Fort Collins, CO (SportsNetwork.com) – Dee Hart scored six touchdowns to lead
22nd-ranked Colorado State to a 58-20 rout of New Mexico.
Hart ran for 230 yards and five touchdowns and added two catches for 42 yards
and a receiving score for the Rams (10-1, 6-1 MWC), who have won nine in a row
since a Sep. 6 loss at Boise State.
Garrett Grayson was 23-of-29 for 389 yards with three touchdown passes. He
became the Rams’ all-time leader in total offense in the triumph.
New Mexico’s ground game was effective, totaling 301 yards, but it wasn’t
enough. Jhurell Pressley ran for 109 yards on seven carries for the Lobos
(3-8, 1-6), while quarterback Lamar Jordan ran for 74 yards with a touchdown.
Two special teams turnovers by the Lobos, including a fumble on the opening
kickoff, sunk their upset chances. Colorado State’s Jasen Oden Jr. forced
returner Ridge Jones to fumble twice, and the Rams cashed in with touchdowns
both times.
Grayson started the scoring on the Rams’ first drive with a 7-yard pass to
Rashard Higgins. Higgins would catch a second touchdown in the third quarter,
and he finished the game with 10 catches for 167 yards and the pair of scores.
The Lobos were unable to pass with the same success. Jordan completed just 3-
of-11 throws for 55 yards with no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
Colorado State outgained the New Mexico by a 698-356 margin in total yards.
Hart scored his first touchdown of the game from two yards out to cap off a
16-play, 86-yard drive. A minute later, his 6-yard score gave the Rams a 20-0
lead early in the second quarter, but Jared Roberts missed the extra point.
After New Mexico got on the board with a 10-yard Jordan touchdown run, Hart
responded with his biggest run of the day, running right before cutting back
to the middle of the defense for a 76-yard score.
Hart scored his fourth touchdown of the quarter with a 20-yard catch on
Colorado State’s next drive. A Roberts field goal gave the Rams a 37-7 lead at
the break.
Less than two minutes into the third quarter, Hart added to the Rams lead with
a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Later in the quarter, Higgins beat the Lobos’
defense for a 28-yard touchdown catch from Grayson.
New Mexico’s Romell Jordan scored on an 11-yard run to cut the lead to 51-13
late in the third quarter, but that’s when Hart answered with another big
play. He broke through the defense for a 55-yard touchdown, his sixth of the
game.
Teriyon Gipson’s 10-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter got the
Lobos on the board for the final time, making it a 58-20 game.
Game Notes
Colorado State’s next win will be the 500th in program history … Higgins set
the CSU single-season record for receiving yards with 1,447 … Colorado State
finishes the regular season next Friday at in-state rival Air Force … New
Mexico wraps up its season next Saturday against Wyoming.
