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4 takeaways: Wyoming grabs Bronze Boot as CSU football wastes chance at upset win

kevin lytle, fort collins coloradoan
·5 min read

The Colorado State football team can't get over the hump to win a big game and start a program turnaround.

The Rams once again were right there and could've/should've/would've. But didn't.

Wyoming wins the Bronze Boot again.

CSU had an early lead, chances to grow it and a late opportunity to win but Wyoming leaves Fort Collins with a 14-13 win in front of 30,300 fans at Canvas Stadium.

Here are four thoughts on the Rams' latest loss.

Red zone costs CSU again

There’s an argument to be made that the red zone has cost CSU back-to-back wins.

CSU had a bevy of red zone issues in a 28-16 loss to San Jose State last week and it struck again Saturday.

The Rams three times moved inside Wyoming’s red zone and didn’t score a touchdown on any of them.

CSU twice kicked short field goals and once the Rams turned it over (more on that below).

Colorado State is now a stunning 4-21 on turning red zone chances into touchdowns. The Rams are a few plays away from five Mountain West wins, but instead they head to the final two weeks at 2-8 overall and 2-4 in league play.

“We haven’t been good enough and mature enough and haven’t coached well enough to help our kids find ways to score on offense," CSU coach Jay Norvell said. "And that’s frustrating because I think if we could play a little better complimentary football we could have several more wins."

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Two huge turnovers

Two specific plays will be remembered as key turning points in this one.

In the first half, CSU held a 10-0 lead and drove just inside Wyoming’s 20-yard line. A TD would have given the Rams a three-score lead and a major chance of winning.

It didn’t happen. Clay Millen missed on a pass into the end zone and Wyoming intercepted it.

Two series later, Wyoming scored a TD in the final minute of the half to send CSU into the break with just a three-point lead when it could have been much more.

The second huge swing came in the fourth quarter. CSU had just had another failed red zone attempt that ended in just a field goal, but it did give the Rams a 13-7 lead.

The defense quickly forced a three-and-out. The ensuing punt was fumbled by Tory Horton and Wyoming recovered. Two plays later backup QB Jayden Clemons hit a strike to Alex Brown for a go-ahead 32-yard touchdown to make it 14-13.

Another couple key moments:

  • At the end of the first half (the play began with 6 seconds left), Millen hit Horton down the sideline. There may have been time to go down, call a timeout and kick a field goal. It would have been tight. Horton opted to try and run for the end zone and almost made it, but was tackled at the 4.

  • At the end of the game, again Millen found Horton down the middle but there simply wasn't enough time (CSU had no timeouts) to go down, get everyone to the line and spike the ball to try and long field goal, Norvell said postgame.

A game isn't won or lost on two plays, but those were especially pivotal in tilting the scales toward Wyoming.

Quick start not enough

Horton’s fumbled punt was especially painful considering how significant a flip it was from the start of the game.

CSU forced a Wyoming punt on the first drive of the night and then Horton put on a show. He fielded the punt, made multiple defenders miss and raced 72 yards for a score.

The Rams forced a pick on the next possession.

CSU quickly built a 10-0 lead and it kind of felt like 2020 where CSU raced to an early lead and held on. Except CSU didn’t hold on this time.

The Rams had a great chance late and drove inside Wyoming’s 30 in the fourth quarter and lined up for a 40-yard field goal to take the lead.

But Michael Boyle couldn’t connect on this one, missing wide and Wyoming was mostly able to salt the clock away.

CSU had a final drive starting at its own 19 with less than 50 seconds left, but couldn't get into scoring range.

The Rams led for about 47 minutes of game time but lost.

Millen went 18-26 for 251 yards. Avery Morrow ran for 104 yards and Horton had 168 receiving yards.

CSU outgained Wyoming 372 to 236.

Wyoming continues to own CSU

The Rams won the Bronze Boot in 2020, yet it was in an empty Canvas Stadium due to COVID-19 protocols.

CSU hasn’t won the Border War at home since 2014 and Wyoming has now won six of the last seven matchups.

CSU desperately needs a turning point win and this could have been it. Just like last week could have been.

Instead, Wyoming (7-3, 5-1 MW) is still alive in the Mountain West race, with the Cowboys hosting division-leading Boise State next week.

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

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Wyoming football team grabs Bronze Boot win over Colorado State