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Johnson powers Colorado State past Fresno State

Dec 20, 2008 - 11:19 PM ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico (Ticker) -- A memorable performance by Gartrell Johnson in his final collegiate game gave Colorado State a victory in coach Steve Fairchild's first bowl game.

Johnson accounted for 375 yards of total offense as the Rams rallied for a 40-35 victory over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl on Saturday.

Johnson rushed for a personal-best 285 yards, including a game-clinching 77-yard TD run with 1:46 remaining, and caught five passes for 90 yards. His rushing mark was the second-highest single-game total in school history.

Colorado State (7-6), which needed to win its final two games just to become bowl eligible, won its first postseason game since 2001.

Fairchild took over this year after Sonny Lubick was forced out following back-to-back losing campaigns. Lubick guided the Rams to six conference championships and nine bowl games in his 14 seasons at the school.

For 2 1/2 quarters Saturday, Colorado State could not stop the Bulldogs (7-6), who grabbed a 28-20 lead on Anthony Harding's 2-yard TD run with 8:30 remaining in the third period.

Harding (120 yards) and Lonyae Miller (113) each ran for more than 100 yards and scored two touchdowns apiece for Fresno State.

However, the Rams scored 20 straight points following an interception by defensive end Tommie Hill.

The collapse was a fitting conclusion to a disappointing season for Fresno State (7-6), which began the year with BCS aspirations.

Hill's interception gave Colorado State possession at Fresno State's 32-yard line and lead to Johnson's 1-yard TD run with 9:45 remaining in the contest. Fresno State held on to the lead when Johnson's conversion run failed.

However, the Rams forced a three-and-out, and Colorado State quarterback Bill Farris burned the Bulldogs with a 69-yard TD pass to Rashaun Greer with seven minutes to play, giving Colorado State its first lead of the game, 33-28.

Farris completed 17-of-29 passes for 257 yards and two TDs.

Fresno State got a late score on Tom Brandstater's 7-yard TD strike to Ryan Skidmore with 55 seconds left, but the Rams ran out the clock after recovering the ensuing onside kick.

Brandstater finished 13-of-23 passes for 186 yards.