Fort Collins, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Dee Hart scored six touchdowns to lead 22nd-ranked Colorado State to a 58-20 rout of New Mexico on Saturday.
Hart ran for 230 yards and five touchdowns and added two catches for 42 yards and a receiving score for the Rams (10-1, 6-1 MWC), who have won nine in a row since a Sep. 6 loss at Boise State.
"Really, he just did his job. I thought he did a much better job with one-cut runs," said Rams coach Jim McElwain. "He tries to maybe hit a home run all the time instead of just sticking his foot in the ground, seeing it and going. I thought he did a good job of that today."
Garrett Grayson was 23-of-29 for 389 yards with three touchdown passes. He became the Rams' all-time leader in total offense in the triumph.
New Mexico's ground game was effective, totaling 301 yards, but it wasn't enough. Jhurell Pressley ran for 109 yards on seven carries for the Lobos (3-8, 1-6), while quarterback Lamar Jordan ran for 74 yards with a touchdown.
Two special teams turnovers by the Lobos, including a fumble on the opening kickoff, sunk their upset chances. Colorado State's Jasen Oden Jr. forced returner Ridge Jones to fumble twice, and the Rams cashed in with touchdowns both times.
"Give credit to our defensive guys and our special teams," said McElwain. "You start the game with a forced fumble on the kickoff return and then you're right there. Then they got another."
Grayson started the scoring on the Rams' first drive with a 7-yard pass to Rashard Higgins. Higgins would catch a second touchdown in the third quarter, and he finished the game with 10 catches for 167 yards and the pair of scores.
The Lobos were unable to pass with the same success. Jordan completed just 3- of-11 throws for 55 yards with no touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. Colorado State outgained the New Mexico by a 698-356 margin in total yards.
"I don't think were consistent enough throwing the ball," said Lobos coach Bob Davie.
Hart scored his first touchdown of the game from two yards out to cap off a 16-play, 86-yard drive. A minute later, his 6-yard score gave the Rams a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter, but Jared Roberts missed the extra point.
After New Mexico got on the board with a 10-yard Jordan touchdown run, Hart responded with his biggest run of the day, running right before cutting back to the middle of the defense for a 76-yard score.
Hart scored his fourth touchdown of the quarter with a 20-yard catch on Colorado State's next drive. A Roberts field goal gave the Rams a 37-7 lead at the break.
Less than two minutes into the third quarter, Hart added to the Rams lead with a 4-yard rushing touchdown. Later in the quarter, Higgins beat the Lobos' defense for a 28-yard touchdown catch from Grayson.
New Mexico's Romell Jordan scored on an 11-yard run to cut the lead to 51-13 late in the third quarter, but that's when Hart answered with another big play. He broke through the defense for a 55-yard touchdown, his sixth of the game.
Teriyon Gipson's 10-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter got the Lobos on the board for the final time, making it a 58-20 game.
Game Notes
Colorado State's next win will be the 500th in program history ... Higgins set the CSU single-season record for receiving yards with 1,447 ... Colorado State finishes the regular season next Friday at in-state rival Air Force ... New Mexico wraps up its season next Saturday against Wyoming.
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