Final
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.
- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF FINAL 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
COLORADO ST 10 10 0 20 40
FRESNO ST 14 7 7 7 35 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: FRESNO ST - TD, LONYAE MILLER 1 YD RUN (KEVIN
GOESSLING KICK), 3:14. FRESNO
ST 7-0
COLORADO ST - TD, GRANT STUCKER 18 YD RUN (JASON
SMITH KICK), 5:23. COLOR
Dec 20 5:50 PM
TD FRESNO ST RYAN SKIDMORE 7 YD PASS FROM TOM BRANDSTATER (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35 4th - 0:55Dec 20 5:45 PM
TD FRESNO ST RYAN SKIDMORE 7 YD PASS FROM TOM BRANDSTATER (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35 4th - 0:55Dec 20 5:45 PM
TD FRESNO ST RYAN SKIDMORE 7 YD PASS FROM TOM BRANDSTATER (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35 4th - 0:55Dec 20 5:45 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD FRESNO ST
RYAN SKIDMORE 7 YD PASS FROM TOM BRANDSTATER
(KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
COLORADO ST 40
FRESNO ST 35 0:55 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35 4th - 0:55Dec 20 5:45 PM - 88
roots
TD COLORADO ST GARTRELL JOHNSONIII 77 YD RUN (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 40, Fresno State 28 4th - 1:46Dec 20 5:38 PM
TD COLORADO ST GARTRELL JOHNSONIII 77 YD RUN (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 40, Fresno State 28 4th - 1:46Dec 20 5:38 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD COLORADO ST
GARTRELL JOHNSONIII 77 YD RUN
(JASON SMITH KICK)
COLORADO ST 40
FRESNO ST 28 1:46 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Colorado State 40, Fresno State 28 4th - 1:46Dec 20 5:38 PM - 65
roots
TD COLORADO ST RASHAUN GREER 69 YD PASS FROM BILLY FARRIS (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 33, Fresno State 28 4th - 7:00Dec 20 5:24 PM
TD COLORADO ST RASHAUN GREER 69 YD PASS FROM BILLY FARRIS (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 33, Fresno State 28 4th - 7:00Dec 20 5:24 PM
TD COLORADO ST RASHAUN GREER 69 YD PASS FROM BILLY FARRIS (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 33, Fresno State 28 4th - 7:00Dec 20 5:24 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD COLORADO ST
RASHAUN GREER 69 YD PASS FROM BILLY FARRIS
(JASON SMITH KICK)
COLORADO ST 33
FRESNO ST 28 7:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Colorado State 33, Fresno State 28 4th - 7:00Dec 20 5:24 PM - 27
roots
TD COLORADO ST GARTRELL JOHNSONIII 1 YD RUN (TWO-POINT RUN CONVERSION FAILED)
Colorado State 26, Fresno State 28 4th - 9:45Dec 20 5:13 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD COLORADO ST
GARTRELL JOHNSONIII 1 YD RUN
(TWO-POINT RUN CONVERSION FAILED)
COLORADO ST 26
FRESNO ST 28 9:45 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Colorado State 26, Fresno State 28 4th - 9:45Dec 20 5:13 PM - NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF END, 3RD QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
COLORADO ST 10 10 0 20
FRESNO ST 14 7 7 28 END, 3RD QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: FRESNO ST - TD, LONYAE MILLER 1 YD RUN (KEVIN
GOESSLING KICK), 3:14. FRESNO
ST 7-0
COLORADO ST - TD, GRANT STUCKER 18 YD RUN (JASON
SMITH KICK), 5:
Dec 20 5:02 PM
TD FRESNO ST ANTHONY HARDING 2 YD RUN (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 20, Fresno State 28 3rd - 8:31Dec 20 4:37 PM
TD FRESNO ST ANTHONY HARDING 2 YD RUN (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 20, Fresno State 28 3rd - 8:31Dec 20 4:37 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD FRESNO ST
ANTHONY HARDING 2 YD RUN
(KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
COLORADO ST 20
FRESNO ST 28 8:31 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Colorado State 20, Fresno State 28 3rd - 8:31Dec 20 4:37 PM - NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF HALFTIME 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
COLORADO ST 10 10 20
FRESNO ST 14 7 21 HALFTIME
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: FRESNO ST - TD, LONYAE MILLER 1 YD RUN (KEVIN
GOESSLING KICK), 3:14. FRESNO
ST 7-0
COLORADO ST - TD, GRANT STUCKER 18 YD RUN (JASON
SMITH KICK), 5:23.
Dec 20 4:03 PM
TD COLORADO ST KORY SPERRY 22 YD PASS FROM BILLY FARRIS (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 20, Fresno State 21 2nd - 0:02Dec 20 4:01 PM
TD COLORADO ST KORY SPERRY 22 YD PASS FROM BILLY FARRIS (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 20, Fresno State 21 2nd - 0:02Dec 20 4:01 PM
TD COLORADO ST KORY SPERRY 22 YD PASS FROM BILLY FARRIS (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 20, Fresno State 21 2nd - 0:02Dec 20 4:01 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD COLORADO ST
KORY SPERRY 22 YD PASS FROM BILLY FARRIS
(JASON SMITH KICK)
COLORADO ST 20
FRESNO ST 21 0:02 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Colorado State 20, Fresno State 21 2nd - 0:02Dec 20 4:01 PM
TD FRESNO ST LONYAE MILLER 69 YD RUN (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 13, Fresno State 21 2nd - 4:26Dec 20 3:45 PM
TD FRESNO ST LONYAE MILLER 69 YD RUN (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 13, Fresno State 21 2nd - 4:26Dec 20 3:45 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD FRESNO ST
LONYAE MILLER 69 YD RUN
(KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
COLORADO ST 13
FRESNO ST 21 4:26 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Colorado State 13, Fresno State 21 2nd - 4:26Dec 20 3:45 PM - NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
FG COLORADO ST
JASON SMITH 22 YD
COLORADO ST 13
FRESNO ST 14 5:50 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Colorado State 13, Fresno State 14 2nd - 5:50Dec 20 3:37 PM - NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF END, 1ST QTR 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
COLORADO ST 10 10
FRESNO ST 14 14 END, 1ST QTR
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: FRESNO ST - TD, LONYAE MILLER 1 YD RUN (KEVIN
GOESSLING KICK), 3:14. FRESNO
ST 7-0
COLORADO ST - TD, GRANT STUCKER 18 YD RUN (JASON
SMITH KICK), 5:
Dec 20 3:17 PM - NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
FG COLORADO ST
JASON SMITH 29 YD
COLORADO ST 10
FRESNO ST 14 2:57 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Colorado State 10, Fresno State 14 1st - 2:57Dec 20 3:11 PM
TD FRESNO ST ANTHONY HARDING 2 YD RUN (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 7, Fresno State 14 1st - 6:35Dec 20 3:00 PM
TD FRESNO ST ANTHONY HARDING 2 YD RUN (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 7, Fresno State 14 1st - 6:35Dec 20 3:00 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD FRESNO ST
ANTHONY HARDING 2 YD RUN
(KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
COLORADO ST 7
FRESNO ST 14 6:35 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Colorado State 7, Fresno State 14 1st - 6:35Dec 20 3:00 PM
TD COLORADO ST GRANT STUCKER 18 YD RUN (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 7, Fresno State 7 1st - 9:37Dec 20 2:49 PM
TD COLORADO ST GRANT STUCKER 18 YD RUN (JASON SMITH KICK)
Colorado State 7, Fresno State 7 1st - 9:37Dec 20 2:49 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD COLORADO ST
GRANT STUCKER 18 YD RUN
(JASON SMITH KICK)
COLORADO ST 7
FRESNO ST 7 9:37 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Colorado State 7, Fresno State 7 1st - 9:37Dec 20 2:49 PM
TD FRESNO ST LONYAE MILLER 1 YD RUN (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 0, Fresno State 7 1st - 11:46Dec 20 2:41 PM
TD FRESNO ST LONYAE MILLER 1 YD RUN (KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
Colorado State 0, Fresno State 7 1st - 11:46Dec 20 2:41 PM- NEW MEXICO BOWL
AT ALBUQUERQUE NM
NCAAF NEW MEXICO BOWL
TD FRESNO ST
LONYAE MILLER 1 YD RUN
(KEVIN GOESSLING KICK)
COLORADO ST 0
FRESNO ST 7 11:46 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Colorado State 0, Fresno State 7 1st - 11:46Dec 20 2:41 PM
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