3 takeaways: UNLV football stuns Colorado State with last-second field goal

LAS VEGAS — Another stunning last-second finish.

This time, it left Colorado State football with broken hearts as the Rams lost 25-23 when the Rebels hit a last-second 28-yard field goal as time expired Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium.

It was an insane finish with four lead changes in the final four minutes, including two go-ahead final kicks in the final minute.

The Rams rallied to kick a 55-yard field goal and led 23-22 with 44 seconds left.

UNLV quickly moved the ball downfield and got all the way to CSU's 10, and Jose Pizano hit a short 28-yard attempt at the buzzer for the win.

Pizano was the star of the game, going 6-6 on field goals.

Here's a look at how it happened and what it means for CSU.

Inside the finish

As a week ago, the story of the game came in the final four minutes.

CSU (3-4, 1-2 Mountain West) had a 10-point (13-3) halftime lead but was overwhelmed in the third quarter as UNLV (6-1, 3-0 MW) scored 13 unanswered points in the quarter (to go up 16-13).

It carried on in the fourth as UNLV had the ball for the first 7 minutes of the final quarter and added another three points to go up 19-13.

Like a week ago, CSU’s dormant offense woke up late. The Rams flashed down the field, going 75 yards in eight plays and a 20-yard strike to Justus Ross-Simmons put CSU up 20-19 with 3:49 left.

It was just getting started. UNLV responded with a drive of its own, going 46 yards in seven plays to take a 22-20 lead on a 46-yard field goal with 1:27 to go.

And back it swung. CSU quickly moved into UNLV territory and forced a 4th and 4 from UNLV’s 38 with less than a minute left.

Decision time. The Rams tried to force UNLV offside but couldn’t and opted for a very long field goal. The previous career-high for Jordan Noyes was 48, but he thumped a 55-yarder with plenty of room to put the Rams up 23-22.

The problem was CSU hardly burned any clock. There were 44 seconds left and two UNLV timeouts.

CSU squib-kicked, as UNLV had been dangerous in the return game. UNLV started from its 34 and began with a few short plays, and it seemed the Rams might be able to steal a win.

Then UNLV hit a 21-yard pass down the left side to get to CSU’s 30 and the game changed. The Rams were on the ropes and a 20-yard pass on the next play was virtually the winner.

It set Pizano up for a 28-yard chip shot. Easy for him as he hit his sixth field goal of the night.

Winner.

"Obviously, very disappointed we couldn’t hold on at the end," CSU coach Jay Norvell said.

"We just made too many little mistakes at critical times that could have helped us either move the ball offensively or get off the field on defense. We didn’t play as well on special teams as we needed to with the field position."

CSU left to rue missed chance

This could have been a big win for CSU, toppling a team undefeated early in conference play and already on the edge of bowl eligibility.

CSU’s 10-point lead at half was the first double-digit halftime lead for the program since 2019, but it could have been more.

The Rams had limited UNLV’s vaunted rushing attack (top-10 in the nation) to fewer than 50 rush yards in the first 30 minutes.

CSU grew a two-score lead late in the second quarter with a short Avery Morrow run to make it 10-3. CSU’s defense quickly forced a stop and the Rams drove inside the 10.

But CSU stalled, called a curious timeout to help UNLV’s save time and then called a middle run on 3rd and 8 from the 9. A TD would have made it a two-touchdown game. It still led to a 13-3 halftime lead but felt a missed opportunity.

Still, the game was there to be won. A defensive stop while up 20-19 or in the final 44 seconds and the Rams head home nearer bowl contention and also with a huge opportunity to try and push toward the top of the conference. UNLV went 56 yards on six plays in the final drive.

A week after ecstasy, this is a bitter defeat.

Inconsistency continues to follow CSU

At this point, this is what this CSU team is.

The Rams can’t be faulted for effort (which isn’t something some CSU teams in recent years could say). They don’t quit and seem to truly believe they can win every game.

In moments, they’re electric. In moments, they’re maddening.

They go through long stretches of games where either the offense or defense is in a funk of sorts.

Norvell said he thought CSU would need to score 35 or 40 points to win, but instead the offense sputtered. The 372 total offensive yards were boosted by the late drives. The defense was understandably gassed late in the game after a dominant first half but couldn't get the one final stop to seal it.

CSU has multiple losses (UNLV, Colorado and even arguably Utah State) that could have been wins. The Rams also have two wins (Middle Tennessee and Boise State) that could have been losses.

"We have to learn as a team how to finish games consistently," CSU safety Henry Blackburn said. "There will be a handful of plays that will be the biggest moments of the game. You don’t know when those plays will come and so everybody has to be locked into the details of every single play."

So, all told a 3-4 record is probably about right. CSU can battle with almost everyone on the schedule, but hasn’t quite learned how to turn all those chances into wins.

A bowl chase will likely be a nail-biter into late November.

Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.

This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Colorado State football stunned by last-second field goal winner by UNLV