Live recap: Colorado State football team hosts Hawaii

It's almost like two programs looking in a mirror.

The Colorado State and Hawaii football teams have plenty of similarities. Both have struggled in recent years and now have first-year head coaches who are tasked with cleaning up after a variety of major on and off the field struggles.

Both eventually aim to turn their teams into high-flying offensive attacks and the two head coaches are even close friends.

And in Year 1 of their rebuilds, both have had some bright spots but plenty of struggles. Who will have the edge Saturday (2 p.m. Mountain, Spectrum Sports)?

Follow here as Coloradoan reporter Kevin Lytle provides updates through the day Saturday from Fort Collins.

CSU wins

CSU beats Hawaii 17-13.

Read about it here, with Lytle's takeaways and column from the Rams' win.

Lytle:It’s not pretty yet, but Jay Norvell and CSU football are in attack mode

More:3 takeaways: Millen, Morrow lead CSU football to late win over Hawaii

CSU pick

Ayden Hector with an interception of Hawaii with 39 seconds left. Rams will win.

CSU takes lead

Avery Morrow with a powerful 10-yard TD run with 1:28 to go.

CSU goes up 17-13 on Hawaii. It was an 80-yard drive on 13 plays in 7:16.

CSU driving

CSU is down to the Hawaii 20 with less than 3 minutes to go. Hawaii lead is 13-10.

CSU offense can't get lead

The CSU defense keeps getting the ball to the offense, but Rams can't take advantage yet.

CSU punts from deep in own territory. Hawaii ball at CSU's 47 after the punt. Hawaii lead is 13-10 with 9:41 to go.

End third quarter

Hawaii leads CSU 13-10 after three quarters.

Rams are forcing a punt, with Hawaii facing a 4th and 13 at own 17 to start fourth.

CSU stopped at the 10

CSU had a 4th and 1 from the Hawaii 10 and went for it, but Morrow went for a leap and was stopped short.

It was CSU's third trip in the red zone (all to the 10 or closer) but the Rams only have seven points. Hawaii lead is still 13-10 with 2:28 left in the third quarter.

CSU finally scores redzone TD

It was a stressful red zone trip, but CSU finally reached the end zone. A smooth drive led the Rams to the 2, but again (like in the first half), CSU went backwards. The Rams ended with 4th and goal and the 2 and threw incomplete, but Hawaii was offsides.

On technically the ninth play from the 3 or closer the Rams finally hit paydirt with a 1-yard TD run from Avery Morrow.

It cuts the Hawaii lead to 13-10 with 9:23 to go in the third quarter.

Morrow is at 100 yards, his third game in a row above that mark. It's the first CSU back over 100 three games in a row since Dalyn Dawkins in 2017.

Halftime

Shipley hits a 23-yard field goal at the buzzer for Hawaii to complete a hurried 60-yard drive. Hawaii takes 13-3 lead into half.

CSU will receive second-half kickoff.

Hawaii has 219 yards of offense to 166 for CSU. Rams have three times been inside the Hawaii 35 but only scored a field goal.

CSU turnover on downs

Again CSU moved the ball OK, but ended with a 4th and 8 at the Hawaii 33. In no mans land for a field goal, CSU elects to go for it and a receiver slips and CSU turns it over on downs.

Hawaii takes touchdown lead

Hawaii's Brayden Schager throws for a 1-yard touchdown pass to Caleb Phillips. Hawaii lead is now 10-3 with 7:15 until half.

Hawaii carved up CSU on that drive, going 76 yards on 10 plays. Lots of quick passes. Schager is 11-13 for 105 yards so far.

CSU field goal

CSU drove to the Hawaii 21 and looked set to go for a 4th and 2, but after calling a timeout opted for a field goal.

Michael Boyle connected from 38 yards. CSU and Hawaii tied 3-3 with 12:41 until half.

It was a seven-play, 42-yard drive.

End first quarter

Hawaii leads 3-0.

CSU has a 1st and 10 at Hawaii's 29.

CSU misses scoring chance

On CSU's first drive Avery Morrow had a 67-yard run down to the Hawaii 2, but CSU could not score. The Rams were stuffed on back-to-back run plays and then had back-to-back incompletions.

Hawaii lead stays 3-0 in the first quarter.

Hawaii field goal

Hawaii on the board first with a 27-yard field goal from Matthew Shipley. The Rainbow Warriors went 65 yards in 11 plays before CSU held in the red zone.

Hawaii leads 3-0 with 9:24 left in first quarter.

CSU to kickoff

Here we go with CSU and Hawaii. Hawaii gets the first possession.

How to watch this game

Hawaii and CSU is not on traditional TV, it's a hard one to find. Here's how:

How to watch:Colorado State football vs. Hawaii: How to watch online with no on-air TV broadcast

Look at these helmets!

Hawaii and Colorado State with one of the best helmet matchups in college football! CSU is in its "state pride" helmets reflecting the state flag.

Clay Millen gets the start at quarterback

As expected, Clay Millen is the starting QB for the Rams against Hawaii. He's missed all of the last two games injured.

Best friends, rivals today

CSU coach Jay Norvell and Hawaii coach Timmy Chang are very close friends. Norvell hired Chang at Nevada and then again at CSU but Chang never coached for the Rams after taking the Hawaii job in January.

Their friendship is worth a read:

Coaching bond:'One of my closest friends': Hawaii football coach Timmy Chang, CSU's Jay Norvell hold special bond

Something's got to give, right?

Statistically, both teams are poor on offense and defense. So, something will give, no?

Hawaii is No. 117 in FBS (out of 131) in scoring at 18.9 points per game. CSU is No. 130 at 12.2 per game. Hawaii is No. 113 in total offense at 329 yards per game. CSU is No. 129 at 247 yards per game.

Defensively, Hawaii is No. 112 in yards allowed at 441 per game. CSU is No. 91 at 401 per game. The Rams are allowing just 15.5 points per game in two Mountain West games.

Which unit swings the game?

Home woes

CSU will hope to snap one big streak in this game. The Rams are 0-3 at Canvas Stadium this season and CSU has lost six consecutive home games dating back to last season. CSU is 10-18 at home since Canvas Stadium opened for the 2017 season.

It's another poor record Jay Norvell has been tasked with fixing.

"We want to win at home. That's always a goal for us every year is to create that great home-field advantage," Norvell said. "We've been close. You know, the last two weeks we've played much better, but we really want to establish that."

Clay Millen set to return

CSU is set to most likely welcome back quarterback Clay Millen, who missed the last 2.5 games after suffering a shoulder injury in the fourth game of the season of the Rams.

In his absence, CSU struggled in the passing game. Read more about how Norvell hopes his return will help CSU here:

How Millen can help:A look at the ways CSU hopes Clay Millen can help upon his return

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

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Live recap: CSU football team hosts Timmy Chang, Hawaii