Colorado State University Athletics
Colorado State
Navy (San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl)
Rams Fall To Navy In Inaugural Poinsettia Bowl
12/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 23, 2005
Despite throwing for 381 yards on a 26-for-33 evening, senior quarterback Justin Holland and the Colorado State Rams could not overcome the Navy offense in the inaugural Poinsettia Bowl, falling 51-30. The Rams end their season with a 6-6 record, the 11th time in Sonny Lubick's 13-year career the Rams have ended the year with a non-losing record.
Navy slotback Reggie Campbell led the team, tying the NCAA bowl record with five touchdowns and had 290 all-purpose yards. The Midshipmen notched 611 total yards in the game, with 467 coming on the rush. The Rams netted 571 yards on offense themselves, with 431 net passing yards for the game.
Colorado State opened the scoring with a 10-play, 77-yard drive, to take the early 7-0 lead after a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore running back Kyle Bell, but Navy answered on its first play from scrimmage, a 55 yard TD pass from Lamar Owens to Campbell to knot the score at 7-7. The Rams regained the lead, 10-7, on a 34-yard field goal by freshman kicker Jason Smith and the first quarter ended with the Rams leading by three.
Navy scored on the first play of the second quarter, a Marco Nelson 22-yard TD run and then the point-after attempt was blocked by sophomore defensive end Jesse Nading, giving Navy the 13-10 advantage, which they would never relinquish. Navy scored two more touchdowns in the second quarter, taking a 27-10 lead into the locker rooms at halftime.
Campbell opened the scoring in the third quarter with a 21-yard TD run for the Midshipmen, but the Rams answered with back-to-back touchdowns from Holland to junior wide receiver Dustin Osborn to close within 10 and 34-24, but Navy answered with a 34 yard TD pass from Owens to Campbell to regain a 17-point lead at 41-24.
Nelson scored his second touchdown of the game for Navy at the beginning of the fourth quarter, giving Navy the 48-24 lead, but Holland threw a 22-yard bullet to sophomore wide receiver Johnny Walker with 11:18 remaining in the game to bring the Rams within 18 at 48-30. The two-point conversion attempt failed for the Rams and Navy scored a field-goal with 6:51 left to make the score 51-30, which it remained.
Colorado State sophomore tight end Kory Sperry caught a career-high eight passes for a career-high 117 yards in the game, including four receptions for 54 yards in the opening drive. Senior wide receiver David Anderson had a game-high 126 yards receiving -- second most in a CSU bowl game -- and it also marked the sixth time this season and the 16th time in his career he eclipsed the 100-yard barrier. The Poinsettia Bowl also was the fourth time this year the Rams had two 100-yard plus receivers in the same game.
Bell rushed for 122-yards in the game, second most in the game behind Campbell's 127 yards for Navy. Tonight was the sixth time this season Bell surpassed 100-yards in a contest and is the third most by a Ram in a bowl game in school history.
