FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Joseph Bulovas connected a 38-yard field goal with 19 seconds remaining, Ken Seals accounted for three scores and Vanderbilt beat Colorado State 24-21 on Saturday night to snap an 11-game losing streak.
Seals drove the Commodores into field-goal range courtesy of a pass-interference penalty and a targeting call. Bulovas jumped up in excitement after making the kick, hugging his holder. His teammates soon joined in once the final horn sounded.
Seals threw two TD passes and ran in another for the Commodores (1-1), who earned their first win under new coach Clark Lea. It was Vanderbilt’s first victory since knocking off East Tennessee State 38-0 on Nov. 23, 2019. The Commodores were coming off a loss to ETSU, an FCS team, last week.
Seals’ short TD run in the third quarter gave the Commodores a 21-14 lead, but the Rams tied it with 3:07 remaining when Todd Centeio found a wide open Trey McBride on fourth-and-goal at the 3.
Both teams were in dire need of a confidence boost. Colorado State also lost last week to an FCS opponent (South Dakota State).
Trailing 14-7 in the first half and being statistically dominated, the Commodores steadily began to gain momentum by capitalizing on Colorado State’s miscues. The Rams (0-2) missed two field goals and threw an interception.
Before the game, the Commodores players walked in wearing matching gray suits. It just took a bit for the team to be that in sync on the field.
Seals finished with 236 yards passing and two TDs, one to Cam Johnson and another to Chris Pierce Jr.
Cornerback Jaylen Mahoney turned in a big defensive play for Vanderbilt when he picked off a Centeio pass near midfield. Nine plays later, Seals hit Johnson over the middle for a 9-yard score to tie the game at 14.
Rams tailback David Bailey scored once on a run and another on a catch.
Colorado State’s offense had everything going in the first half from a statistical standpoint, outgaining Vanderbilt by a 305-120 margin. But the Rams didn’t exactly translate the yards discrepancy into points as they led just 14-7 at the break. Cayden Camper pushed a pair of field goals wide right and, just before halftime, McBride drew a costly unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that moved the Rams out of field goal range.
GOING RETRO
Usually decked out in green and gold, the Rams took the field in pumpkin orange jerseys and white pants. It’s part of “Ag Day,” a celebration that began in 1981 to honor the school’s agricultural roots when it was known as Colorado A&M and the sports teams were the Aggies.
THE TAKEAWAY
Vanderbilt: Give the defense credit. The Commodores gave up loads of yards early but not many points until the offense started clicking.
Colorado State: All-Mountain West punter Ryan Stonehouse showed off his powerful foot with an 81-yard punt, which was the fourth-longest in team history.
TARGETING
Colorado State had linebacker Tavian Brown and safety Logan Stewart called for targeting in the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Vanderbilt: Host Pac-12 foe Stanford on Saturday.
Colorado State: At Toledo on Saturday.
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