Good afternoon, and welcome to Colorado State University football on the internet. Today the defending WAC champion CSU Rams and Air Force Falcons are meeting in a conference showdown at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.
Today's game marks the eighth time in nine years that the Rams have opened their conference schedule against the Falcons. Already this year the Rams have beaten Montana State, 31-10 and lost to CU, 42-14. The Falcons started their WAC schedule right of the bat, and did away with Brigham Young, 38-12, and Wyoming, 34-10, in the first two weeks. CSU has won the last three meetings with the AFA - including a 34-21 season-opening win on the road last year.
This is the second week in a row that the Rams are facing a ranked opponent. The Falcons are ranked 19th in the CNN/USA Today Coaches Poll, and 21st in the Associated Press Top 25 Last week the Rams were blown out by No. 10 Colorado. If the Rams lose today, it will be the first time they have lost back-to-back game since 1993 (San Diego State and Utah).
Air Force is coming off of two huge conference wins. In the season opener against BYU, Falcon quarterback Beau Morgan rushed for 65 yards and completed eight of 13 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown while becoming only the second AFA QB to beat BYU. Morgan did all this despite sitting out most of the second quarter with a racing heartbeat. Against Wyoming last week, Morgan was knocked out of the game with a concussion in the scond quarter. He still managed one passing and one rushing TD before leaving. His backup, Tom Brown, wasted no time filling in for the injured starter. Brown rushed for 99 yards and scored the first two touchdowns of his career. Brown is the team's leading rusher with 182 yards on a team-high 26 carries.
The Rams opened with a sluggish 31-10 win over Div. IAA Montana State at Hughes Stadium. Fullback E.J. Watson led the Rams with 130 rushing yards, and strong safety Steve Standifer returned an interception from QB Jeff Tuss 14 yards for a touchdown. Against Colorado last week, the Rams spotted the Buffs 21 points in the game's first seven-and-a-half minutes, and never really recovered after that. Despite looking up at a relentless CU pass rush, Ram QB Daren Wilkinson held his own. The Ricks College transfer hit 15 of 41 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown. Wilkinson will be the starting signal caller for the Rams today.
In addition to conference bragging rights and the inside track to the WAC title, the winner of today's game will get to sport the Ram-Falcon trophy. Shelly Codkin, a former ROTC commander at CSU, watched CSU and Air Force do battle in 1978, and decided to translate his impressions into a trophy symbolic of the annual game. Air Force has won the trophy nine times and the Rams have taken it six. However, CSU has held onto it for the last three years.
Updated at 1:30 p.m. MT Next Update at 1:40 p.m. MT
Air Force wins the coin toss and elects to receive. They will defend the north goal. CSU kicker Matt McDougal kicks off to Falcon returner Jake Campbell for a touchback. AFA picks up five on a run by Craig Tanner for 2nd and 5. Tanner runs for two yards 3rd and three. Jake Campbell breaks a 56 yard run on an option from QB Beau Morgan. Ram safety Greg Myers brings him down at the 17. Morgan fumbles 2nd and three handoff, recovered by Tanner for loss four yards. Morgan hits a wide open pass to TE Steve Hendricks for a Falcon TD. Kicker Randy Roberts drills the extra point. AFA 7, CSU 0. plays 80 yards, 2:51.
Updated at 1:00 p.m. MT Next Update at 1:30 p.m. MT
AFA kicker Randy Roberts kicks off to Chris Myers for a touchback. Rams first and 10 from their own 20. Wilkinson hands to Watson for a five yard gain 2nd and 5. Wilkinson complete to Paul Turner at 32 for gain of 7 - 1st down. Wilkinson sacked for a loss of three by DeRock. Watson gains one yard. Third down and three at the 30. Wilkinson overthrows Turner. Fourth down and McDougal is out to punt.
Updated at 2:00 p.m. MT Next Update at 2:10 p.m. MT
43 yard punt, 13 yard return by Kelvin King. AFA 1st and 10 from the 40. Morgan runs for 4 yards, brought down by Myers. Morgan ooptions to J. Campbell for gain of 12 and an AFA first down at the CSU 43. Tanner runs for 2 yards, third and 3. Morgan takes the option for 15 yards and first down at the CSU 26. Tanner picks up 3 yards, brought down by Taylor. Dante Johnson runs for three yards, fumble recovered by AFA. 3rd and 3. False start AFA - third and 8. Morgan incomplete for Tobin Ruff, nailed by Scott Lynch. 4th down. Fake field goal by AFA results in punt to CSU 2 yard line. Updated at 2:10 p.m. MT Next Update at 2:20 p.m. MT
1st and 10 CSU from the 2. Wilkinson QB keeper for three yards to the 5. Watson up the middle for three yards - 3rd and 3. Pass complete to D. Ballard up the middle for 16 yards to the 24 - first down. Wilkinson's pass bounces off Ballard's facemask and into Cregg's hands. First down. Rams cant keep it going, McDougal on to punt. Out of bounds at the AFA 4 yard line. 1st and 10 Falcons.
Updated at 2:00 p.m. MT Next Update at 2:10 p.m. MT
Morgan brought down by K. Ballard for no gain - 2nd and 10. Rams read the option and P. Davis brings down Campbell for no gain - 3rd and 10. Wilkerson up the middle for 2 yards, brought down by Ballard - 4th and 8. Roberts on to punt. End of the first quarter. CSU 0, AFA 7.
Updated at 2:20 p.m. MT Next Update at 2:30 p.m. MT
SECOND QUARTER - Carr still on to punt for AFA. Myers back for CSU. Fielded at the 50 and taken to the AFA 37 yard line - 1st and 10 CSU. Wilkinson incomplete - 2nd and 10. E.J. Watson brought down by B. McCray for gain of one yard. Third and 9 from the AFA 36. Pass complete to Watson for 8 - 4th and one at the 28. Rams are going for it... Wilkinson wrapped up at line for no gain - 1st and 10 AF at their own 28. Johnson picks up 12 yards - 1st and 10 at the AFA 40. Wilkerson tackled by Ballard after gain of 7 - 2nd and 3 from the 47. Morgan crunched by DeVaughn Hawkins for loss of 3 - 3rd and 6, 44 yd line. Complete to Marsh, tackled by Myers, Illegal shift on AFA - replay 3rd down ball at 39. Morgan complete to Wilkerson short of first down. Carr on to punt for AF. Myers fields punt at 13 and returns out to 20. 1st and 10 CSU.
Updated at 2:30 p.m. MT Next Update at 2:50 p.m. MT
Watson rushes up the middle for 4 yards - 2nd and 4 at the 24 yard line. Watson again up the middle for 5 yards - 3rd and 1 at the 29. Wtson wrapped up behind line, second effort pushes him across for a first down. Washington picks up 4 yards around the right side - 2nd and 6 at CSU 34 yard line. Watson picks up first down. Washington breaks a 13 yard run for CSU 1st down to AF 47. Washington picks up 4 to the 43 - 2nd and 5. Watson around the right side for a gain of 6 yards - 1st and 10 CSU. Washington crunched at the line by LeRon Hudgins for no gain - 2nd and 9. Washington runs for 8 yards to the AF 29 yard line. Watson picks up a 1st down for CSU with a 4 yard run to the left. Wilkinson throws high to Eli Workman - incomplete - for 2nd and 10. Washington is greeted by a wall of AF defenders for a 4 yard loss. Wilkinson hits Turner for a CSU touchdown. McDougal hits the PAT. 14 plays, 80 yards, 6:15 on the CSU scoring drive. CSU 7, AFA 7. CSU TD is the first first-half TD allowed by the Falcons this season.
Updated at 2:50 p.m. MT Next Update at 3:00 p.m. MT
Loss kicks off to Campbell, who busts a 60 yard return to the CSU 39. 1st and 10 AF. Morgan forced out of bounds by Schneider after 9-yard gain. Ruff picks up first down with 1-yard run. Morgan almost has option swatted away, but AF picks up 9 yards on the play. Campbell stopped after picking up 2 yards. Morgan fumbles and has it recovered by Brady Smith - 1st and 10 CSU at theie own 24. Moran forced the fumble. Watson picks up 3 yards to the 27. Washington cuts his way to a 12-yard gain and a CSU 1st down at the 39. Holding on CSU - first and 20 at their own 29. Wikinson drills a pass to Turner over the middle for 21 yards and a CSU 1st down. Washinton picks up 8 yards to the 42. TIMEOUT CSU with 1:04 left in the 1st QTR.
CSU NOTE - wide receiver Paul Turner has three receptions for 56 yards and a TD.
Wilkinson picked off by Sam Ramson at the AF 15 yard line. Morgan keeps the ball for 7 yards and an uneccessary roughness call against CSU - 1st and 10 at the 37. Morgan runs for 13 yards. TIME OUT AIR FORCE with :37 left in the half. Gain of 6 by Morgan - 2nd and 4. TIME OUT AIR FORCE with :29 left in the half. Morgan overshoots everybody - 3rd and 4. Morgan complete to Marsh Tackled by Jackson - 1st down with :12 left. Clock stopped by Morgan. Morgan shoots a frozen rope to Ranger for 13 yards and another 1st down with :06 left. TIME OUT AF. Falcon's bare-foot kicker Randy Roberts on to try a 36 yard field goal...It's up and... BLOCKED by Ray Jackson!!!!
It's halftime at Falcon Stadium and we are knotted up at 7s.
Updated at 3:10 p.m. MT Next Update at 3:30 p.m. MT
CSU FIRST HALF STATS - QB Daren Wilkinson is 7 of 12 for 93 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. FB E.J. Watson has 42 yards on 12 carries, and Damon Washington has 42 yards on 7 carries. WR Paul Turner has 3 catches for 56 yards with a touchdown. CB Ray Jackson blocked a Falcons' field goal attempt with :06 left in the first half.
Updated at 3:30 p.m. MT Next Update at 3:40 p.m. MT
SECOND HALF - CSU starts at its own 20 yard line. Wilkinson hits D. Ballard for a 10 yard first down. Wilkinson incomplete to Porter - 2nd and 10. Washington scampers for 14 yards to the AF 43 1st and 10 CSU. Wilknson rolls out and hits Turner for 13 yards and another CSU 1st down. Watson breaks three tackles and carries the ball 21 yards to the 9 yard line. 1st and G CSU Washington picks up 4 yards to the 5 - 2nd and G. Watson busts through the middle for a 5-yard touchdown run. McDougal hits PAT - CSU 14, AF 7 with 12:36 left in the 3rd QTR.
Off-setting penalties on McDougal's kick off, the Rams will re-kick...it's taken by Campbell in the endzone and brought out to the 22.
Myers and Smith bring down Morgan after a 9-yard pick up - 2nd and 1. Campbell gets nine yards for an AF 1st down at the 40. Option to Johnson good for 11 yards and another AF 1st down. Morgan keeps the option and picks up 16 yards to the 30 - 1st and 10 AF. Morgan tackled by Myers after rushing for a 3-yard gain. Updated at 3:50 p.m. MT Next Update at 4:00 p.m. MT
Option fumbled and recovered by CSU's Mack Craft, but the Rams were offsides before the play. Air Force has the ball - 1st and 10 from the CSU 17. Illegal shift on AF - 1st and 15 from the 21 yard line. Morgan keeps it for 10 - 2nd and 11. Nice second effort by Morgan gets the ball to the 3 yard line - 1st and G. Campbell takes the pitch from Morgan and punches it in from 3 yard line. Roberts connects on the PAT. CSU 14, AFA 14 with 8:20 left. Scoring drive - 9 plays, 78 yards, 4:16.
TODAY'S ATTENDANCE AT FALCON STADIUM IS 45, 578.
Kremser's kick off is downed by C. Myers. 1st and 10 CSU at the 20. D. Ballard goes up for a 10 yard grab. 1st and 10 at the 30. Updated at 4:00 p.m. MT Next Update at 4:10 p.m. MT
Watson runs to the 25...flags are down...personal foul on AF - ball to the 45 yard line. Washington takes the long route right back to the line of scrimmage - 2nd and 10 at the 45. Wilkinson hits a wide open D. Ballard for a pick up of 35 yards to the AF 20. Watson rushes for 1 yard. 3rd and 1. Watson picks up the first down on a 3-yard run - 1st and G from the 9. Washington picks up 5 yards - 2nd and G from the 4. Wilkinson rolls and hits a wide-open Turner in the right side of the end zone. McDougal on for the PAT...it's good - CSU 21, AFA 14 with 3:53 left in the 3rd QTR. Scoring drive - 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:27. Wilkinson to Turner on a 4-yard pass.
McDougal kicks off and it's out of bounds...Air Force elects to take the ball at the 35.
Updated at 4:10 p.m. MT Next Update at 4:20 p.m. MT
2nd and 10 from the 35. Wilkerson picks up 9 yards to the AF 44 - 3rd and 1. Wilkerson is wrapped up by Moran 4th and 1 at the 44. AF punts into the end zone. 56-yard punt by Carr. 1st and 10 CSU from its 20.
Turner catches 10-yard pass from Wilkinson and turns on the burners for 25 more yards, all the way to the AF 46. Turner now has 107 yards on 6 catches. CSU Holding on 2nd down - 2nd and 17 from the 47. Wilkinson throws high to Turner - 3rd and 17. Wilkinson airs it out Turner and King is called for defensive pass interference - 1st and 10 CSU at the AF 38 yard line. Watson rushes for 1 yard, and the 3rd QTR is over. Score after three quarters: CSU 21, AF 14.
FOURTH QUARTER: Wilkinson escapes one defender and hits Antoine for 19 yards. Watson rumbles his way into the end zone from 18 yards out. PAT snap is fumbled and AF recovers. CSU 28, AF 14 with 14:31 left in the game. Scoring drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 2:11 - 18-yard run by Watson.
Updated at 4:20 p.m. MT Next Update at 4:30 p.m. MT
Falcons' Campbell brings kick off out to AF 34 yard line. 1st and 10. Morgan scrambles for 21 yards to the CSU 45 and an AF 1st down. Morgan now has 112 yards rushing on 15 carries. No gain by Campbell 2nd and 10 from the 45. Morgan with a flare pass to Ruff good for 4 yards - 3rd and 6 from the 41. Tanner picks up the first down with a 6-yard run. Morgan dumps it out to Campbell for a 2-yard gain. Scott Lynch makes the tackle - 2nd and 8 from the 33. Morgan dumped by Hawkins for a loss of 2 yards. Morgan completes it to Johnson for 9 yards and then gets sandwiched by Moran and Smith - 4th and 1...and Morgan picks up 4 yards for a Falcon 1st down at the 22. Tanner picks up 7 - 2nd and 2 from the 15, AF gets 1st down on 4 yard run by Tanner. Morgan keeps it and is laid out by Ballard and Smith after picking up 1 yard. Karl Ballard is down on the field for the Rams..He appears to be OK as he walks off the field. 2nd and 9 from the 10. Morgan keeps the option and breaks through for the TD. PAT is BLOCKED by Ray Jackson - his second block of the day. CSU 28, AF 21 with 8:06 left in the game. Scoring drive: 12 plays, 66 yards, 6:25. 10-yard run by Morgan.
Updated at 4:30 p.m. MT Next Update at 4:40 p.m. MT
Kick off taken by C. Myer at the kick off and is crunched by Ransom after a 19-yard return - 1st and 10 at the 24. McCray recovers a Watson fumble at the 27 yard line - 1st and 10 AF. Ransom forced the fumble. Morgan rushes for 5 yards - 2nd and 5. K. Ballard stops Tanner after a 1-yard pick up - 3rd and 4 at the 22. Morgan roll out and hits Campbell at the 16 for an AF 1st down. Moran tackles Morgan for a loss of two on what should have been a fumble that was recovered by the Rams.
Updated at 4:30 p.m. MT Next Update at 4:40 p.m. MT
More on that last play, Moran tackled Morgan as he pitched the ball resulting in an apparent fumble. But it was ruled an incomplete pass. It is now 4th and 8 from the 12 with 4:47 left in the game. Air Force is going for it... and Morgan's pass is broken up by Ray Jackson at the 5 yard line. CSU takes over at the 12.
CORRECTION ON THE SCORE: CSU leads 28-20, not 28-21 as reported before. Ray Jackson blocked the Falcon's last PAT.
CSU now has the ball with 3rd and 3 situation from the 20 and 3:44 left. Updated at 4:50 p.m. MT Next Update at 5:00 p.m. MT
Wilkinson's pass is complete to D. Ballard at the 26 for 7 yards and a CSU 1st down. Watson is hit behind the line for a loss of 4 yards - 2nd and 14 from the 23. Wilkinson avioids the blitz and dumps it to Watson for a gain of 10 yards - 3rd an 4 at the 33. Wilkinson throws low to Turner...it's ruled a trap and McDougal is on to punt from his own 17. The 34-yard punt is out of bounds at the AF 33. 1st and 10 AF with 1:50 left. On 2nd and 6, Morgan hits Ruff at the 47 for an AF 1st down. Morgan's pass across the middle is nearly picked off by G. Myers, but a flag is down...defensive pass interference - 1st and 10 from the CSU 37. Morgan drops back and hits Marsh at the 37 - 2nd and 2 with 1:06 left in the game. Wilkerson rushes for 1 yard - 3rd and 1 at the 29.
Updated at 5:00 p.m.
On 3rd and 1 from the 29 yard line Wilkerson busts up the gut for 4 yards and a Falcon 1st down. The Rams were lined up in the neutral zone, repeat 1st down. Morgan puts it up for Marsh in the end zone. It's incomplete, but a flag is down...holding on the Rams - 1st and G from the 10. Ballard tackles Morgan after no gain. 2nd and G from the 11. K. Ballard now has 22 tackles in the game. 8 unassisted, 15 assisted. Greg Myers tips and picks off Morgan at the 10. CSU's ball at its 10 with :34 left.