FORT COLLINS — The Rams ran wild Saturday.
Colorado State wasted no time in bouncing back from its season-opening loss to Colorado last week, scoring on its first play from scrimmage and dominating FCS Western Illinois, 38-13, in its home opener.
“It was good to be a Ram today,” said CSU coach Mike Bobo after his program snapped a six-game losing streak dating to last season. “Anytime you can go out and handle your business and get a win, that’s always an awesome feeling.”
The Rams hadn’t won since Oct. 13 last season, when they edged New Mexico 20-18 at home.
Rams quarterback Collin Hill threw four touchdown passes, each in the first half, beginning with a 75-yard strike to true freshman Dante Wright on the first play of the game. Two series later, Hill tossed a short dump-off pass to Marvin Kinsey Jr. and the senior broke a tackle and outran two defenders for a 77-yard score.
Hill threw for two more scores as CSU built a 28-6 halftime en route to compiling 440 yards of offense. Two lost fumbles and two missed field goals by CSU prevented further embarrassment for the Fighting Leathernecks (0-2) of the Missouri Valley Conference.
“Good to have the first (win) of the year. It’s nice to actually get to celebrate,” Hill said. “You put so much into it, to celebrate with your guys, that was fun.”
Hill got the green line to go deep on the first play.
“Coach wanted to take a shot, gave me a couple options,” he said. “We picked that play kind of collectively. I had a good pass, Dante made a good play. And it’s 7-0.
“We moved the ball well, pretty much all day. We did have some penalties and turnovers but I thought we were executing pretty well. Probably could have a done a little better in the second half, but a win is a win.”
The Rams didn’t do much in a sleepy second half but finished with 585 yards of offense, including 367 passing yards from Hill, who was 25-of-32, before an announced crowd of 24,453.
CSU held WIU to 215 yards.
“I thought our boys played extremely hard. I thought the defense was excellent today,” Bobo said. “I love the way we’re playing. We’re playing hard. We’re playing with attitude. And the great thing about it is, we’re not even close to where we could be. We have to keep improving.”
CSU next plays at Arkansas on Saturday before returning to Canvas Stadium Sept. 21 against Toledo. The Rams open Mountain West play Sept. 28 at Utah State.