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The Colorado State Rams (6-2, 4-0 Mountain West) remained unbeaten in Mountain West play and clinched bowl eligibility with a 27-24 win over the New Mexico Lobos (3-4, 1-3 Mountain West) on Friday night in Albuquerque. The Rams have now earned bowl eligibility in five consecutive seasons — including all three seasons under head coach Mike Bobo — and have logged three of their four MW wins on the road.
Senior quarterback Nick Stevens passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns and has now gone four consecutive games without throwing an interception. The nation’s leading receiver, Michael Gallup, had a relatively quiet night, pulling in six catches for a season-low 58 yards, as junior Olabisi Johnson led the Rams with five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.
Running back Izzy Matthews eclipsed the 100-yards-rushing mark for the first time this season, as he rushed for 116 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Dalyn Dawkins — who had rushed for over 100 yards in three consecutive games — tallied 71 yards on 12 carries.
New Mexico scored first, but senior tight end Dalton Fackrell‘s fourth touchdown in as many games tied the game at 7-7 midway through the second quarter. Johnson caught his first touchdown of the season and Matthews scored with 17 seconds left in the half to give the Rams a 21-10 halftime lead.
The Lobos would cut CSU’s lead to 21-17 on their second possession of the third quarter, but a pair of Wyatt Bryan field goals, from 40 and 51 yards, gave the Rams a two-possession lead with 5:05 remaining in the game. New Mexico scored a touchdown with 27 seconds left and recovered the subsequent onside kick, but a sack by senior Evan Colortio on the final play of the game secured a win for the Rams.
Junior linebacker Josh Watson led the Rams with nine tackles and sophomore linebacker Max McDonald tied his career high with six tackles. Senior defensive lineman Jakob Buys recorded a sack a forced a fumble, and Colorito made three tackles in addition to his game-winning sack. Freshman Emmanuel Jones and senior defensive tackle Darnell Thompson logged tackles for lost yardage, and senior cornerback Kevin Nutt, Jr., broke up a pass on the Lobos’ final drive.
The Rams will be back home next week as they take on the in-state rival Air Force Falcons (3-4) in a battle for the Ram-Falcon Troohy. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. MDT and the game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network.