FORT COLLINS — So much for all those “Defend the Fort” banners around campus and Hughes Stadium.
Colorado State barely defended itself against a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) invader, albeit 10th-ranked Weber State as the Rams escaped with a 24-23 win today.
With 42 seconds left and the Aggies facing third-and-8 at the CSU 9-yard line, quarterback Cameron Miller fumbled the snap and Rams’ defensive tackle Guy Miller recovered the ball with 42 seconds left to escaped with the win.
The Rams have not lost to an FCS team since falling to Idaho on Sept. 12, 1992.
CSU typically suffers a letdown the week after playing Colorado, win or lose. A year ago the Rams needed two field goals in the last 90 seconds to beat a lackluster Sacramento State team.
Although the Rams had a slight yardage lead, 255-236 through three quarters, CSU did not have a third-down conversion through its first possession of the final period.
Unlike a week ago when CSU’s defense held Colorado to 3-of-14 on third-down conversions, the Rams couldn’t get out of their own way. Weber State converted 8-of-10 third-down opportunities before halftime while the listless Rams were 0-for-5 through the middle of the third quarter.
The Wildcats’ 20-17 halftime lead would have been larger if placekicker Jon Williams hadn’t missed on a 34-yard field goal after CSU’s opening score. Williams also missed on the extra point following Weber State’s first TD to pull within 10-6.
He yielded to punter Mike Snoy who then kicked a career-best 47-yarder on the Wildcats’ first drive of the third quarter for a 23-17 lead.
Weber State was threatening in the fourth quarter in CSU territory when Rams linebacker James Skelton picked off Cameron Higgins. Grant Stucker hit Rashaun Greer for 57 yards to the WSU 1. CSU nearly lineup up for third-and-goal from the 2 when a replay showed tight end Eric Peitz was indeed inbounds with a touchdown reception. Ben DeLine’s PAT pulled the Rams ahead 24-23 with 8:31 left.
While the Rams continued to struggle against Weber State’s as good as advertised speed, CSU’s offense Remained flat with mostly incomplete passes.
Higgins, picked off five times a week ago by Wyoming, was intercepted for the first time late in the third quarter. Elijah-Blu Smith, who had the momentum changing hit a week ago at Colorado, came through again, setting up the Rams at the WSU 23.
CSU’s passing game remained stuck in neutral. The misery was compounded when Ben DeLine missed a 38-yard field goal with 2:57 remaining in the third quarter.
