RENO, Nev. — Jay Norvell will enjoy this one.
Norvell’s Colorado State football team thumped his former team Nevada on Saturday night.
The 38-21 win is Norvell’s second in Reno with CSU since joining the Rams in 2022. It also pushes CSU past its 2023 win total and makes the Rams bowl eligible.
Here are three takeaways from the game.
The Rams will be bowling.
For the first time since 2017, CSU has reached the six-win mark for postseason eligibility. And it’s been done with three games left to go.
CSU (6-3, 4-0 Mountain West) also has a four-game winning streak for the first time since 2017 and will have a winning record in conference play for the first time since 2017.
But the goal is bigger than just a bowl. CSU has a golden chance to do more.
The Rams are tied with Boise State atop the Mountain West. San Diego State suffered its first league loss (to Boise State) this weekend. Fresno State now has two MW losses after a stunning loss to Hawaii.
CSU has fate in its own hands. It’s far from a guarantee, of course. CSU has a bye next then hosts rival Wyoming on Nov. 15 (the Cowboys offense came to life in a win Saturday). Then it’s a tough road game at Fresno State on Nov. 23.
More:What CSU football coach Jay Norvell and players said about reaching bowl eligibility
A lot of work to do, but CSU has huge November games ahead for the first time in years.
Two wild special teams scores helped power CSU to the win.
The first came in the second quarter when 32-year-old kicker Jordan Noyes lined up on the logo and thumped a 60-yard field goal. Oh wait, there was a timeout before the attempt.
No worries. The Englishman did it again, thumping a 60-yard field goal with some room to spare. It is the second-longest in CSU history (the record is 63), longest in Mackay Stadium history and gave the Rams a 17-0 lead at the time.
Early in the third quarter, the Rams were up 20-0 (after a much shorter 21-yard field goal after CSU forced a turnover). The ensuing kickoff was short and Nevada let it bounce.
The bounce rolled toward the Nevada goal line. As the returner tried to pick it up, Caleb Goodie hit him hard and the ball bounced toward the back of the end zone.
A bevy of CSU players raced after it and Jace Bellah jumped on it for the crazy touchdown. CSU sent the offense out and converted a two-point try to make it 28-0.
Those plays highlighted a game where CSU had contributions from a number of players not traditionally considered CSU’s stars.
Dane Olson had a 41-yard catch on a third-and-long on CSU’s first drive to help set up a touchdown. Olson later recovered a fumble from Goodie after catching a deep ball. That also set up a score.
Ayden Hector, playing safety for the injured Jack Howell, forced a fumble.
Bryan Hansen (punting for the injured Paddy Turner) was solid. Even Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi pinned a punt at the 5. Trevyn Heil was given a game ball after filling in when starting center Jacob Gardner went down injured.
It took the whole roster.
The 38 points ties CSU’s season high (38-17 over Northern Colorado) and every unit can lay a helping claim in that score.
Nevada out-gained CSU 441-327, but some of that was skewed by a desperate attack while trailing. The Rams had 170 rushing yards, led by 77 and two touchdowns from Avery Morrow. Justin Marshall added 67.
Fowler-Nicolosi was clean, going 9-15 for 157 yards (he should have had a deep TD but it was dropped by a wide-open Jordan Ross).
CSU didn’t make it easy late.
Nevada’s offense started charging up and down the field after going down 28-0 as CSU’s frequent “leading late” defensive issues arose.
Briefly, it looked like CSU had fumbled late up 14 points to make it a very nervous finish, but a review proved Avery Morrow was down. The Rams converted the fourth down on the next play (with just under 4 minutes to go) to seal the win.
CSU had won three games in a row entering Saturday, but there was still angst around the fan base.
The Rams hadn’t looked dominant and a meager offensive game against New Mexico’s bad defense a week ago still had fans worried.
The first three quarters Saturday were a statement. The Rams took the opening drive and mixed run and pass on the way to a touchdown.
That continued throughout as CSU was balanced and effective.
The defense was excellent for three most of quarters and the fumble (forced by Hector, recovered by Gabe Kirschke) on the first play of the third quarter allowed CSU to turn a 17-0 halftime lead into a 28-0 advantage early in the second half.
Nevada (3-7, 0-4 MW) moved the ball well after that, but the Rams had done their work early.
CSU’s late-game defense was concerning and keeps this from being a 100% complete effort, but there’s not too much complaining to do in a lopsided road win.
The Rams’ offense was solid in running out the win in the fourth.
Nevada’s record isn’t good, but all the numbers for the Wolf Pack mirrored CSU’s on the season. The Rams were just a two-point favorite.
This was a statement win of a team that looks like it is learning how to win.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
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