Flashback: BYU rushes for 337 yards in upset of Colorado State

Exactly 53 years ago, the Brigham Young Cougars took on the Colorado State Rams in the season finale. Colorado State was 6-3 and second place in the Skyline Conference. BYU was having a disappointing season. After back-to-back winning seasons in 1957 and 1958, BYU was just 2-7 in head coach Tally Stevens’ first season.

A conference championship wasn’t on the line for Colorado State, but BYU needed to win to avoid finishing last in the conference.

BYU dominated the Rams statistically. The Cougars more than doubled the number of first downs that Colorado State had (19 to 8). More impressively, BYU dominated on the ground. The Cougars racked up 337 yards on the ground, which was 120 more than the 217 that Colorado State had. BYU had just 20 yards passing to Colorado State’s 52 yards.

Distancing themselves from the Rams on the scoreboard was a different story.

BYU fumbled five times, and lost three of them. The Cougars also had seven penalties for 55 yards. Colorado State had just two fumbles (lost both) and only 30 penalty yards. The turnovers and penalties prevented BYU from scoring more points.

That turned this game into a nail biter.

BYU held just a 1-point lead. Colorado State could have won the game with a field goal in the fourth quarter. The Cougar defense rose to the occasion and kept the Rams corralled.

BYU won 14-13 to finish a disappointing 1959 season on a positive note.

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