Spring Break
Stout defense gives CSU winning record
Matt L. Stephens
Issue date: 9/22/08 Section: Sports
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Much of the success can be contributed to the Rams defense, which held the Houston Cougars to a season-low 25 points in their 28-25 win Saturday afternoon.
It was the first time in school history that CSU (2-1) defeated Houston, and it couldn't have been any more picturesque for junior safety Klint Kubiak, who sealed the Rams' second victory of the season with an interception in the end zone with two seconds left in the game.
"I can't tell you what it feels like, I don't even know what to say," said Kubiak, a native of Houston. "I had a lot of family from Houston that were here tonight and a lot of family listening on the radio at home, but there wasn't a better way to end it than right there."
Down by 11 with six minutes left in the fourth quarter, UH (1-3) marched down the field for a 12-play, 80-yard drive. The drive ended with Cougar quarterback Case Keenum taking advantage of a coverage mismatch in the back of the end zone, connecting with the 6-foot-3 L.J. Castille who won the battle over CSU cornerback Gerard Thomas, who stands at 5-foot-9. Down by five, UH elected to go for two and converted, once again going to the same mismatch.
The Rams got the ball back but were forced to punt after a three-and-out, and that's when things really got interesting. The Cougars started their final drive from their own 32 and swiftly ran a successful two-minute drill to the CSU 15 yard line with only 1:09 left in the game. With third and six staring UH in the face, Keenum took the shotgun snap, looking for Castille over Thomas once again in the back of the endzone, but Keenum was greeted with a surprise.
Thomas intentionally let Castille behind him to give the illusion that he was open, only to be hook-line-and-sinkered by Klint Kubiak, who came over for the game-clinching interception.
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JG
posted 9/22/08 @ 12:28 PM MST
Kubiak is the "feel good" story but without Pagnotta the Rams lose the game, period. #13's effort was the best individual performance by a safety that I have seen in a very long time. (Continued…)
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