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The Colorado State Rams turned in their most dominant all-around performance of the season in a 63-31 defeat of San Diego State at Qualcomm Stadium in the regular season finale on Saturday night, snapping the Aztecs’ 10-game home winning streak, the fourth-longest active streak in the nation.
The Rams (7-5, 6-3 MW) came out firing from the start, scoring touchdowns on five of their six first-half possessions—plus a punt return touchdown—to build a 42-24 halftime lead over the MW West Division champion Aztecs (9-3, 6-2), en route to the 32-point victory and fourth consecutive season of bowl eligibility.
The 63 points were the most scored by an Aztecs opponent since 2008, and Colorado State held Donnel Pumphrey—the nation’s second-leading rusher, who was closing in on the NCAA’s all-time rushing record—to just 53 yards on 18 carries for an average of just 2.9 yards per tote, for his lowest rushing output since 2013.
The Rams, who entered the game with the MW’s best offense in conference games at 487.7 yards per game, gained more than 500 yards (507) for the third game in a row and saw six different players score touchdowns. The defense held the Aztecs to 377 total yards, their second-lowest yardage output of the season.
Junior quarterback Nick Stevens continued his outstanding play with four touchdown passes to move into a tie for eighth on CSU’s all-time career list with 36. He completed 10-of-15 for 210 yards. His main target, junior Michael Gallup, also continued his torrid pace with a game-high 139 receiving yards and three touchdowns on seven receptions. His touchdowns covered 35 yards, 18 yards and 6 yards, the last one coming from fellow wide receiver Detrich Clark after Clark took a handoff from Stevens.
Sophomore Izzy Matthews (14-104, 2 TDs) and junior Dalyn Dawkins (15-103) each topped the 100-yard mark for the second week in row, while freshman Marvin Kinsey added 61 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries.
The Rams defense was consistent throughout, led by senior linebacker Kevin Davis who posted 9 tackles to go over 100 for the season (101). Seventeen players chipped in at least two tackles in a total team effort. Junior linebacker Evan Colorito recorded 3.0 tackles for lost yardage and forced a fumble among his four stops, while freshman safety Jamal Hicks intercepted his first pass.
The Rams jumped ahead 14-0 on a 35-yard touchdown pass from Stevens to Gallup and a 27-yard scoring toss from Stevens to Clark. Every time San Diego State would threaten get back in the game in the first half Colorado State had an answer. After the Aztecs scored 10 straight points to narrow the margin to 21-17, CSU drove 69 yards in nine plays for Gallup’s second touchdown, then forced an SDSU punt that Robert Ruiz returned 91 yards for a score, the longest punt return in school history. When the Aztecs responded with a Pumphrey touchdown run late in the first half, the undaunted Rams went back to work with a 75-yard drive in five plays, capped by Ruiz hauling in a 5-yard scoring pass from Stevens for the 42-24 halftime bulge.
