FORT COLLINS — UNLV coach Mike Sanford said his then-new staff “knew of” wide receiver Rashaun Greer, a football and track star at Mojave High School in North Las Vegas.
They knew a lot more after the Colorado State receiver had a career-best 211 yards on eight catches and his first career TD Saturday against the Rebels. Greer didn’t have a reception coming into this season as a fourth-year junior. After alternating go-to status with Dion Morton, Greer clearly has become CSU’s No. 1 receiving target.
Saturday’s effort was the fifth-best individual receiving yardage day in school history.
Greer said he enjoyed having the last word with some old high school friends playing for the Rebels. “They did kind of recruit me in high school,” he said, but he was looking to go elsewhere.
“We studied the film and tried to exploit the weaknesses of their defense,” Greer said.
More milestones.
Tommie Hill deflected and then gathered in an Omar Clayton pass for his first career interception. Clayton tackled the Rams’ defensive end on the UNLV 24. CSU settled for a Jason Smith field goal for a 20-14 lead.
It was the first points converted off a turnover since the Rams had six in the previous two games. John Mosure’s fumble recovery returned for a TD at the end of the game made it 2-for-2.
Although he wasn’t in the scoring summary, CSU tight end Kory Sperry made a big reappearance in the offensive plan. He caught a 30-yard pass to ignite CSU’s 80-yard, go-ahead scoring drive.
“I’m not the only player on this team,” Sperry said. “They called my number today and UNLV was in the right defense.”
Unhappy with officiating.
CSU coach Steve Fairchild admitted he might draw a fine (thinking of his NFL days, colleges hand out reprimands) and then stopped short of criticizing the roughing-the-passer call that nullified a Klint Kubiak interception. “There was no rhythm in the first quarter (with several plays challenged), and I’ll leave it at that,” Fairchild said. “It deflated me for a little bit. But, again, the idea of this game is to let teams settle it on the field. Let’s just change the subject.”
Footnotes.
The announced crowd of 19,703 was the lowest of the season. … CSU has won five in a row at home. . . . UNLV’s Frank Summers became the first CSU opponent this season to rush for at least 100 yards.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
