A nice sentiment, even understandable. Just not to Tory Horton.
"This game was about the seniors. This game wasn't about next year or about the young guys, this game was strictly about the seniors," the junior wideout said. "I preached that to the young receivers and all the receivers. This game is not for you. This game is not for next year. This game is not for the coaches. This game is for the seniors, and I told them whatever you do, do it for the seniors. How would you want to end your season if you were a senior?
"They all said we want to win, and that's something we call came to an agreement on. This game wasn't for next year. I'm happy we got the dub for the seniors."
Colorado State finished a down season on a high note, posting a 17-0 victory over New Mexico at Canvas Stadium. The final record of 3-9 wasn't what any of them anticipated. Nor was the fact the team averaged less than 13 points per game, last in the nation, not with an Air Raid offense.
With a shutout in his back pocket, it was a final game Dequan Jackson could walk away from with a big smile.
"It's not really about me, but it felt great," Jackson said. "The guys told me before we even went out there that they were going to leave everything on the line for the seniors, especially me. My biggest thing is I hope they carry that into next year and that can be momentum for the young guys. They can go forward knowing that they have that in them, and that's something we've always had in us. That's what I'm most excited about, the way we finished today was great, but I want it to bleed over for them into the next season."
For a bunch of people, it really was. Him and particularly Cam'Ron Carter, two linebacker who have grown side by side for five years. In the case of Jackson, he's been a three-year captain and a team leader for even longer. First-year head coach Jay Norvell noticed immediately.
Players who command that much respect from their peers – Horton said they call Jackson 'General' or 'Captain America' -- are revered by coaches. Especially new ones.
"I think those kids respect Dequan, and he's earned that," Norvell said. "and the rest of our seniors. I think the way they conducted themselves, especially these last two months, has had an affect on the younger players. It's got their attention, and I told them it was their responsibility to really pay attention, to prepare properly, to be ready to play, so these guys could get a win in their last game.
"It probably didn't show in our record, but these seniors did leave their mark on the younger players."
Jackson posted 11 tackles on the day to finish with 100 on the nose for his season. He was just as excited about Chase Wilson, someone Jackson hosted as a recruit, fulfil his pregame promise to his captain to play with all his heart for him. Wilson had a career-best seven tackles, including 2.5 sacks, the first of his career.
And while an offense which is still very much playing catchup to the promise due to youth and protection issues (four sacks meant 59 yielded this season), the defense created a steady arc of improvement. The shutout was the first since 2016, when the Rams blanked Fresno State 37-0. The unit constructed by defensive coordinator Freddie Banks produced five sacks and 11 tackles for loss and recovered a fumble.
New Mexico only gained 133 yards as the Lobos were 2-of-16 on third down. That's the type of defense Norvell knows he can win with in the Mountain West.
"We've got a core of really good defense that are coming back that played really well this year, and that's exciting," Norvell said. "I've got to say this: We've been part of the highest scoring teams in this league the last couple of years. We play defense like this in most years, we're going to be really hard to beat. It's our job to get our offense going."
The Rams did just enough offensively to post the win with the way the defense played. The red zone struggles continued, as the group's one trip there led to a 23-yard field goal by Michael Boyle. The two touchdowns are the snippets which lead to exciting thoughts.
Clay Millen, who established the school record this season with a 72.2 percent completion percentage, threw a pair of deep routes into good coverage, both of which led to touchdowns by big, athletic receivers getting just enough separation to make a play.
The first was a 21-yard catch by true freshman Justus Ross-Simmons in the second quarter, giving the Rams a 7-0 lead with 3:34 remaining in the half.
With 6:04 remaining, the nail in the coffin was a 41-yard reception by Tory Horton on the opposite side of the same end zone. Horton finished the day with 10 catches for 131 yards, giving him 71 catches for 1,131 yards this year, both figures good enough to place him in the top 10 for a single season (10th for catches, eight for yardage).
If the Rams protect Millen better, Norvell knows he has players who can make plays downfield. Not just in space, but by players who create their own.
"That's why we love big receivers. We have an accurate quarterback; he throws for 72 percent," Norvell said. "We have big receivers; those guys are never really covered. If they can make 50-50 ball catches, now you start putting pressure on a defense. Once we cross the 50-yard line, we're throwing for the end zone a lot of the time. That's what happens when you have big receivers. We have to add to that."
Horton sees those same things, and they've developed without depth. Ross-Simmons and even Louis Brown are learning without being pushed, down to less than 10 receivers, a number Norvell said doesn't allow the offense to practice the way they want.
When Jeremy Moses walks off the practice field with his running backs, he does so with a trio of players. The offensive line is a breakdown of seniors and freshmen.
"We had a couple of players leave, and the big thing is seeing those freshmen step up," Horton said. "You could see the more games they've been in, the more blocks you can see we're stacking on the offense. It's those types of things I see, I feel confident in, confident that we'll be solid next year and those freshmen and young guys, the O-line and the running backs are going to be something to watch. We haven't scored the amount of points we wanted and accomplished the goals we wanted, but you could see the building blocks we are building."
The one place Norvell said the Rams have depth is on the defensive line, and the competition there has pushed the group forward. He wants it across the board for a unit which did play well the second half, very well at times.
Some of the issues, Norvell noted, will be addressed through recruiting, with the most important targets close at hand.
"Mohamed Kamara and Chigozie Anusiem, it's important they come back," he said. "My biggest recruiting job is going to be those guys, getting Mo Kamara and Chigy to come back."
There were plenty of smiles on the field afterward, the direct result of a win. There was an anticipation in the locker room to sing the fight song.
It will mean something to those who return and will try to push the program forward. It does set a tone.
"It's always important to win your last game no matter what your record is, because you leave with a good taste in your mouth, everybody has a little pep in your step and you can kind of set the course for the offseason," Norvell said. "We have to get this roster fixed. I promised the players we will have a locker room of players who are committed to CSU and who want to be here and want to be part of this team, who want to sacrifice for their teammates."
Guys like Jackson, who committed to the program a long time ago and never considered leaving. A player who took control of his recruiting class and established a leadership role from the first camp.
As much as there was a big-picture approach to the game, inside the locker room, it was more focused, because players such as Jackson make an impact beyond 322 career tackles. Friday, the collective roster did their best to repay him.
"A lot of guys were emotional out there, and a lot of guys showed me so much love, man, I can't do anything but be grateful," Jackson said. "I have a lot of gratitude for the honor and the love I have for this program. I didn't get emotional. I wasn't sure how I was going to feel, but maybe it still hasn't hit me yet. I'm still excited about the way the guys went out there and played today."
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