FanHouse gathers around the TV to bring you insights from Bowl Season '08.One of the beautiful things about bowl season is that some very talented, but unknown college football stars get their moment in the spotlight. With that in mind .. America, meet Gartrell Johnson. The stocky senior running back put on an absolute show, leading Colorado State to a 40-35 come-from-behind win over Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl. The win was the Rams' first bowl win in seven years.
Johnson ran for a career-high 285 yards plus caught six passes for 89 -- giving him a whopping 374 total yards. Prior to Saturday, Johnson averaged 99 rushing yards per game in 2008.
Colorado State trailed 28-20 heading to the fourth quarter, but Tommie Hill intercepted Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater, swinging momentum in the Rams' favor. Johnson punched in from one yard out soon after to cut the Bulldogs' lead down to 28-26.
CSU finally jumped into the lead -- for the first time all day -- with 7:10 left in the fourth quarter. Rams' QB Billy Farris launched a bomb to Rashaun Greer, who made a nice catch, fought out of a tackle and took it in for a 69-yard score.
Johnson then put the game on ice, taking a handoff to the left side of Colorado State's line and busting free on a 77-yard TD scamper. Fresno scored late, but failed to recover a last-gasp onside kick.
Johnson's efforts overshadowed a strong rushing day for the Bulldogs. Anthony Harding and Lonyae Miler combined for 232 yards and four touchdowns on the ground for Fresno. It's not too often that you see a team popo in four rushing TDs and still come out on the losing end.
Fresno's inability to get a stop late made Harding and Miller inconsequential, though. Just as in early losses this year to Wisconsin, Louisiana Tech, Nevada and Boise State, the Bulldogs defensive line got gashed all afternoon. Johnson rumbled for 57 yards on his second carry and never looked back.
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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 20: Quarterback Willie Tuitama #7 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates as he scores a touchdown late in the team's 31-21 victory over the Brigham Young University Cougars during the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 20, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Willie Tuitama
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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 20: Harvey Unga #45 of the Brigham Young University Cougars tries to get away from Nate Ness #32 of the Arizona Wildcats during the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 20, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Harvey Unga;Nate Ness
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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Mike Stoops of the Arizona Wildcats is presented with a trophy after defeating the Brigham Young University Cougars 31-21 in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 20, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Stoops
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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 20: Ronnie Palmer #33 and Devin Ross #6 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrate after the team's 31-21 victory over the Brigham Young University Cougars in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 20, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ronnie Palmer;Devin Ross
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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Mike Stoops of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates after defeating the Brigham Young University Cougars 31-21 in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 20, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Stoops
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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 20: Ronnie Palmer #33 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrates after the team's 31-21 victory over the Brigham Young University Cougars in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 20, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Ronnie Palmer
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LAS VEGAS - DECEMBER 20: Head coach Mike Stoops and Ronnie Palmer #33 of the Arizona Wildcats celebrate after defeating the Brigham Young University Cougars 31-21 in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium December 20, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Mike Stoops;Ronnie Palmer
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Arizona head coach Mike Stoops raises his arms in celebration after the Las Vegas Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008. Arizona beat Brigham Young 31-21. (AP Photo/Louie Traub)
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Arizona's Marquis Hundley (23) intercepts a pass intended for Brigham Young's Austin Collie (9) during the second half of the Las Vegas Bowl college football game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008. Arizona went on to win 31-21. (AP Photo/Louie Traub)
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Brigham Young's Dennis Pitta, left, is tackled by Arizona's Nate Ness (32) and Ricky Elmore (44) during the second half of the Las Vegas Bowl college football game, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008. Arizona went on to win 31-21. (AP Photo/Louie Traub)
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Not to imply that Fresno State didn't care one way or the other, but this looked like one of those cases where motivation proves to be the driving factor behind a lesser-bowl's outcome. While Fresno sort of put it in cruise control after taking that 28-20 lead, the Rams put their foot on the gas in the second half -- clearly, a win in the New Mexico Bowl was a big stepping stone for a recently struggling program. CSU finishes the year 7-6
That record matches Fresno's final mark -- but the Rams will be much, much happier to be in the "Just above .500" crowd than the Bulldogs will.
Remember that Fresno looked like a potential BCS buster before the season started. A 17-point win at Rutgers to kick things off simply added to that hype. But the Bulldogs dropped a tough one two weeks later to Wisconsin, lost a stunner to Hawaii on Oct. 4 and limped to a 2-3 mark down the stretch.
The Bulldogs clearly had bigger hopes for this season. As impressive as Pat Hill's coaching run at Fresno State has been (nine bowl games in 10 years), the 'Dogs have yet to get over the top and break into the BCS world.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Pat Hill needs to go!!!! 4th and 10 with a little over 2 minutes to go, down by 5, and their defense pretty much nonexistant, and he punts. What a MORON!!!! Until Hill goes, the Bulldogs will always be overrated and SUCK! Remember the year when he kept chanting BCS halfway through the season and they go and lose the next game. Once again, WHAT AN MORON!!!!!!!!
My Cleveland Browns need this kid!
Thanks for making my day, CSU. Congrats and thanks for making this alum proud!!