Canvas Stadium 10 Year Anniversary: A Prayer Answered Almost No One Saw Coming

Dallin Holker was not about to let go of the ball. Not in the moment. Not later.

Colorado State had never beaten Boise State in football – a streak of 12 games -- and it wasn't looking good in 2023 either. Not down 17-0 at halftime and 30-10 with 6:12 remaining in the game.

In 4:01, the Rams changed the narrative, a Hail Mary being answered on the final play of the game to produce a 31-30 victory and match the largest comeback in program history.

The Broncos built the lead behind the running of Ashton Jeany's 213 yards rushing and three scores. It dissipated in the blink of an eye.

It started when Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi found Louis Brown IV for a 12-yard touchdown pass. A drive later Fowler-Nicolosi connected with Dylan Goffney for a 2-yard score to stir up some possibilities for those in the crowd.

The Rams recovered an onside kick, but a flag negated it, but Colorado State's defense produced a three-and-out, but the field position and the clock were not allies as the Rams started on their own 12 with just 1:50 remaining.

Goffney moved the sticks with an 11-yard catch. Tory Horton put the offense in distance with a 44-yard catch. With just 6 seconds remaining, all the Rams could do was try a Hail Mary, and those rarely work.

Horton felt otherwise.

"I knew it wasn't going to be a clean catch. Here's the thing – hear me out – we've been practicing this Hail Mary thing for so long, and I told Dallin, look it's either going to be tipped to me or you, and the way they was playing, they was deep. I was like, Dallin, it's going to go to you."

Horton was the deep man while Holker trailed the play by design. We worked through some traffic on the 5, then saw the deflection coming his way, diving forward to scoop it up before it hit the ground for the 33-yard score.

Pandemonium on the CSU sideline ensued, as did a 15-yard flag, with no time remaining and the score tied. All the Rams needed was a 35-yard point-after for the win, which Jordan Noyes delivered.

When the dust settled, Fowler-Nicolosi had thrown for 359 yards and three scores, Horton had 10 catches for 130 yards and Holker added seven for 85.

None bigger than the last one. Through the review of the play he held the ball tight. It was in his arms in the locker room celebration. He secured it in his locker during the press conference, then took it home.

And slept with it. A dream come true.

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