Ice Bowl II? Utes, Rams get chills with thrills

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — It was cold and wintry at Hughes Stadium on Saturday. The game-time temperature was 24 degrees with a constant breeze to boot.

Things got more chilly throughout Utah's 24-17 win over Colorado State.

"It was cold but as the game goes on you just block it out," said Ute quarterback Terrance Cain. "You don't even worry about it. You just play football."

Snow and record-setting cool temperatures in the region led to the postponement of Saturday's National League playoff game between the Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies in Denver.

In Fort Collins, Utah's water bottles were freezing up.

"Cold is an understatement," said one of the team trainers.

The tripods used by cameramen on the sidelines were also getting frozen.

The Utes, though, countered the chill with the thrill of victory.

"I feel really warm right now," said Utah running back Eddie Wide. "It was pretty cold at first. But then you start getting used to it after a while."

CSU coach Steve Fairchild also downplayed the frosty conditions.

"It didn't feel that cold out there to me, and I couldn't really notice it at the end of the game," he said.

REED SHINES: Overlooked amid the heroics of Robert Johnson, Terrance Cain and Eddie Wide was the play of receiver David Reed.

The senior receiver came up with nine catches for 140 yards, the second-best game of his career — second only to his 10-catch, 172-yard game against Utah State.

With the Utes trailing 17-3, Reed got behind the defense for a 47-yard touchdown reception down the left sideline to get the Utes back into the game at 17-10.

Then after the Utes had tied the game 17-17, Reed made the offensive play of the game on third-and-3 from the Ute 34 midway through the fourth quarter.

Cain hit Reed in the right flat and he turned it into a 45-yard gain, setting up the go-ahead touchdown.

'D' RESPONDS: Besides Robert Johnson's three interceptions, the Utah defense had some big plays.

The Utes had five tackles for loss, including two sacks, by Koa Misi and Derrick Shelby.

Senior linebacker Stevenson Sylvester led the Utes with seven tackles, while Mike Wright and Brandon Burton each had six.