FORT COLLINS — The disquieting note in Colorado State’s rout of Savannah State was that senior tight end Kivon Cartwright, granted a medical hardship sixth season by the NCAA in March, was injured in the first half and was walking slowly when escorted to the dressing room.
After the game, Rams coach Mike Bobo said he hadn’t yet received a report on Cartwright, who underwent additional ankle surgery and was done for the season after playing in the opener against Colorado in 2014.
“He got tackled a little bit awkwardly on the turf,” Bobo said. “When I know, I’ll let you all know. Hopefully, he’s all right.”
Cartwright had three catches for 56 yards and one touchdown before leaving the game.
Embarrassing moment. CSU receiver Jordon Vaden was about to complete a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter when he prematurely dropped the ball at the 1-yard line and it went out of the end zone for a touchback.
The score was 58-13 at the time, so it wasn’t costly.
“It’s aggravating, because that’s a careless mistake,” Bobo said. “Those are the little things and the details we talk about, finishing the play. That’s finishing the play to the goal line. …
“I didn’t really feel it was a moment to get on a kid. It was embarrassing enough, what happened, and hopefully it will be a lesson to all our guys that you have to finish every play all the way through the whistle. He’s probably going to be on ‘SportsCenter’s’ Not Top 10, so he’ll learn.”
Attendance. The home opener drew an announced crowd of 24,571, which was higher than two of the Rams’ Hughes Stadium games in 2014.
Locker-room report. In a new procedure under Bobo, the Rams minimized their use of the Hughes Stadium home locker room on game day. They suited up in their regular Joey Porter Locker Room in the McGraw Athletic Center/Moby Arena complex and rode buses to the stadium for the game. After the game, they bused back to campus to shower and return to street clothes.
On the ground. With expected starter Treyous Jarrells still out after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, senior Jasen Oden was the Rams’ leading ground gainer, with 74 yards on 11 carries. CSU racked up 598 yards of total offense, including 217 yards rushing.
