Reno, Nev. – Colorado State special teams players have a T-shirt with ATD in big letters. It’s code for “Attention to Detail.”
Until Saturday, special teams hadn’t paid attention to many details except for Jimmie Kaylor’s punting average.
Then redshirt freshman Sedric Patterson, a backup linebacker, blocked a fourth-and-3 punt from the Rams’ 27 by Nevada’s Zachary Whited. Patterson chased down the ball, which bounced to the 2 and then into the end zone.
It was the first blocked punt by the Rams since playing Nevada in the third game of the season a year ago. It was also the first career attempt by Whited.
CSU hadn’t blocked a punt for a touchdown since the 2001 New Orleans Bowl.
“I didn’t realize what happened at first,” said Patterson. “I kept thinking ‘Please don’t let it stay on the 1.”‘
It was his first touchdown since his sophomore year in high school in Oklahoma when he was a running back.
Kaylor boomed a career-best 65-yard punt downed by the Rams on the Wolf Park 1-yard line for the other special teams highlight.
More firsts
CSU safety Mike Pagnotta had his first career pick, also the Rams’ first forced turnover of the season.
Running back Nnamdi Ohaeri started the game, although he alternated the first quarter with previous starter Gartrell Johnson III. Michael Myers opened the third quarter with little more success. The three running backs combined for 39 yards.
Defensive end Mike Vomhof made his first start of the season.
Footnotes
CSU has lost the turnover battle three straight weeks and trail the turnover ratio 5-1. … CSU reported no injuries after the game. … The Rams will return to practice Wednesday. CSU coach Sonny Lubick’s personal good luck charm in Nevada, his 90-year-old mother, Fran, saw her son lose for the first time.
