By Ryan Hope
Four turnovers proved costly for the Cougars as they fell to the Colorado State Rams 37-10 Thursday Oct. 24.
The Cougars fell to 3-5 on the season and 0-3 in Mountain West Conference play.
Redshirt freshman quarterback Matt Berry, starting his second game for the Cougars, completed his first eight passes and scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak early in the second quarter.
Berry was intercepted by CSU freshman safety Ben Stratton in the fourth quarter and also fumbled the ball twice in the first quarter.
Berry”s first fumble gave the Rams the ball with good field position and led to a 7-yard touchdown run by junior running back Cecil Sapp.
The run by Sapp increased CSU”s lead to 10-0 over the Cougars.
Sapp led CSU”s offense, rushing for 164 yards on 25 carries. Sapp passed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season on a run late in the second quarter.
On the Cougars” next possession, Berry fumbled the snap from center, which was recovered by Ram sophomore defensive tackle Bryan Save.
Again benefiting from good field position, junior quarterback Bradlee Van Pelt scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to extend the Rams” lead to 17-0.
Sophomore running back Marcus Whalen began BYU”s next drive with a 39-yard run, which led to the Cougars only touchdown on Berry”s 1-yard sneak.
Sophomore kicker Matt Payne”s 25-yard field goal narrowed the Rams” lead over the Cougars to 17-10 with just under four minutes left in the first half.
Sapp fumbled on the Rams” following possession, but the Cougars were unable to make a first down and were forced to punt.
Junior running back Rahsaan Sanders scored on a 21-yard run with 47 seconds left in the half to give the Rams a 24-10 halftime lead.
A 27-yard field goal by CSU sophomore kicker Jeff Babcock was the only scoring that took place in the third quarter increasing the Rams” lead to 27-10.
Sapp scored his second touchdown of the night on a 7-yard run giving the Rams a 34-10 fourth quarter lead.
A late field goal by Babcock gave the Rams a 37-10 lead.
BYU must win three of their remaining four games to be eligible for a postseason bowl.
The Cougars have three straight home games against San Diego State, Wyoming and New Mexico before finishing the season against Utah in Salt Lake City.
