This Friday will be the 110th edition of the Border War between the University of Wyoming and Colorado State University, a rivalry that has spanned over three different centuries.
Wyoming enters the game 2-6 overall and has yet to win a game in conference play so far as they sit at the bottom with an 0-4 conference record. CSU has also started out rough this year as they have a 3-5 overall record and a 2-2 conference record.
CSU has had a solid passing game this year being lead by junior wide receiver Preston Williams, transfer from Tennessee. Williams has 61 receptions this year for 825 receiving yards and 8 receiving touchdowns. Sports Director for the Rocky Mountain Collegian, the student ran publication at CSU, Luke Zahlmann describe Williams as a player with amazing size and speed along with having an amazing leaping ability. As far as wide receivers go Williams is on the tall end, standing at 6’4” and weighing 210 pounds.
On the ground Izzy Matthews is still being a productive back. Zahlmann said he had a slow start this year but in recent games Matthews has become their work horse. Matthews has averaged over 100 yards in his last three games. He has been apart of the CSU running game all four years that he has been at the school and has over 2000 career rushing yards.
While the CSU offense has found success their defense has struggled this year allowing 449.5 yards per game, 252.4 passing and 197.1 rushing, and allowing teams to score an average of 37.8 points per game.
While the defense may struggle they still have their playmakers. Linebacker Josh Watson and safety Jordan Fogle have been the top performers for CSU this year on defense. Zahlmann has said that both are aggressive and have noses for the ball.
CSU has had trouble with giving up big plays this year along with defending the run. This poses a big problem for the Rams as they face the conference leading rusher Nico Evans tonight. Evans has 121 carries for 803 yards and 6 touchdowns this year.
Both teams will be playing young quarterbacks as CSU has decided to start their redshirt sophomore Collin Hill instead of their graduate transfer K.J. Carta-Samuels, whose older brother Austyn Carta-Samuels played at Wyoming in 2009 and 2010. Wyoming this week is having their redshirt freshman Tyler Vander Waal, who has started all 8 game so far this year, battle for the starting job with true freshman Sean Chambers who replaced Vander Waal for most of the second half in Wyoming’s previous game.
Both teams are looking to gain the edge over their rival as this will be the 51st consecutive year the two teams will be playing for the Bronze Boot. Wyoming currently leads the series for the boot 26-24 and has won the last two contests. CSU does have the lead in the overall series 58-46-5. The game has been played since 1899 and has been played every year uninterrupted since 1946. Since 1946 Wyoming leads the series 41-31.
The game is set to kick off tonight, October 26, at 8 p.m. in Fort Collins, Colorado at Canvas Stadium on the CSU campus. The game will be aired on the CBS Sports Network.
