Under new defensive play caller Kenny McClendon, the Colorado State defense forced Texas State to punt on its first possession Thursday night in San Marcos.
The Bobcats then scored on seven straight possessions in the first half, the first four of which came before the Rams got on the scoreboard.
Texas State made that early 28-0 lead stand up in a 66-27 victory.
The loss was the fourth in a row for CSU (2-4) after the Rams won their first two games. CSU also fell to 0-2 in Pac-12 play.
McClendon took over the Rams’ defense after former defensive coordinator Tyson Summers left the field during CSU’s game against Oregon State on Oct. 3 and was let go after the contest.
However, CSU gave up more than 55 points and 500 yards for the third week in a row. The 66 points and 716 yards the defense allowed were season-highs.
“We put really less than two weeks’ work in on real defense,” CSU head coach Jim Mora said. “We’re playing real schemes now, not gimmicks. And it’s going to take us a while to really learn how to actually play defense, which is leverage on the ball. It’s making sure that you stay in your gap. It’s making sure that you bring your feet when you tackle. It’s making sure that you communicate. It’s making sure that you build resilience to overcome tough starts.”
Both teams faced fourth-and-1 on their opening drives, and both chose to punt. Texas State scored its first touchdown of the game on its second possession, and the Rams couldn’t stop the Bobcats the rest of the half.
After their defense gave up four touchdowns in the first 18 minutes and 10 seconds of the game, the Rams offense began to chip away at the Bobcats’ lead.
The Rams recovered a fumble on a Texas State punt return and needed two plays to score. Durell Robinson ran it in from 15 yards out to cut the Bobcats advantage to 28-7.
From there, the teams traded touchdowns until halftime.
After Texas State went ahead 35-7, CSU quarterback K’saan Farrar found Nader Chirchi for a 21-yard touchdown to make it 35-14.
The Bobcats answered again to go up 42-14, but the Rams responded with a 1-yard run by Robinson to cut the Texas State lead to 42-21 with 26 seconds remaining in the first half.
It turned out to be enough time for Texas State to kick a 23-yard field goal and take a 45-21 lead into halftime.
The Bobcats had 473 yards of offense in the first half alone.
CSU opened the second half with a 37-yard touchdown pass from Farrar to Terrence Smith that cut the Texas State lead to 45-27 after a failed two-point conversion attempt, but that would be as close as the Rams would get.
Texas State scored three more times in the third quarter, and neither team scored in the game’s final 15 minutes.
Of the Bobcats’ 716 yards of offense, they rushed for 503. Torrance Burgess rushed for 224 yards and four touchdowns while quarterback Brad Jackson ran for 181 yards and three touchdowns. Jackson also passed for 213 yards and a touchdown.
Those 716 yards were a program record for Texas State.
Despite that number, the Rams are still optimistic that with some work, their defense can be good.
“I feel like it’s not really difficult at all,” said safety Tre’Shawn Moore, who had nine tackles. “I mean, we chose to play football. It’s what we love to do, so, I feel like you just got to keep working, keep working. It’s going to get better.”
For CSU, Farrar passed for 282 yards and two touchdowns. Jackson Harper caught five passes for 91 yards and the Rams collectively rushed for 148 yards and two TDs, both by Robinson.
Mora continues to be impressed with Farrar’s play starting in place of injured QB Hauss Hejny.
“He took another big step up tonight,” Mora said. “He’s becoming a leader. He’s someone who we really can count on. I like him a lot. I don’t think anyone should think that this job is just going to be handed right back to Hauss, because it’s not.
“You talk about a guy that’s had to fight through some adversity and overcomes some things in games. That’s K’saan. He’s had to do that, and you grow from that. I saw some real fire out of him tonight. I saw some real leadership out of him.”
CSU will be back home Oct. 24 against San Diego State.
Colorado State running back Oliver Lundberg pushes forward for yardage against Texas State on Thursday in San Marcos, Texas. (Provided by CSU Athletics)