Utah vs. Colorado State Football 2009
Utes Face Rams in Their Mountain West Conference Opener
Oct 7, 2009
Utah (3-1) opens its Mountain West Conference season Saturday, Oct, 10, meeting Colorado State (3-2) in a 6 p.m. EST game at Fort Collins, Colo. The Utes will be looking for their second consecutive victory since having their 16-game winning streak snapped Sept. 19 in a 31-24 loss to Oregon.
The Utes bounced back with a 30-14 triumph over Louisville on Sept. 26 and had a bye last week. They’ll be facing a Colorado State team that’s trying to snap a two-game skid.
Colorado State started 3-0, but dropped its Mountain West opener 42-23 at Brigham Young on Sept. 26, then lost 31-29 at Idaho in non-conference action last week. Coach Steve Fairchild’s Rams will also be looking to end a three-game losing streak to Utah, which leads the series 53-22-2.
The Utes fell out of the national rankings after the Oregon game. But that seven-point defeat is beginning to look far less damaging because of the way Oregon’s been crushing its opponents since. The Ducks beat then-No. 6 Cal 42-3 on Sept. 26, and routed Washington State 52-6 last week to rise to No. 13 in the AP Top 25.
So if Kyle Whittingham’s Utes build another winning streak, they can work their way back into the national picture and mount a challenge for the Mountain West crown. But they’ll have to do so without leading rusher Matt Asiata, who suffered a knee injury vs. Louisville and is out for the season.
Saturday’s game will be televised on the Mountain West Network.
Eddie Wide Will Start for Utes
Asiata, a rugged 5-foot-11, 230-pound senior, ran 74 times for 330 yards and four touchdowns before being injured. Into the starting role steps Eddie Wide, a 5-10, 195-pounder who has 196 yards and a TD on 35 carries.
Wide lacks Asiata’s strength, but brings extra maneuverability to the position. And he’s an experienced player who's been a valuable reserve. The junior ran for 129 yards vs. Louisville.
Freshman Sausan Shakiran also figures to get more carries as s result of Asiata’s injury.
Utah’s running attack, which averages 204.2 yards per game, also relies heavily on quarterback Terrence Cain. The junior’s run 45 times for 210 yards and a TD.
Utah receiver Reed Off to Strong Start
Cain is 75-for-124 passing for 924 yards and six touchdowns. The first-year starter has thrown four interceptions.
His favorite receiver has been David Reed, who’s snared 26 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-1 senior had 10 catches for 172 yards in a 35-17 season-opening win over Utah State.
Jereme Brooks leads Utah with three TD receptions, and has 14 catches for 191 yards. John Peel has added 11 catches for 145 yards and a TD.
Utah’s spread attack is producing a 423.8 yards of total offense, including 228.5 yards passing. The Utes are averaging 28.2 yards per game.
Utes Are One of Nation’s Most Penalized Teams
A major problem Utah’s had is with penalties. The Utes have been flagged 35 times for 306 yards, and their average of 76.5 penalty yards per game is 12th-highest in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. They had nine for 100 yards vs. Louisville, matching the 100-yard total they amassed vs. Oregon.
That was one reason the Ducks managed 31 points in that game, as they managed an unimpressive 312 yards against the Utes defense.
For the season, Utah is giving up 294.8 yards and 19 points per contest. There have been some bad moments, but the Utes haven’t been consistently shoved around. They’re averaging two sacks per games, and forcing an average of two turnovers.
Cornerback Joe Dale leads Utah with 23 tackles, linebackers Stevenson Sylvester and Mike Wright have 22 apiece, and Wright has two interceptions.
Defensive ends Derrick Shelby and linebacker Koa Misi have added 19 tackles each, and DB Robert Johnson has an interception and two fumble recoveries. DB R.J. Stanford leads the Utes with four pass breakups.
ColoradoState Has Yet to Lose Fumble
Colorado State is keeping a good grasp on the ball while averaging 26.8 points and 385 yards per game. The Rams are one of just five FBS teams that have yet to lose a fumble.
Rams QB Grant Stucker has thrown six interceptions, but he’s also passed for 1,245 yard and 10 touchdowns. The senior has passed 146 times, completing 80. His top receiver is senior Rashaun Greer, who has 19 catches for 403 yards. Greer is averaging 21.2 yards per catch.
Stucker has also thrown to the likes of Tyson Liggett (13 receptions, 185 yards, 2 TDs), Dion Morton (12 catches, 238, 3 TDs) and tight end Eric Peitz (8 catches, 70 yards, 3 TDs).
Morton and Peitz share the team lead in touchdowns with running back John Mosure. The junior missed his team’s 24-23 win over Weber State with a concussion, but he’s managed to run 50 times for 229 yards and two TDs, and catch eight passes for 99 yards and one touchdown.
The Rams’ rushing leader is Leonard Mason, who has 76 carries for 339 yards and one score.
Colorado State Among Nation’s Leaders in Forcing Turnovers
The high-pressure Rams are allowing 261 passing yards per game, ranking 101st in the FBS. But they’ve made eight interceptions and forced 13 turnovers to make the FBS top 10 in both categories.
And Colorado State has been solid against the run, yielding 91.6 yards per game on 2.95 yards per carry.
Senior safety Klint Kubiak leads Colorado State with 41 tackles, and linebacker Mychal Sisson has come up big with 36 stops – including 6.5 tackles for losses and three of the Rams’ 13 sacks.
Sophomore DB Elijah-Blu Smith has posted a team-high three interceptions in addition to 29 tackles, and cornerback Nick Oppenneer has two interceptions and 25 tackles.
Other leaders include tackle Guy Miller (4.5 tackles for losses, 2 sacks), linebacker Alex Williams (22 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries), DB Grant Thomas (4 pass breakups) and linebacker Chris Gipson (2 sacks).
