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Colorado State vs. Air Force Final Score: Cole Fagan Leads Falcons To Victory
Air Force does what it does to get the win.
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Fagan has a career high.
This game went as typical as possible for both teams. Air Force ran the ball and did so with ease as fullback Cole Fagan had a career-best day with 260 yards and a touchdown to lead the Falcons to a 27-19 victory.
Fagan’s 260 yards was the most-ever by a Falcon fullback and third most ever. Only Chad Hall (275 vs. Army in 2007) and Anthony LaCoste (263 vs. Army in 2013) had more yards in a single game.
“On the first drive the offensive line was getting a bunch of push and opening a bunch of holes and we were just pounding the fullback in there,” said Fagan, who capped the first drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, his lone touchdown in this epic 34-carry performance. “So I thought I might end up getting a lot of carries.”
The Falcons were out to 14-0 lead before Colorado State started to see its offense get off the ground, or through the air. Wide receiver Preston Williams had his best game of the year with 12 catches for 248 yards and three touchdowns. That performance was not enough as the Rams made typical Rams mistakes.
There were a pair of extra points missed but one of the biggest issues was an errant throw by Collin Hill who tried to connect on Williams who was double-teamed and the throw was picked off at the Falcons two-yard line. At the time, Colorado State was down just 17-13 in the third quarter. Had that been a touchdown the outcome of the game could have been different.
“Pretty much a microcosm of our whole season,” Colorado State coach Mike Bobo said. “Too many mistakes, we lost the turnover battle. We didn’t execute well-enough to win.”
Colorado State did have to switch quarterbacks when Hill left the game with a concussion and K.J. Carta-Samuels came into the game but it did not make too much of a difference. He went 6 of 9 for 89 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
Carta-Samuels had one last chance to at least tie the game late in the fourth quarter. The Rams were trailing 27-19 and he led Colorado State down the field but on 1st and 10 at the Falcons 22-yard line he was picked off for the only time of the game. That miscue sealed the fate for the Rams who have lost to Air Force for the third-straight time and four out of the last five games.
The Rams had other issues which was the same all year long and were not able to stop the running game and gave up 5.9 yards per carry and 393 total rushing yards. Basically, same old issues for the Rams.
Colorado State’s season is over and Air Force’s is very likely over. The Falcons have a slim chance of making a bowl game but will need a lot of help to qualify as a five-win team.
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