FORT COLLINS — Colorado State rushing leader Gartrell Johnson tried to be a campus leader a week ago at a pep rally. He urged students to get drunk and talk trash while the Rams kick the behinds of archrival Colorado.
Indeed, sobriety and polite conversation were in short supply from either side. The Rams absorbed a 38-17 whipping by CU, although Johnson upheld his boasting with a 7.9-yard average on pure power runs for a game-high 95 yards.
With one or two more carries, he would have had his sixth career 100-yard outing. That should come Saturday when CSU opens its home season against Division I-AA Sacramento State.
When Johnson heard after the game that his comments made the Friday night news, his trademark grin was replaced by an “Uh-oh” expression. It was then that some remarks by CU players made sense to him.
“(CU defensive tackle George) Hypolite said something before the game,” Johnson said. “I knew him before, and he was just joking around. He’s a talker himself. He’s fun. . . . After the game a couple of guys (facetiously) said, ‘What was that you said?’ ”
His remarks were strictly for the CSU student audience at the pep rally. He had no idea there were cameras rolling. Johnson said he never would have issued such a statement to the usual media crowd he draws after practices or games.
“I’m a real passionate guy. Everything I say comes from the heart,” Johnson said. “I just wanted (the students) to come out and show us some support, which they did, so I guess it worked. Only problem is, we didn’t play that way.”
Billy Farris put the ball up 37 times, and CSU backs and receivers ran 20 times. A year ago in an overtime loss to the Buffs, Kyle Bell alone had 40 carries.
CSU coach Steve Fairchild said the Buffs stacked against the run, forcing some early throws. The second-half deficit required more of an airborne approach.
“I don’t think we go into a game with a prescribed run-pass ratio,” Fairchild said. “Ideally we’d like to be balanced.”
He has called Johnson and Bell next-level talents and said he’ll “continue to use both.”
Bell and Johnson were in the backfield for the opening play, a formation Fairchild discussed during preseason drills. When the Rams played with two backs the rest of the game, it was mostly pass-catching fullback Zac Pauga with Johnson or Bell.
Johnson is glad to share the load.
“Me and Kyle and Mike Myers have to just put together an effort so we can lead this team to a win,” he said.
Last season, as Bell struggled to regain his form after an ACL tear, Johnson transformed from a consistent short-yardage runner into a breakaway threat midseason as CSU’s offensive line matured. He gained 74 yards over the first five games and averaged 126 the rest of the way.
“I’m just comfortable now,” he said. “I’m feeling confident every time I touch the ball.”
He didn’t realize how hard he was running until he watched the tape of the loss. A second-down run outside ended when he and CU linebacker Mike Sipili met with sheer force.
“He came screaming over the top. We collided, and he fell,” Johnson said. “We collided so hard I didn’t know where I was at. When I saw it on film, it was like ‘Whoa.’ He got the worse end of it.”
Fairchild agreed, saying: “Gartrell sure ran hard and made some plays. He looked good to me.”
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
The Lowdown </h3
By Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
COLORADO STATE (0-1)
Player to watch: LB Ricky Brewer.
He led the Rams with 11 tackles against Colorado and is thriving in his new role on the weakside. After coming on late last season as a redshirt freshman, he picked off where he left off against CU. Look for a career day. His best performance at CSU was a 12-tackle game last year against I-AA Georgia Southern.
Key for the Rams: Deep threat.
Rams need this game and next week’s bye to work on the passing game and figure out a way to free up tight end Kory Sperry. CSU showed no deep threat a week ago. QB Billy Farris’ long pass play was good for 28 yards in the third quarter.
SACRAMENTO STATE (1-0)
Player to watch RB Bryan Hilliard.
The sophomore rushed for 105 yards last week against Division II Humboldt (Calif.) State. Hilliard (5-feet-11, 215 pounds) is described by coach Marshall Sperbeck as a “lumbering between the tackles” runner. Hilliard had four 100-yard games last season. Evander Wilkins added 103 yards rushing last week.
Key for the Hornets: Swarming defense.
Gone is the day when Division I-AA visitors came for a paycheck and hoped to leave without too many injuries. The Hornets won’t physically match up with CSU’s running game but might try to disrupt the work-in-progress passing attack.
