Fort Collins – Colorado State fans made their traditional beeline to the parking lot with five minutes left Saturday, and California backup quarterbacks started warming up on the sideline.
Only then did CSU resume what the Rams started, knocking 10th-ranked Cal on its heels with two touchdowns in 53 seconds.
But it still wasn’t enough as the Rams fell 34-28 and, perhaps more significantly, lost senior tight end Kory Sperry for the season after he suffered what is believed to be a torn ACL.
“That was one of the best games ever played here, and our fans are leaving the game and we start to score points,” said CSU quarterback Caleb Hanie, who finished with 301 yards passing.
Hanie’s 66-yard strike late to Damon Morton gave the Rams hope, but it was overshadowed by an interception at the goal line in the first quarter, a fumble in the third quarter and an interception early in the fourth.
It was the ninth straight loss for CSU dating to last October, but the Rams won some respect from the Pac-10 visitors.
CSU was in striking distance for most of the third quarter after trailing 17-14 at halftime, the same score at the half as a week ago against Colorado.
Just as CSU was unable to do anything against CU in the fourth quarter and overtime, nothing worked in the third quarter against Cal. The Bears managed just a 41-yard field goal by Jordan Kay in the quarter.
“I thought it was going to stay 20-14, the way neither side was moving the ball,” CSU coach Sonny Lubick said.
Only after Cal scored twice and started substituting did the Rams make it back into the game, with the Hanie-Morton connection and Kyle Bell’s second TD run of the day.
“It’s always frustrating, because you are so close and it is in your grasp, but you just can’t grab it,” Morton said. “It was pretty hard.”
Hanie took the blame.
“That’s what you need as a quarterback, when you have a good defense and a good running game like we do,” he said. “The quarterback has to be more consistent. Turnovers killed the team.”
All week the focus was on Cal wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who singed Tennessee with a 77-yard punt return for a score the previous Saturday. Jackson returned two punts for 24 yards and caught five passes for 39 yards. The damage came when he took a reverse 73 yards to tie the score at 7 one play after Bell’s first touchdown. Bell finished with 102 yards on 26 carries.
Jackson couldn’t believe the Rams have dropped nine straight.
“They came out and did what they do best, play smash-mouth football,” he said. “They played the No. 10 team in the country hard.”
For all of Cal’s advantage in team speed, CSU made the Bears earn their yards between Jackson’s big run and a 64-yard burst by true freshman backup running back Jahvid Best with 5:49 left in the fourth quarter. Best’s score for a 34-14 lead sent part of the crowd of 27,805 to the exits.
CSU’s secondary contained Cal’s passing attack to 146 yards. Defensive end Tommie Hill had good pressure on quarterback Nate Longshore, and starting running back Justin Forsett was held to 59 yards on 13 carries.
“All the DBs made sure we talked to each other,” cornerback Joey Rucks said. “We can hang with anybody…. (Jackson) is a playmaker. He’s a big-shot guy. We just had to contain him.
“It shows all these people and critics on ESPN don’t know what they are talking about. It’s about who shows up to play, and we showed up to play.”
CSU’s two late scores gave the Rams something to build on with an early-season bye coming up. The Rams next play Sept. 22 at Houston.
“It’s encouraging, but it’s really discouraging not to have a victory to show for it,” Hanie said.
Still skidding
The Rams rallied against Cal but couldn’t finish it off as CSU’s losing streak moved to nine games. It is the Rams’ longest streak since dropping 11 straight during the 1987 and 1988 seasons. A look at the current streak going back to last season:
(Team Score Note)
Air Force 24-21 Rams led 21-3 at halftime
Wyoming 24-0 Only third loss to ‘Pokes in 10 years
New Mexico 20-19 Lobos got FG as time expired
BYU 24-3 CSU 151 yards offense, 26 rushing
Utah 35-22 Gave up 526 yards to Utes
TCU 45-14 Frogs had 606 yards of offense
S.D. State 17-6 Aztecs had just 51 yards passing
Colorado 31-28 Buffs had INT in end zone in OT
California 34-28 Outgained Bears 458-391
CSU: THE GRADES | By Natalie Meisler
Offense
C For the second week in a row, the Rams outgained their opponent (458-391), but three three-and-outs in third quarter and three turnovers doomed CSU.
Defense
B The Rams contained Cal’s potent receiving crew better than anyone could have imagined, but breakdowns on two big runs proved the difference.
Special teams
A This was the biggest improvement after first-week disaster. CSU held DeSean Jackson to 24 yards on two returns and recovered an onside kick.
Overall
B The Rams salvaged some offensive pride with two late scores. The defense played as well against a quality opponent as at any time in recent memory.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
