FORT COLLINS — One final indignity remained for a Colorado State team that fell into an abyss following a 3-0 start, namely, Wyoming’s seniors storming CSU’s sideline at Hughes Stadium to hoist the Bronze Boot.
Two freshmen helped Wyoming to a 17-16 win Friday. Quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels ran for two touchdowns and led the Cowboys into position for Ian Watts, who kicked the 33-yard, game-winning field goal with 1:27 left.
“I am pretty much used to it by now,” said Watts, who won two earlier games for Wyoming.
Added Carta-Samuels: “After the last couple of (comebacks) we have been able to put together, you just get more confident.”
Wyoming finished 6-6 overall, 4-4 in the Mountain West Conference, and will likely represent the league in the New Mexico Bowl.
The Rams finished 3-9, 0-8, losing their final nine games and seemingly finding new ways to lose each week.
“They took away something that belonged to us,” CSU freshman defensive end C.J. James said of the traveling trophy the Rams have owned since 2007.
It was CSU’s first home loss to Wyoming since 1998, and capped a horrendous season of injuries, inconsistent play and an inability to hold a lead.
“I think it just sits over our head like a huge dark cloud and it’s going to motivate me,” CSU coach Steve Fairchild said of his dismal second season.
Always candid, and usually stoic in defeat, Fairchild appeared at the edge of getting emotional during his postgame comments.
“There are 16 very disappointed seniors in that locker room,” he said. “There’s not much you can say to those guys.”
With an announced crowd of 20,317 — including a boisterous Wyoming contingent — the Cowboys lingered on the field to take photos.
“That’s a (stinky record) but we know we’re not a (stinky) team,” CSU freshman running back Lou Greenwood said.
“Of course I’m angry, but they earned it,” said CSU fullback Zac Pauga, who jumped high for a 19-yard second-quarter catch at the Wyoming 6. He set up the first of three Rams’ leads, but the tone was set when Ben DeLine’s extra-point attempt was blocked after Greenwood’s 8-yard scoring run.
“This is the best. I took a team that was not supposed to do anything and look what they’ve done,” said Wyoming coach Dave Christensen, a winner in his first Border War with a team predicted to finish last in the conference.
CSU played perhaps its most intense defense of the season, led by linebacker Mychal Sisson’s eight tackles and two sacks. The Cowboys had just 233 yards of offense, but Carta-Samuels converted key third downs on the visitor’s scoring drives.
His third-and-13 pass to tight end David Tooley gave the Cowboys new life on the CSU 49 on the second play of the fourth quarter. Carta-Samuels then stiff-armed CSU cornerback Nick Oppenneer and avoided another CSU defensive player en route to a 49-yard TD run and a 14-13 lead 35 seconds into the final period.
Wyoming’s other TD drive was set up in the second quarter by David Leonard’s 53-yard punt return to the CSU 19. The Cowboys seized a 7-6 lead on Carta-Samuels’ 6-yard scoring run and Watts’ extra point.
Carta-Samuels was sacked four times.
“If we played like that all year, it might have been different,” Sisson said of CSU’s pressure.
CSU, behind quarterback Jon Eastman’s first career start in place of an injured Grant Stucker, had sporadic success. The Rams were slapped with nine flags for 79 yards, including seven first-half penalties.
Natalie Meisler: 303 954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
Three questions
A look at how Colorado State answered Natalie Meisler’s three questions going into the game:
1. Will Wyoming diamond-in-the-rough freshman QB Austyn Carta-Samuels carve up CSU’s defense? Carta-Samuels certainly didn’t hurt his candidacy for Mountain West Conference freshman-of- the-year honors. He won the game more with his legs than his arm. But the big thing he does is win. He has a brilliant future ahead of him and is already drawing comparisons to ex-Missouri great Chase Daniel from Wyoming coach and former Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Christensen.
2. Can CSU finally re-establish a running game after a breakout performance last week by junior John Mosure? Yes, but Mosure was knocked out with a knee injury on CSU’s first scoring drive. In Mosure’s place, Leonard Mason took over and gained 119 yards on 20 carries. Mason was benched last week after coach Steve Fairchild chided his poor play at practice.
3. With all the Black Friday shopping distractions, students on break and the team on an eight-game losing streak, will the Rams draw 20,000? The announced crowd was 20,317 and didn’t appear too much lower than that. There was a fair student representation for a holiday weekend and Wyoming packed its section, but the number was still a season low.
Key stat
119: Yards rushing on 20 carries for Rams junior running back Leonard Mason, who got significant playing time after John Mosure went down with a first-half knee injury and helped keep CSU in the game.
Key play
Besides the game-winning field goal? Early in the fourth quarter, Wyoming quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels sprinted down the sideline for a 49-yard touchdown, stiff-arming Colorado State corner back Nick Oppenneer to the ground. The play gave the Cowboys a 14-13 lead.
