The Colorado State University Rams defense wreaked havoc upon The University of Toledo Rockets on Saturday, leading the Rams to a 22-6 victory and their first win of the 2021 season.

Offensively, Todd Centeio went 11-27 through the air for 110 yards but despite the poor passing numbers, honorable mention All-American tight end Trey McBride secured his third straight 100 yard receiving game, hauling in nine catches for 109 yards.

Defensively, the Rams held the Rockets to 270 yards passing, 28 yards rushing and a 4-18 conversion rate on third down. While offensive success proved scarce at times throughout the game for both teams, the Rams efforts on defense and special teams stole the show.

A team total of six sacks, one fumble recovery and one punt-return touchdown paved the way for the Rams’ victory. Mohamed Kamara, Cam’ron Carter and Dequan Jackson combined for the sacks, while Jackson and Kamara were also consistent in providing big stops for the Rams on third and fourth down.

Both teams started off the game slowly, with each side struggling to produce on the offensive end. Toledo, who came into the matchup as the third-most penalized team in the Football Bowl Subdivision, were hit early with a costly 15-yard pass interference penalty deep in their own territory. The Rams capitalized on the penalty, ending their second possession of the game with a 31-yard field goal by Cayden Camper.

The Rams’ defensive front dominated early on, holding the Rockets to a 2-10 on third-down conversions in the first half. Building off of two first quarter sacks, three total in the first half, the Rams defense would again come up big to start the second quarter. After the Rockets’ best drive of the game, a fourth-down stop by senior linebacker Dequan Jackson while deep in Rams territory helped kill all Toledo momentum.

In the wake of a first half where only four of 13 passes were completed for 29 yards, Rams quarterback Centeio looked to get his super-star tight end more involved in the second half.

However, after stopping Toledo on another third down, Rams return man Gerick Robinson muffed a punt that would be recovered by Toledo. Luckily for the Rams, immediately following the muffed punt, Toledo had their touchdown negated by yet another costly penalty. The Rockets ended their possession by tying the game up on a 43-yard field goal by Thomas Cluckey. After a couple more uneventful possessions by both sides, the offensively starved teams headed into the halftime break tied at 3-3.

Toledo came out aggressively in the second half, looking to move the ball through the air right away. The Rockets opened up their first drive of the half with a 42-yard reception by receiver Bryce Mitchell. However, solid pressure from the Rams front seven combined with more penalties by Toledo allowed the Rams defense to once again come up big on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs.

In the wake of a first half where only four of 13 passes were completed for 29 yards, Rams quarterback Centeio looked to get his super-star tight end more involved in the second half.

While a 29-yard reception by McBride put the Rams in Toledo territory, a subsequent 23-yard touchdown run by Bailey was called back due to an illegal blocking penalty by McBride. Despite the mishap, the Rams were still able to take the lead when Camper drilled a 42-yard field goal, his second of the contest.

Looking for a quick response, Toledo quarterback Carter Bradley led his team down to the Rams’ 20-yard line after back-to-back passing gains of 19 and 26 yards. After another impressive display of pressure and run defense from the Rams front, Toledo was forced to settle for a 38-yard field goal by Cluckey, tying the game at 6-6.

Following some early special teams struggles by Colorado State, the Rams wound up scoring the first touchdown of the game with 3:03 left in the third quarter. The score came off a 70-yard punt return by Thomas Pannunzio, putting the Rams up 13-6 headed into the final quarter of the game.

Penalty struggles would still plague Toledo late, as they started their first drive of the fourth quarter with a costly false start penalty on a fourth down attempt. This was followed by yet another penalty for them on the defensive end.

After stopping the Rams on fourth down in Toledo territory, Toledo fumbled the ball back to the Rams late in the fourth quarter. Camper successfully kicked his third field goal of the day, increasing their lead to 16-6. Camper would go on to add his fourth and fifth field goals of the day shortly after, extending their lead to 22-6 and securing the much-needed road victory for the Rams.

Jeremiah Janzen can be reached at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter @JeremiahJanzen.