Wyoming Is Dropped From Unbeaten Ranks : Western Athletic: Colorado State gives up only 29 rushing yards and pins first loss of the season on Cowboys, 17-8.

Colorado State used six sacks, three interceptions, a safety, an end-zone fumble recovery and a blocked field goal to defeat 19th-ranked and previously unbeaten Wyoming Saturday, 17-8.

The Rams held Wyoming to 29 net yards in 37 rushes.

“That was a great defensive game for us, probably as good a defensive effort by a team as I’ve ever seen,” Colorado State Coach Earle Bruce said. “They made the plays and had the interceptions when we needed it.”

Bruce said linemen Robert Chirico, Eric Schaller and Paul Hanks and linebackers Steve Rule and Kevin Lynch “did a great job of pressuring the passer all day and it led to the interceptions, no doubt about it. And Eric Tippeconnic’s interception was a super play. We gave him the game ball.

“I don’t think I’ve ever been associated with a better win. It was such an important win for our program. I’m so proud of this team. This is one I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

Colorado State fans, aware that the victory kept the Rams, 6-3 overall and 5-1 in the Western Athletic Conference, in contention for a bowl berth, tore down the goal posts as the game ended.

“We had our chances, we just didn’t execute well enough to win,” said Wyoming Coach Paul Roach, whose team is 9-1 and 5-1.

“The fumble near the goal line hurt, of course. Then we ran a flea-flicker and were a little short on the throw, which could have resulted in a touchdown.

“Our defense has been playing well. We just have not been doing enough offensively in recent games to produce enough points to help our defense out.”

Chirico scored a safety among his three sacks, Tippeconnic returned an interception 37 yards for a touchdown and cornerback Harlan Carroll thwarted a fourth-quarter Wyoming scoring threat with a fumble recovery in the end zone as Colorado State beat the Cowboys for the first time in four years.