Albuquerque – Even as Colorado State offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt tried to scarf down his postgame pizza before boarding a team bus Friday night, he was already hatching ideas for this week’s motivation.
“I’m going to break out all our rings,” Hammerschmidt said of the six conference championships since 1994.
Three recruiting classes have entered the program since CSU last won the Mountain West Conference in 2002. With Utah taking over sole ownership of the league the past two years, only the seniors and fourth-year juniors understand a title race.
CSU (5-3, 4-1) next plays at newcomer TCU (8-1, 6-0 after Saturday’s 23-20 win against San Diego State) with the MWC lead hanging in the balance.
The game is a rematch of the 2002 Liberty Bowl, which TCU won 17-3 with a defensive effort that left the Rams in a daze.
Hammerschmidt couldn’t say enough about senior quarterback Justin Holland’s second-half comeback for 23 unanswered points, mostly set up by four takeaways by the defense and special teams. In the past two weeks, CSU forced nine turnovers and has given up just one.
But wide receiver David Anderson, who caught a 15-yard pass from Holland in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score, drew the highest praise from the coordinator.
“That play was typical David Anderson,” Hammerschmidt said. “That’s what the kid is all about. He’s (former CSU star and current Broncos backup quarterback) Bradlee Van Pelt playing receiver. When the game is on the line, he takes it to another level. Bradlee used to do that.”
Holland echoed Hammerschmidt.
“Dave is such a special kind of player,” Holland said. “He’s the only one who can make that. He has a flair for the dramatic. That’s why I throw him the ball. We had Luke Roberts wide open on that play, but what am I going to do when I have David Anderson?”
With eight catches for 128 yards and two TDs, Anderson became CSU’s all-time receiving leader in catches and yards. He broke school records set by Greg Primus over a decade ago with 193 career catches and 3,234 yards.
But for all the clutch plays by Holland to Anderson and Johnny Walker (five catches, 119 yards) despite getting sacked five times in the second half, it was the defensive second-half effort that won the game.
In his first career start in place of injured Jahmal Hall, linebacker Jon Radford forced and recovered a fumble. Cornerback Robert Herbert made up for allowing a touchdown pass with a fumble recovery on special teams, an interception and two pass breakups.
Safety Travis Garcia had his third interception of the year, and defensive end Jesse Nading had three tackles for losses.
The Rams allowed New Mexico 47 net yards in the second half after a 304-yard first half.
“That’s the most confident I’ve ever seen our team at halftime,” Anderson said. “We just decided to get it going.”
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
