Rams Outlast Buffaloes, 28-24

Matt Newton threw a career-high four touchdown passes, including a 30-yarder to tight end Jose Ochoa with 10:31 to play as Colorado State defeated Colorado for the second consecutive season, 28-24, on Saturday.

In the season opener for both teams, No. 23 Colorado fell behind, 14-0, but rallied to take a 24-14 lead early in the third quarter behind backup quarterback Bobby Pesavento.

Newton subsequently was intercepted twice by cornerback Terrence Wood, but he and Frank Rice hooked up on their second scoring pass of the game, a 42-yarder with 2:32 to play in the quarter.

Asked if the outcome means his team owns the state, Colorado State Coach Sonny Lubick said, “It means we beat them two years in a row, and it means we’re happy about it. Coach [Gary] Barnett did a hell of a job with his kids and they played well. They were out for revenge, they were out for blood. That motivational factor worried me.”

After the Buffaloes missed a long field-goal attempt, Colorado State went 64 yards in eight plays for the clinching score.

On third and 10 from the Colorado 30, Newton found a wide-open Ochoa over the middle, and freshman cornerback Phil Jackson, closing fast, was unable to bring the 255-pound Ochoa down short of the goal line.

“They took advantage of our young guys, our inexperienced guys, with a veteran quarterback,” Barnett said.

A no-alcohol policy and police presence at the end of the game prevented a repeat of the rowdiness that followed last year’s game here. Police arrested 22 people, ejected 21 fans and sent seven to detoxification, police spokesman Tony Lombard said.