Hejny Throws Five Touchdowns as Colorado State Opens Jim Mora Era With Win Over Wyoming.
FORT COLLINS, Colo. — Colorado State opened the Jim Mora era with an impressive 35-13 victory over longtime rival Wyoming on Saturday night, powered by five touchdown passes from quarterback Hauss Hejny and a defense that forced three interceptions. Hejny, a transfer from Oklahoma State, delivered one of the strongest performances of his Colorado State debut. He finished with 214 passing yards and connected with RJ Vick for three touchdowns, including a 57-yard scoring play that helped the Rams regain control after Wyoming briefly threatened to take the lead. Colorado State established momentum from the opening possession. Hejny caught a 28-yard pass on a trick play that helped set up the Rams' first touchdown. His ability to contribute through the air and on the unexpected trick-play reception gave Colorado State an early advantage. Vick also played a major role in the victory, catching six passes for 75 yards. The connection between Vick and Hejny became one of the defining storylines of the game as Colorado State's offense consistently created opportunities against Wyoming's defense. Wyoming closed the gap late in the first half after Colorado State kicker Kali Nguma missed a 54-yard field-goal attempt with 33 seconds remaining. Erik Sandvik responded for the Cowboys by making a 48-yard field goal, sending Wyoming into halftime trailing 14-6. The Cowboys came out of halftime with renewed energy. Quarterback Tyler Hughes scrambled for a 9-yard touchdown on Wyoming's opening drive of the third quarter, cutting Colorado State's lead to 14-13. Colorado State's defense answered before Wyoming could build any additional momentum. Linebacker Oumar Diomande intercepted Hughes while the Cowboys were driving, giving the Rams possession and an opportunity to respond. Two plays later, Hejny found Vick for another touchdown, extending Colorado State's lead. The Rams' defense continued to make plays throughout the second half and eventually recovered a fumble to help secure the victory. Wyoming struggled to maintain drives, finishing the night without converting a single third down on eight attempts.
“We’ve got a lot of things to fix,” Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said. “We’ve got to stick together and do it, and we will.”
The victory was an important first step for Mora, who arrived at Colorado State after spending the previous four seasons at Connecticut. Mora made significant changes to the roster during the offseason, bringing in 76 new players, including 41 transfers. Hejny and Vick were among the newcomers who made an immediate impact. Hejny said Colorado State's desire to improve played a major role in his decision to join the program. “CSU is a place that was hungry to win and hungry to have success,” Hejny said. “I just wanted to be a part of it.”
Mora remained focused on the bigger picture following his first victory with the Rams. Rather than celebrating the result too much, he emphasized the importance of maintaining consistency throughout the season. “I’m just happy for the players,” Mora said. “I preach to them not get too high or too low. So if I’m not steady, then they can’t be.” The victory also allowed Colorado State to reclaim the Bronze Boot in the Border War rivalry. The matchup carried additional significance this season because Colorado State entered the Pac-12 Conference while Wyoming remained in the Mountain West. A crowd of 40,546 attended the game, creating a strong atmosphere for Colorado State's first season in its new conference. Following the final whistle, Colorado State players took the Bronze Boot to the sideline as fans celebrated on the field. Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould attended the game and also participated in a pep rally the night before. Gould praised the atmosphere surrounding the program and expressed optimism that the Pac-12 could help increase Colorado State's national profile. “This place is amazing, and more people need to know about it,” Gould said. “That’s where I think the Pac-12 and the association to the Pac-12 hopefully can help elevate the brand.” For Diomande, who followed Mora from Connecticut, the rivalry was unfamiliar before he arrived at Colorado State. He quickly learned how important the matchup was to the program.
“I heard we hate Wyoming, so I decided to hate Wyoming, too,” Diomande said.
Colorado State will now look to carry the momentum from its rivalry victory into the remainder of the season. The Rams will host Southern Utah next Saturday, while Wyoming will attempt to rebound against Northern Colorado.
