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 play and dropped the Rams’ record to 3-3. CSU has lost three straight games, which is the first time that has happened under coach Steve Fairchild.
Meanwhile, Utah (4-1, 1-0) has won 14 of its last 15 Mountain West conference games.
Colorado State squandered a 14-point lead and wasted a stellar rushing performance from Leonard Mason in the process.
Tied 3-3 in the third quarter, Colorado State used trickery to get most of the way down field. Wide receiver Rashaun Greer took a double-reverse 45 yards and CSU capped the drive on a Mason 1-yard touchdown run to take a 10-3 lead.
On Utah’s next drive, CSU recovered a fumble on a bad exchange on its 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 immediately 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 Reed.
Meanwhile, Colorado State started to self-destruct. Stucker threw an interception on the second play of the Rams’ ensuing drive. Utah cashed that turnover in with a 17-play, 73-yard drive that melted 8:45 off the clock. When Wide ran in from 1-yard out, the Utes pulled even at 17.
Utah picked off Stucker on CSU’s next drive and marched the turnover in for a touchdown as well. That drive covered 73 yards in seven plays and the Utes had 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 the clock out.
Mason finished with 130 yards on 24 carries. Stucker completed 12-of-24 passes for 184 yards to accompany the touchdown and three interceptions. Utah rolled up 457 yards of offense.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
