Fort Collins – Jason Smith’s career took off against New Mexico last year with four field goals after the Colorado State staff made a late-season change in place-kickers.
For a while Saturday, it appeared New Mexico would again cure CSU’s kicking ills.
Smith, who has had four misses since his last field goal in the second game, surprised many in Hughes Stadium when he came in for a 49-yarder in the second quarter. The career long attempt was good, and he added a 38-yarder in the third quarter.
But he didn’t get off a point-after attempt when holder Jimmie Kaylor couldn’t handle the snap, and he reverted to his wide-left mode when he missed a 42-yarder in the fourth quarter. Had he kicked the point-after, the game likely would have gone to overtime. Had he kicked the third field goal, Smith, not New Mexico’s Kenny Byrd, would likely have garnered Mountain West special teams player of the week honors Monday.
“The last one was a mental slip. I didn’t hit it right on my foot,” Smith said. “I have to treat every kick the same.”
Ohaeri starts
The final stats didn’t show any appreciable change in CSU’s season-long rushing woes. The Rams’ 37 net yards was the second lowest of the season.
It sure looked different on the field with Nnamdi Ohaeri moving into the starting lineup. Ohaeri showed some spin moves for extra yards heretofore unseen by the Rams this season. He netted only 24 yards on 12 carries but showed enough presence that Caleb Hanie was able to execute the play action with more success.
“There was not a lot of room for Nnamdi to run,” offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt said.
The Rams also added a wrinkle with wide receivers Damon Morton and Johnny Walker taking the snap when one or the other lined up in shotgun with Hanie.
More lineup changes
Redshirt freshman defensive tackle James Morehead made his first career start, becoming the 35th starter for the Rams this season. He went in place of Blake Smith, who sprained an ankle in practice last week.
Smith did play, and defensive tackle Erik Sandie made a comeback two weeks after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Defensive end Jesse Nading (ankle) managed about 20 plays but didn’t get any tackles.
Cornerback Joey Rucks (ankle) returned from a two-week layoff to record five tackles and break up two passes.
The offense started three redshirt freshmen interior linemen with Tim Walter stepping in at center for injured Nick Allotta.
Footnotes
The official Hughes Stadium turnout was 22,011, CSU’s smallest home crowd since 14,876 for the 2004 finale against UNLV. … CSU’s seven-quarter scoreless streak, which began at Air Force two weeks ago, was the longest since 1983. … Morton had a career-high seven catches, and Dustin Osborn had a season-high six receptions.
