PROVO — Colorado State came here with high hopes of extending its six-game winning streak against a BYU team that was beaten soundly by Florida State last Saturday.
If you could somehow take away the first quarter in which the Rams gave away two interceptions and a blocked punt to the Cougars, resulting in a 21-0 first quarter deficit, the Rams accomplished their goal. The final score excluding that disastrous 15 minutes would give the Rams a 23-21 victory.
That fact was no moral victory whatsoever for Rams' coach Steve Fairchild, who took much of the blame himself.
"First of all, we didn't show up ready to play," said Fairchild.
"That's on me. I didn't have our football team ready to compete in a game like this. I did a job I'm embarrassed of tonight."
The two interceptions, which both came as a result of a tip by the intended receiver, handed the Cougars 14 points in only five plays and 47 yards. The blocked punt in Colorado State's fourth possession of the game resulted in another touchdown for the Cougars only two plays and 18 yards later. That was the quarter and essentially the game.
"Our defense in the first quarter when it's 21-0, they weren't the culprit that's for sure," said Fairchild."
Down 21-0, the Rams did answer early in the second quarter with a 63-yard touchdown drive to close within 14 points, but then had four offensive possessions to cut into BYU's lead with no success. All four drives ended with the Rams punting and three of the four were 3-and-outs.
"To get back in a game like this is tough duty to start with," said Fairchild. "But you're going to need something to happen."
That something didn't happen for the Rams as they failed to capitalize on opportunities when they were presented.
"You just can't do the things we did on offense and special teams in the first quarter and expect to be in this game," said Fairchild. "I think we're a better football team than we showed in that first quarter, but once we went down that road it was going to be a difficult afternoon."
Ultimately, the Rams finished the game ahead of the Cougars in many of the key statistical categories like total offense (438 to 373), first downs (26 to 20), and time of possession (33:19 to 26:41), but that just isn't enough when you spot a team like BYU 21 points.