Colorado State University Athletics
Thursday, November 22
USAF Academy, Colo.
1:30 PM MT
Colorado State
19
at
27
Air Force
Photo by: Nick Monaghan
Rams fall at Air Force in Thanksgiving clash to close 2018 season
11/22/2018 5:32:00 PM | Football
Second-half rally comes up short
USAFA, Colo. - Junior wide receiver Preston Williams set career highs with 12 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns, catching passes from both starter Collin Hill and backup K.J. Carta-Samuels, but it was not enough to complete a fourth-quarter comeback for Colorado State on Thanksgiving Day, as the Air Force Falcons topped the Rams 27-19 to close the 2018 season.
Williams' third touchdown, on a 31-yard reception from Carta-Samuels, came with 9:53 to play and pulled the Rams to within one point of the Falcons, 20-19, after the point-after attempt was missed by Wyatt Bryan. Air Force responded with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed 6:18 off the clock to give the Falcons a 27-19 lead with 3:35 to play. The Rams' ensuing drive was promising, reaching the Falcons' 22-yard line, where, on 1st-and-10, with 1:54 to play, Carta-Samuels was intercepted by Kyle Flood to end the threat.
Carta-Samuels completed 6 of 9 for 89 yards with the one score, and one interception, while Hill completed 13 of 23 for 284 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion.
Senior running back Izzy Matthews led Colorado State in rushing with 52 yards on 10 carries (5.2) to finish his career ranked eighth on CSU's all-time rushing list. Today he passed Cecil Sapp (2,642; 1999-2002). Senior wide receiver Olabisi Johnson caught four passes for 88 yards in his final game, and moved into the Rams' all-time top 10 in receiving yards with 2,019, passing previous 10th-place Todd Tyrrell (1,994; 1984-87).
The Rams' defense responded to some early success by Air Force's option attack, forcing two punts and a missed field goal, and putting up a goal-line stand in the third quarter with a fourth-down stop at the 1-yard line. Senior linebackers Tre Thomas (18 tackles) and Josh Watson (17) led the way, with sophomore safety Jamal Hicks adding 15 stops and freshman safety Quinn Brinnon 10. Thomas, Watson and Brinnon each had a tackle for lost yardage.
The Rams conclude the 2018 campaign with a 3-9 record.Â
Williams' third touchdown, on a 31-yard reception from Carta-Samuels, came with 9:53 to play and pulled the Rams to within one point of the Falcons, 20-19, after the point-after attempt was missed by Wyatt Bryan. Air Force responded with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that consumed 6:18 off the clock to give the Falcons a 27-19 lead with 3:35 to play. The Rams' ensuing drive was promising, reaching the Falcons' 22-yard line, where, on 1st-and-10, with 1:54 to play, Carta-Samuels was intercepted by Kyle Flood to end the threat.
Carta-Samuels completed 6 of 9 for 89 yards with the one score, and one interception, while Hill completed 13 of 23 for 284 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with a concussion.
Senior running back Izzy Matthews led Colorado State in rushing with 52 yards on 10 carries (5.2) to finish his career ranked eighth on CSU's all-time rushing list. Today he passed Cecil Sapp (2,642; 1999-2002). Senior wide receiver Olabisi Johnson caught four passes for 88 yards in his final game, and moved into the Rams' all-time top 10 in receiving yards with 2,019, passing previous 10th-place Todd Tyrrell (1,994; 1984-87).
The Rams' defense responded to some early success by Air Force's option attack, forcing two punts and a missed field goal, and putting up a goal-line stand in the third quarter with a fourth-down stop at the 1-yard line. Senior linebackers Tre Thomas (18 tackles) and Josh Watson (17) led the way, with sophomore safety Jamal Hicks adding 15 stops and freshman safety Quinn Brinnon 10. Thomas, Watson and Brinnon each had a tackle for lost yardage.
The Rams conclude the 2018 campaign with a 3-9 record.Â
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