Fort Collins – An offense resembling Colorado State power running games of old took the field Saturday at the new and improved Hughes Stadium with a win against Nevada in the home opener.
Sophomore Kyle Bell set up CSU’s first two scores in the opening quarter. Justin Holland finished off the drive with TD passes of 26 and 23 yards to Johnny Walker and George Hill.
Although Bell’s third-quarter fumble also set up Nevada’s second TD, he atoned on the next drive with his first career touchdown. He bulled in from the 1 for a 28-14 lead in the first minute of the final quarter.
With 183 yards on 33 carries, Bell had the most productive rushing day by a Ram since Cecil Sapp tagged Virginia for 178 yards in 2002.
The sophomore running back had promised a big contribution in his first start if he could just get in the flow with 20 carries instead of coming off the bench as he had in the first two games. After his score he had 28 carries for 152 yards.
Bell delivered with CSU’s first 100-yard rushing effort since the Wyoming game in the middle of last season.
CSU (1-2) snapped a three-game losing streak stretching back to last season’s finale at Air Force. Besides the revived rushing attack aided by Tristan Walker in the blocking back role, there was a distinct improvement in special teams, which had contributed to 27 points scored against CSU in the first two games.
Make that improved, but not perfect special teams. Hill, whose status was uncertain going into the game because of a midweek concussion, returned the opening kickoff to the Nevada 13 only to see most of it brought back to the CSU 40 on a holding penalty.
Bell carried on the first four plays of the opening drive setting up Holland for the 26-yard pass to Walker. Bell then ran on four plays of the six-play drive to go ahead 14-0 on a Holland connection with Hill in the right flat.
CSU’s Zac Bryson, a former walk-on quarterback from Reno who converted to defensive back, picked up a blocked punt off Justin Bergendahl and returned it to the 2. David Anderson and freshman Klint Kubiak combined on the block.
Walker needed one play to put the Rams in front 21-0 before the first quarter ended.
It looked as if the Rams were going to score on four straight drives when Robert Herbert intercepted Jeff Rowe, returning to the Wolf Pack 29. But CSU advanced only to the 7 and Kevin Mark was wide on a 27-yard field goal just before the first quarter ended.
The Rams offense then moved the chains without a scoring for two quarters. Nevada’s offense showed some life with a 12-play, 80-yard drive. B.J. Mitchell broke out of a Jahmal Hall tackle to score on an 8-yard reception from Rowe with 9:35 left in the second quarter.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler
can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
