FORT COLLINS — A week after Air Force didn’t need any pass completions to beat Houston, Colorado State whipped out a deadly passing attack as the catalyst of a nail-biting 28-25 win today over the Cougars at Hughes Stadium.
Klint Kubiak’s interception in the end zone with two seconds left preserved the victory.
There is an element of fairness for the surely weary-legged, heavy hearted Cougars, who practiced in Dallas all week in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike. They were allowed home Thursday and traveled Friday to Fort Collins.
But the football field isn’t a fair place, and Colorado State (2-1) came out swinging with a downfield passing attack not seen this season.
And it was efficient.
By halftime, Colorado State quarterback Billy Farris had completed 13-of-18 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown — a 79-yard strike to Dion Morton on the Rams’ first possession. Morton had more than 100 yards on just three catches in the first half, and by the time the game ended had more than doubled his season receiving yardage output, which coming in was 120. He finished with five catches for 126 yards.
For Farris, it was a chance to show off his arm and prove he could play mistake-free football. He finished 24-of-33 for 276 yards and two touchdowns, but most importantly did not throw an interception. He entered the game with two touchdown passes and three interceptions this season.
The Rams got on the board early, going 80 yards in two plays, 79 coming on Morton’s touchdown catch, and added another on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that spanned the first and second quarters. Colorado State forced a turnover on downs on the Cougars ensuing drive. Faced with fourth-and-12 at CSU’s 36, Houston opted to go for it and paid for it when Mike Pagnotta chased down UH quarterback Case Keenum for a 15-yard sack.
Colorado State took over on a short field and, helped by a 14-yard run for a first down by Nick Oppenneer on a broken play during a field-goal try, ended up scoring on a 9-yard touchdown run by Gartrell Johnson for a 21-0 lead.
From there, the Rams mostly held on. Houston showed spark in the second half, scoring 21 points and closing its deficit to 28-25 with 2:31 remaining. Houston got the ball back with just over a minute left in the game and got down to the CSU 15-yard line with eight seconds left, but Keenum threw the pick in the corner of the end zone.
Colorado State rolled up 422 yards of offense in the victory. Johnson led CSU on the ground with 19 carries for 75 yards.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
