pac 12 shootout: colorado state vs sdsu game recap

Hejny Powers Colorado State Past San Diego State, 56-49, in a 1,114-Yard Shootout

Hauss Hejny put the team on his back. Colorado State beat San Diego State 56-49 on Saturday, ending a four-game skid and earning its first conference win of the year.

The teams combined for 105 points and 1,114 yards (SDSU 565, CSU 549). Colorado State improved to 3-4 (1-2 Pac-12), while San Diego State fell to 3-5 (2-2).

Hejny, back from a hamstring injury, went 24-of-31 for 333 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. He also ran 11 times for 85 yards and two scores. Hejny's elite dual threat performance was much needed for a Colorado State team that desperately needed a win.

Wide Receiver Tommy Maher caught two touchdowns and finished with six catches for 108 yards, his first 100-yard game of the year. Running back Durell Robinson scored three times: two runs and a 28-yard catch. Overall, this Colorado State offense looked balanced and elite all the way around.

How it unfolded

First quarter (14-14).

Colorado State opened with a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Hejny hit Maher from 9 yards out at 10:17 to make it 7-0. San Diego State answered with a 75-yard drive in six plays to tie the game with Lucky Sutton’s 5-yard run.

Later on, Javion Kinnard, a former Ram, then ran 19 yards at 3:19 to cap a seven-play, 83-yard drive and give the Aztecs a 14-7 lead.

Robinson would respond with a 6-yard run for the Rams to tie the game at 14-14 with just under two minutes left in the quarter. The first quarter would end tied 14-14.

Second quarter (CSU 21, SDSU 10).

Quite simply, the second quarter quickly turned into a shootout. Cooper DiLeva’s 36-yard field goal at 13:34 put San Diego State back in front, 17-14 before Hejny found Maher for a 54-yard touchdown at 10:19 to make it 21-17 Rams.

This is when the scoring truly began. Kinnard needed just 68 seconds to answer with a 32-yard run at 9:06, and San Diego State led 24-21 following his second score of the game. Robinson ran in a 10-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive and make it 28-24.

The game turned with 1:33 left in the half. Safety Tre’Shawn Moore intercepted Stone Saunders and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. Colorado State went into the break up 35-24 with momentum following the turnover. Before halftime the teams had traded the lead four times and tied it twice.

Third quarter (SDSU 10, CSU 7).

The third quarter was rapidly less eventful for both offenses. DiLeva hit a 46-yard field goal at 12:12 to cut it to 35-27 and keep the game within one possession.

However, the Rams responded beautifully. Colorado State then drove 12 plays and 75 yards, taking 5:28 off the clock, and Hejny hit Robinson from 28 yards at 6:44 for a 42-27 lead. Saunders quickly answered with a 43-yard touchdown to Jaylon Hawkins at 4:49, and the Aztecs trailed 42-34. The Aztecs would enter the fourth quarter behind, but very much in the game.

Fourth quarter (CSU 14, SDSU 15).

Hejny opened the period with a 4-yard run at 14:52 to finish a 10-play, 75-yard drive that killed momentum from the Aztecs.

Saunders found tight end Jordan Napier from 24 yards at 12:29, and the Aztecs went for two and got it when Saunders hit Bert Emanuel Jr on a beautiful throw.

The score was then 49-42, and all the Aztecs needed was a stop to potentially push the game to overtime.

However, Hauss Hejny called game. Hejny answered with a 30-yard touchdown run at 8:43 to push the lead back to 56-42. San Diego State then put together a 16-play, 99-yard drive that ate 6:23, ending with Sutton’s 7-yard run at 1:57 to make it 56-49. That was the final score.

San Diego State will host Washington State on Halloween while Colorado State gets ready to travel to play Utah State.