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Colorado State avoids upset by Weber State 24-23

Sep 15, 2009 - 9:37 PM FORT COLLINS, Colo.(AP) -- Guy Miller recovered a fumble deep in Colorado State territory with 42 seconds left as the Rams avoided an upset by defeating Weber State 24-23 Saturday.

Weber State had driven to the Colorado State 11. But Wildcats quarterback Cameron Higgins fumbled the center-quarterback exchange, and Miller fell on the ball.

Grant Stucker threw for a touchdown and caught a TD pass for the Rams (2-0). Stucker finished 10 of 23 for 203 yards with an interception. His reception was a 40-yarder from wide receiver Dion Morton.

The Rams were 0-for-8 on third-down conversions.

Cameron Higgins was 29-for-47 passing for 258 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions for Weber State (0-2).

With Colorado State trailing 20-17 at halftime, Stucker was intercepted early in the third quarter by Jordan Brown. The Wildcats turned it into a 47-yard field goal by Mike Snoy.

Two series later, Higgins' pass was intercepted by Elijah-Blu Smith and returned to the Weber State 23, but Ben DeLine missed a 38-yard field-goal attempt.

Rams linebacker James Skelton later stepped in front of Trevyn Smith to intercept a pass and return it 18 yards to the Weber State 44. Colorado State reached the 1 on a 42-yard pass from Stucker to Rashaun Greer, and two plays later, Stucker found Eric Peitz in the corner of the end zone put the Rams ahead 24-23 with 8:31 remaining.

The Wildcats took over at their own 20 and moved 69 yards, converting two fourth-down plays to reach the Colorado State 11. But on the crucial play, Higgins never got control of the snap from center Kyle Mutcher, and Miller fell on the loose ball.

The Rams scored first on Morton's 40-yard toss to Stucker and a field goal by DeLine with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter. The Wildcats countered with a 9-yard TD run by Smith, but Jon Williams hooked the PAT attempt, and it was 10-6 with 12:10 left in the second quarter.

Colorado State caught a break on its next possession. Leonard Mason fumbled running from the Weber State 3, but center Tim Walter fell on the ball in the end zone with 8:16 left in the second quarter to give the Rams a 17-6 lead.

Higgins and tight end Cody Nakamura took over the rest of the half. Higgins connected on 10- and 14-yard scoring passes to Nakamura to give the Wildcats a 20-17 halftime lead.

Colorado State has won 12 consecutive games against FCS teams, last losing to Idaho on Sept. 12, 1992. Weber State is 3-42-0 against FBS teams.