3 takeaways: CSU football squanders chances for homecoming win over Utah State

The chances were there.

The Colorado State football team had its opportunities to build a first-half lead on Utah State Saturday in front of a big homecoming crowd.

The Rams didn't take advantage and it came back to bite them in a 17-13 loss.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

Missed chances costly

CSU (1-5, 1-1 Mountain West) had two huge chances early in the game to create big scores, but the offense could not take advantage.

Utah State’s first drive ended in an interception by Cam’Ron Carter when Mohamed Kamara hit Cooper Legas as he threw. Carter returned it to Utah State’s 29. CSU quickly was into the red zone on a trick play pass from Tory Horton to A’Jon Vivens.

But the drive stalled there and CSU settled for a field goal.

Then in the second quarter (with CSU leading 10-7) Dane Olson blocked a Utah State punt. Greg Laday jumped on it at the Utah State (3-4, 2-1 MW) 20. The offense couldn’t move the ball and then Michael Boyle missed a 39-yard field goal.

A huge chance missed.

Then another in the comeback bid. Dequan Jackson forced a fumble, recovered by Cam Bariteau, at the Utah State 12 late in the third quarter.

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The offense couldn’t move it and the Rams settled for a short field goal early in the fourth quarter to make it 17-13 Utah State.

In the big picture, despite CSU's early season struggles, this was a winnable game to move to 2-0 in league play with a poor Hawaii team up next.

The Rams still have a chance to start MW play 2-1 next week, but this win could have really provided a spark for the back half of the season.

Lack of cohesion apparent

CSU’s defense has had back-to-back weeks doing plenty to keep the Rams in the game and give them a chance to win.

The problem is the offense lacks any cohesion. CSU started a third QB in as many weeks with Giles Pooler making his first start.

Along with that, there’s a lot of inexperience on the field. True freshmen receivers Louis Brown, Justus Ross-Simmons and Mekhi Fox, plus freshman Jordan Williams and former walk-on Dane Olson all were on the field a ton.

All those young and moving parts showed. There were plenty of times where there was a lack of rhythm and players not on the same page.

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A bunch of moving parts at once and it’s not clicking.

The offense right now is holding CSU back. Avery Morrow again ran the ball well, finishing with 116 yards for back-to-back games over 100.

CSU star receiver Tory Horton, who had a couple drops, ended the game without a catch.

But outside of a first-half TD drive when Morrow went beast mode on a 26-yard run, the offense rarely put together drives and it couldn't finish in the red zone.

CSU had 10 penalties for 90 yards. Another type of setback this team can't afford.

“Disappointed very much in our penalties," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "We’re just a team that doesn’t have a margin for error. We have to play smart football."

Battle of QB attrition

These teams are both battling big QB issues, but Utah State did just enough with its group.

CSU started its third QB in as many weeks. Pooler made some decent throws, was victimized by a few drops and a lot of pressure and ultimately the CSU offense didn’t do enough.

Starter Clay Millen missed his second game in a row with a shoulder injury. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who started last week, didn’t play in this one.

Pooler finished 11-of-32 for 144 yards and an interception.

For Utah State, starter Logan Bonner has a long-term injury. Cooper Legas has been dynamic in his place and led Utah State’s first TD drive, but he suffered a suspected concussion in the first half.

Levi Williams, a Wyoming transfer who has had success against CSU in the past, came in and was ineffective before leaving injured.

That left true freshman Bishop Davenport. Utah State didn’t do anything fancy with him, but he was dangerous with the zone read plays and led a TD drive in the third quarter to put Utah State up.

Davenport was 3-for-9 for 41 yards passing and ran for 29 yards and a TD. Not impressive stats, but he moved the ball just enough.

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Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: 3 takeaways: Utah State freshman QB leads Aggies past CSU football