CSU Rams throttled by South Dakota State in season opener

FORT COLLINS — The archetypal afloat play of Steve Addazio’s tenure arsenic caput manager of the Colorado State Rams began with a thud Friday nighttime astatine Canvas Stadium.

The Rams, who went 1-3 successful the COVID-shortened 2020 season, were mostly manhandled by South Dakota State, a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Divison I-AA) power.

The Jackrabbits, who mislaid to Sam Houston successful the FCS nationalist title connected May 16, rolled implicit the Rams 42-23 successful a lightning-delayed matter that followed a fierce thunderstorm.

“Obviously disappointed,” Addazio said. “We had an electrical nighttime present with 1 of largest crowds, opening-day crowds, and it was a heckuva atmosphere. I admit the pupil assemblage and each the fans. Obviously, I don’t consciousness similar we played astatine the level we’re susceptible of playing at.”

He added: “You got to beryllium capable to tally the football, and you got to beryllium capable to halt the run. They averaged 7.1 yards a transportation successful the tally game, which is wholly unacceptable and hard for maine to recognize however that happened.”

SDSU amassed 466 yards against a seasoned FBS defence that returned its full antiaircraft line. Running backmost Pierre Strong Jr. and wide receiver Jadon Janke each scored 2 touchdowns and backmost Chris Oladokun, a postgraduate transfer, threw for 2 TDs and rushed for another.

The Jackrabbits’ defence constricted CSU’s moving crippled to little than 80 yards until the reserves stepped successful late. The Rams gained 202 of their 462 yards successful the 4th fourth erstwhile the crippled was retired of reach.

It was the Rams’ 3rd nonaccomplishment to an FCS hostile successful the past 10 years. They fell 22-7 to North Dakota State successful 2012 and 35-19 to Illinois State successful 2018.

“I’m assured successful this team, I’m assured successful the players that we have. One crippled isn’t going to alteration the full season. I’m fired up astir this team,” said CSU All-American choky extremity Trey McBride, who caused 13 passes for 116 yards. “We conscionable person to play unneurotic more. When the defence was high, the discourtesy was debased and erstwhile the discourtesy was precocious the defence was low. That’s unacceptable. Lot of things we tin larn from this game. Lot of affirmative things. But I inactive believe, genuinely successful my heart, that we’re a title shot team.”

CSU, which trailed 21-10 astatine halftime, helped excavation its ain spread aboriginal successful the 2nd fractional erstwhile Addazio declined to punt connected a fourth-and-1 from the Rams’ 38-yard line. Addazio’s unit called for a tally up the mediate and David Bailey, a elder transportation from Boston College, was stopped for nary summation and SDSU took over.

Two plays later, the Jackrabbits led 28-10. Oladokun deed choky extremity Tucker Kraft successful the near level for a 21-yard summation earlier Oladokun recovered Janke for a 17-yard touchdown successful the close flat.

“That’s my call,” Addazio said of going for it connected 4th down. “I instrumentality responsibility.”

He added: “We’re a carnal shot squad and you person to beryllium capable to get 4th and 8 inches. That didn’t happen. That’s upsetting to me.”

Later successful the 3rd quarter, Colorado State backmost Todd Centeio fumbled adjacent midfield. Linebacker Caden Johnson recovered astatine the Rams’ 46-yard enactment and, 7 plays later, Isaiah Davis scored connected a 2-yard tally to marque it 35-10 with 1:29 near successful the 3rd quarter.

The teams traded touchdowns aboriginal successful the 4th fourth arsenic astir of the 32,327 spectators had seen capable and near the stadium.

SDSU utilized a balanced discourtesy to amass 280 yards successful taking a 21-10 pb into halftime. After going three-and-out connected their archetypal bid and missing a 39-yard tract extremity connected their second, the Jackrabbits scored touchdowns connected their adjacent 3 possessions.

First, Strong raced down the near sideline for a 48-yard TD to headdress a three-play, 71-yard thrust with 2:22 near successful the archetypal quarter. At that time, the Rams had conscionable 19 yards of offense.

Strong’s TD mightiness person served arsenic a wake-up telephone for CSU, which answered connected its ensuing drive. Bailey, 1 play aft gaining 2 yards connected a fourth-and-1, capped an awesome 17-play, 75-yard thrust with a 1-yard TD tally with 11:51 near successful the 2nd quarter.

The Jackrabbits answered with a agelong thrust of their own, going 75 yards successful 12 plays to instrumentality a 14-7 lead. Janke was near wide unfastened successful the close level and caught an casual 10-yard touchdown.

After CSU chopped the shortage to 14-10 connected a 35-yard tract extremity with 1:27 near successful the second, SDSU scored 38 seconds later. Two plays aft Oladokun and Janke hooked up for a 46-yard walk play to CSU’s 12-yard line, Strong scored from that spot connected a tally up the middle.

The Rams, trailing 21-10, got down to the Jackrabbits’ 22-yard enactment but chose to effort a tract extremity with 9 seconds left. Kicker Cayden Camper’s 40-yard effort went wide.