FORT COLLINS — The temperature at kickoff at Hughes Stadium was 24 degrees and plummeted from there, but the chilliest reception was saved for Colorado State.
Success did not agree with the Rams. Three second-half interceptions — two in the fourth quarter — fueled Utah’s come-from-behind, 24-17 victory Saturday night.
The loss was Colorado State’s second in Mountain West Conference play and dropped the Rams’ overall record to 3-3. CSU has lost three straight games, the first time that has happened under coach Steve Fairchild.
Meanwhile, Utah (4-1, 1-0) has won 14 of its last 15 MWC games.
Colorado State squandered a 14-point lead and wasted a stellar rushing performance from Leonard Mason in the process. He rushed for 130 yards on 24 carries.
Tied 3-3 in the third quarter, Colorado State used trickery to get most of the way downfield. Wide receiver Rashaun Greer took a double reverse 45 yards, and CSU capped the drive on Mason’s 1-yard touchdown run to take a 10-3 lead.
On Utah’s next drive, the Rams recovered a fumble on a bad exchange on their own 39. Eight plays later, quarterback Grant Stucker found wideout Dion Morton for a 36-yard touchdown strike, and with 4:53 left in the third, Colorado State had control of the game at 17-3.
But Utah wasn’t finished.
The Utes answered Colorado State’s 14-point lead in quick-strike fashion. Utah took its next drive 57 yards in two plays, highlighted by a 47-yard touchdown catch by David Reed.
Meanwhile, Colorado State started to self-destruct. Stucker threw an interception on the second play of the Rams’ ensuing drive. Utah cashed in that turnover with a 17-play, 73-yard drive that melted 8:45 off the clock. When Eddie Wide ran in from 1 yard out, the Utes pulled even at 17.
Utah picked off Stucker on CSU’s next drive and marched for a score after that turnover too. That drive covered 73 yards in seven plays and gave the Utes a 24-17 lead, their first since going up 3-0 in the first quarter.
Colorado State’s last-gasp attempt was Stucker’s third interception of the half, and Utah ran out the clock.
Stucker completed 12-of-24 passes for 184 yards to accompany the touchdown and three interceptions. Utah rolled up 457 yards of offense.
Wide gained 107 yards on 17 carries for the visitors from Salt Lake City.
