Norvell and his team are staying optimistic. "Saturday, we're going to come in and gameplan for Boise State, and we'll shut it down around 6 o'clock and we're all going to watch and cheer for Nevada," he said.
The game didn't start off well for CSU, with the team looking "awful" in front of a lackluster crowd. But they eventually found their footing, after digging themselves into a 13-0 hole. However, Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes proved to be a formidable opponent, running for 185 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. "He's crafty, and he was hard to get down," Norvell said. "We really struggled with the quarterback run, and that was basically their offense."
Despite their slow start, the Rams managed to keep their composure and make a comeback. This was a stark contrast to their previous game against Fresno State, where they fell into a 21-point deficit at halftime and ended up losing 28-22. The Aggies missed a field goal on their opening possession but then scored back-to-back touchdowns, with Barnes leading the way.
CSU finally got on the board with a field goal from Jordan Noyes, but the score was still heavily in Utah State's favor at 16-6. The Rams' defense woke up on the next drive, forcing a three-and-out and giving their offense a chance to make a comeback before halftime. With just 19 seconds left, Olson made a crucial play, catching a pass from Fowler-Nicolosi and zig-zagging his way to a touchdown. "Dane just manages to find a way to get open, a lot," Fowler-Nicolosi said. "Knowing that he would be open was definitely a factor down the stretch of the game."
The Rams headed into halftime with the score at 16-13, and the momentum shifted in their favor. "Getting the score before the half was big for getting the momentum and getting our guys back into the fight," Norvell said. But the Aggies weren't going down without a fight, scoring another touchdown in the third quarter to extend their lead to 23-13. Then came the play that looked like it could seal the Rams' fate.
On CSU's first play of the drive, Fowler-Nicolosi threw a pass to Jamari Person, who was immediately hit by cornerback JD Drew. The ball was intercepted by Jaiden Francois, who ran it back 40 yards for a touchdown. The Aggies now had a 97.1% chance of winning, but the Rams refused to give up. And with 29 straight points in the fourth quarter, they shocked everyone and secured their comeback victory.
"That was an unfortunate series of events," Fowler-Nicolosi said of the interception. "Credit to them, they read it nicely and made a good play out of it. But I knew I just needed to bounce back from that play and stay consistent the rest of the game, and that's what I did." The Rams showed resilience and determination, proving that they have what it takes to be a top team in the Mountain West conference.
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