LAS VEGAS — The Colorado State lineup shake-up that started a week ago at Texas-El Paso continued Saturday at UNLV.
Kicker Chad VanderMolen handled the field-goal and extra-point attempts, once again displacing incumbent Ben DeLine, who handled only the kickoff duties.
Sophomore running back Chris Nwoke once again started the game and got the majority of the snaps in the running game. He carried the ball 23 times for a career-high 156 yards and a touchdown. Fellow running back Raymond Carter added 11 carries for 43 yards.
Nwoke credited the offensive line for his big night.
“The line was phenomenal,” he said. “We all believe in each other. The line was blocking everything in sight, and there were a lot of big holes.”
Offensive lineman Paul Madsen started and played for the first time since injuring his knee against Boise State.
Firsts all around.
Contained within the game were a number of firsts — both good and bad — for the Rams.
It was Nwoke’s first career 100-yard rushing game. Redshirt freshman fullback Kivon Cartwright caught the first pass of his career against the Rebels and finished with two catches for 50 yards.
Linebacker Shaquil Barrett posted his first career interception — which he returned 52 yards for a touchdown. That also made him the first CSU defender to score twice in a season since 2004. He returned a fumble 15 yards for a touchdown against Utah State.
Footnotes.
CB Elijah-Blu Smith did not play because of a tear in his right shoulder. It snapped a 14-game streak. . . . The Rams have four defensive scores this season. . . . The Rams had two sacks in the game, meaning they have had at least one in all eight games this season. They have 22 total and are on pace to collect 33.
