After a relatively quiet performance in the Colorado State run game stepped it up
A room that includes several playmakers got its chance to shine against the Thunderbirds, led by UConn transfer Mel Brown.
Brown rushed for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Southern Utah. He had a scoring run of 73 yards and another of 1 yard, although the latter was set up by an 80-yard scamper.
In two games, Brown has rushed for 228 yards.
“We were just trying to get the run game going,” Brown said. “I just feel like I was able to spark it, not just for me but for all the running backs in the room, just letting them know we can do this.”
CSU head coach Jim Mora coached Brown for two seasons at UConn before they both moved to Fort Collins.
Brown only played in five games last year before being injured, but Mora knows what Brown can do and wasn’t surprised at all by his two long runs Saturday.
“I’ve coached this kid and itap like a joystick, stop and start; itap unbelievable,” Jim Mora said. “He’s playing with some pain in his knee and some swelling in his knee. Otherwise, he’d be scoring on those plays. I’ve seen him take it to the house a lot of times on plays like that.
“His ability to start and stop, his vision, is pretty rare. He is just a humble, hard-working young man.”
Brown isn’t the only contributor in the Rams’ running back room. In the first two games of the season, Auburn transfer Durell Robinson, who also played for Mora at UConn, has 124 yards.
Cedric Ross, another running back on the roster, has had two big games receiving the ball instead of running it. He caught the first touchdown pass in both of CSU’s first two contests, and he had three catches for 93 yards total against the Thunderbirds.
Late in Saturday’s victory, Oliver Lundberg and Malichi Greaves got opportunities to run the ball as well.
The room’s depth and talent have Mora optimistic going forward, but he also said they’ll hope for more drive-sustaining runs as the schedule strengthens.
“I’d like to see us run the ball more consistently early in the game,” Mora said. “Get more five- and six-yarders rather than two and three. So, we’ll keep working on that. But I have confidence in our running game.”
Harper blossoming
Another player who Mora knows well that has excelled in CSU’s first two games is wide receiver Jackson Harper.
Harper spent three seasons at UConn before transferring to CSU. He played in all 13 games for the Huskies last season and caught eight passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
And when his coach took the job in Fort Collins, Harper put the same trust he had in his coach at UConn in him at CSU.
“I’ve been with his staff since I got to college,” Harper said. “I’ve been with coach Mora. I knew what he is about. I knew what he was going to bring. I knew I could trust him when I came out here.”
Harper already has 140 receiving yards and two touchdowns this season. He recorded his first 100-yard game against Southern Utah when he caught six passes for 102 yards.
He is also contributing on special teams. Saturday, he had a 30-yard punt return.
His playmaking ability is not surprising to the coach who gave him his first chance at college football.
“I’ve known him for a long time,” Mora said. “I recruited him. He’s just a solid kid. He’s a trustworthy kid and makes good decisions on the football field. He’s sure-handed. I love watching his confidence grow, and then his production grow with that confidence.
“It’s fun when you recruit a kid and then you see him start to blossom, and he’s doing that. I’m happy for him.”
Up next
CSU will look to improve to 3-0 on the season Saturday at 5:30 p.m. MT against No. 11 BYU. The Cougars will be the highest-ranked team to play at Canvas Stadium in the 10-year history of the venue.
BYU is 2-0 as well and is coming off a 28-17 victory over Arizona last week.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier has passed for 415 yards and six touchdowns, including 217 yards and three TDs last week to earn Big 12 offensive player of the week honors. Running back LJ Martin is the team’s leading rusher with 152 yards, including 98 last week.
“It’s going to be a tough one, and we are going to fight,” Mora said. “Those are challenges we love. Those are challenges we live for. So, I’m excited about this week.”
This will be the 69th meeting between the two teams. BYU leads the series 39-26-3. The Cougars have won the past seven meetings between the teams. They haven’t played since 2010, the last year they were conference rivals.
The game will be nationally broadcast on CBS.
