FORT COLLINS — It’ll be Mountain West Conference offensive co-player of the week (Colorado State’s Gartrell Johnson) vs. MWC offensive co-player of the week (TCU backup quarterback Marcus Jackson) on Saturday.
They shared the weekly offensive honor after the CSU running back posted career highs of 33 carries and 191 yards rushing and scored three touchdowns against UNLV. Jackson had 246 yards of total offense and three TDs in TCU’s win over San Diego State.
The only problem for CSU is Saturday’s homecoming game shapes up as Johnson vs. the No. 1 rushing defense in the country. The Horned Frogs yield just 22.2 yards rushing a game. Noting TCU typically brings nine defenders to the line of scrimmage, CSU coach Steve Fairchild said: “We’ll have our work cut out for us trying to establish a run game, but that’s our method of operation around here. We always look to run the football.”
As for Johnson’s big day, the first this season when one CSU back received most of the carries, Fairchild said: “You could tell he had that bounce and that look, so we decided to kind of leave him in there and feed him a little bit, and he certainly responded. He can wear you down, and he did.”
Classy move.
The family of Cal running back Jahvid Best, who dislocated his elbow in front of the CSU bench Sept. 27, e-mailed Fairchild to thank the CSU program. Rams cornerback Nick Oppenneer immediately signaled the Cal bench to send help. CSU trainer Terry DeZeeuw looked at the injury.
“It’s very classy on the family’s part,” Fairchild said. “I look at it as a compliment to our entire program because while we want to play fierce between the whistles, we want to have a lot of class.”
Fans scarce.
Maybe it was Saturday’s noon kickoff that held attendance under 20,000 or the lack of a marquee opponent, but CSU’s average attendance of 20,431 ranks next to last in the MWC and 97th among Division I-A schools.
Fairchild declined to say whether he was disappointed. “If we continue as the years progress to put a good product out there, those things will take care of themselves,” he said.
Injury update.
Safety Klint Kubiak (ankle sprain) will be re-evaluated before today’s practice. Fairchild wouldn’t speculate on his availability for Saturday. However, linebacker Ricky Brewer (knee) could have played last week, and Fairchild anticipates his return this week. Meanwhile, cornerback Brandon Owens missed two games with an ankle injury while true freshman Gerard Thomas has taken over the position.
Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
