Colorado State Wins Big One Over USU Aggies
Colorado State Wins Big One Over USU Aggies
In a meeting of two of the top teams in the Rocky Mountain Conference, Colorado State defeated Utah State University 43-19.
CSU managed the game smartly and with inside center Sam Masterson kicking well and allowing the Rams to play in the USU half, they led throughout.
Within three minutes of the opening kick, Masterson had already completed his first 50/22. The resulting lineout led to No. 8 and captain Mason Kreiter making some powerful runs and junior lock/flanker Aiden Wilson also running well. USU conceded a penalty for offside about five meters out and Wilson crashed over for a try. Masterson converted for the 7-0 lead.
Again Masterson was able to drop kicks on USU's back three with pinpoint accuracy. This time the chase was good from wing Jared Wade, forcing a knock-on. Colorado State's scrum then forced Utah State into another penalty, and they took the kick to touch for the lineout.
An accurate throw from prop Rylan Palmer set up the maul and Palmer then took the ball at the back and scored in the corner.
USU seemed to find their feet briefly, trying to force it with their powerful centers. Unfortunately, a USU high tackle led to another penalty, and this time Masterson pointed to the posts and put it over to make the score 15-0.
CSU was over one more when USU once again infringed. They took the lineout and once again the maul was set and once again Palmer scored. CSU 20 USU 0.
Finally Utah State got on the board after CSU was penalized and the Aggies ran it and crashed over with No. 8 Sam Alpertson to make it 20-7.
This helped turn the momentum somewhat and Utah State ran the ball through their hard-running forwards and when CSU's Aiden Wilson was yellow-carded USU was able to press their advantage and score, with scrumhalf Ben Willey tapping and scampering over.
With the first half winding down, CSU saw Lawson and flanker Brock Scanlan off for injuries, to be replaced by Zai Jones and Thomas Leachman. One of the positives of CSU's 2023-24 season is the development of their depth, and certainly they didn't lose too much with the addition of Jones and Leachman onto the field—Jones especially providing some good go-forward ball.
At the end of the half Utah State was penalized for offside and a quick tap sent Kreiter over. Masterson hit the conversion and CSU led 27-12 at halftime.
The second half started with CSU still down a man but they took it to USU in the backs. Flyhalf Zach Van Haselen expertly distributed the ball between center Dimitri Fabiani-Wyatt, who was a force with ball in hand, and Masterson breaking off a couple of runs.
A penalty against CSU for holding-on led to a quick tap and USU's speedy wing Anthony Siebles took it 60 meters to burn CSU and score under the sticks. That made it 27-19.
USU held the ball for a while and launched attack after attack but CSU was able to figure out what they were doing and defended well. With Palmer and Fabiani-Wyatt making tackles the Rams got a kickable penalty which Masterson slotted. Utah State once again tried to carry it through the CSU defense but a quick turnover gave Masterson the opportunity to drop a chip kick over Utah State's defense and Wade chased it down for the try. Masterson converted and it was 37-19.
With time running out Masterson added a long-range kick and then a slightly less long-range one to make it 43-19. Utah State kept at it and went through for one more, Final score 43-26.
Palmer added to his two tries with some solid work on defense and in set piece. Lock Adam Lawson ran well and made some good offloads in tight. No. 8 Kreiter continued his scoring touch and works hard all day.
AMong the backs Masterson controlled field posiion and the scoreboard. Scrumhalf Sean Bowen ran the tempo nicely. Dimitri Fabiani-Wyatt was a workhorse in the centers.
