FORT COLLINS – Groans and moans were palpable.

Throughout the stands, people rubbed their faces, rested hands upon their heads and stared up to the heavens in disbelief. What, they wondered, was happening to Colorado State football?

Finally, the Rams were playing defense. A much-maligned unit throughout the opening two weeks of the season was showing progress. It generated turnovers and held firm in the red zone to a Southeastern Conference foe in Arkansas, no less.

But the offense was missing in action. CSU couldn’t run the ball. Third downs were a constant struggle. There was almost no time in the pocket to deliver a pass. Arkansas seized advantage and jumped out to an 18-point lead by the late third quarter. The CSU faithful were losing their conviction.

Then an answer fell from the sky, only it was no miracle. Just a spiraling brown piece of leather dropping out of the night and into the clamping fingers of a 6-foot-4, 210-pound godsend from Lovejoy, Ga.

If fans were prepared to forsake the Rams, then Preston Williams offered them something worth believing in, manhandling his way to a unlikely 34-27 comeback victory Saturday night at Canvas Stadium.

“Dude’s a spark plug. He’s one of those guys, whenever you need a big play, he’s the guy you’re going to go to,” senior running back Izzy Matthews said. “He handles it well. He makes big plays left and right. You can’t say enough words about how invaluable that guy is.”

The Rams’ uber-talented wide receiver transfer from Tennessee put on full display all the physical talents that had a program, which knows a little something about game-breaking receivers, drooling over Williams’ potential.

Saturday night was his stage. A chance to submit his name among the green-and-gold greats before him. Move aside, Rashard Higgins. Take a seat, Michael Gallup. You’re so last year.

This is the age of Preston Williams.

“He made big play after big play. Big catch after big catch. But here’s a guy who hasn’t played football in two years almost,” a euphoric CSU coach Mike Bobo said. “He’s still a raw product. He missed a lot of practice last year when he wasn’t with our football team. I’m proud of that young man.”

Williams was away from the program much of last year due to a suspension (served during a mandatory year of ineligibility for transferring), but the junior was there for his team when they needed him most Saturday.

Trailing 27-9 late in the third quarter, a fledgling CSU (1-2) offense turned the ball loose in desperation and No. 11 was always the desired destination. Quarterback K.J. Carta-Samuels pounded the ball to Williams time and again, striking his indefensible target for eight receptions, 121 yards and two touchdowns — in the second half alone.

Carta-Samuels (32-for-47, 389 yards) connected with Williams on a 4-yard touchdown pass late in the third quarter to breathe life into an otherwise anemic offense to that point, a beautiful catch on the back line.

“In practice, we repped it different, so I never ran it against press. We usually run it against off (coverage), so it was a different look, a game-time decision,” Williams said, recounting one of his eight receptions for 121 yards in the second half. “I just went up and tried to control it.

“I really don’t know what goes through my head. I’m just trying to make a play. If it comes my way, I’m always trying to make a play.”

Bobo saw it a little differently.

“Anytime you’re throwing to the end zone and you’re throwing on the back line, the ball needs to be high where only your guy has a chance to make a play,” the coach explained. “The safety was cheated to that side, and I really don’t know why (Carta-Samuels) was working that side. But sometimes you just go throw to the best player on the field.”

Carta-Samuels found Williams again as he made an incredible individual effort down the sideline to place the Rams near the end zone. Needing a critical score in the fourth quarter, there was no doubt where the ball would go. Put it on No. 11. The Rams were within three.

Carta-Samuels guided the offense (22 of 27 in the second half) down the field after a key stop of Arkansas (1-1) by the defense, settling for a field goal to equalize at 27 with 5:19 remaining, and a second stand by the defense supplied the offense one last shot.

CSU went to Williams. Then again. And again. He finished with 12 catches and 154 yards as Matthews rushed the ball across the goal line for the winning touchdown with 0:08 showing on the clock. Comeback complete.

The victory was a much-needed boost to the season for the Rams, who suffered an upset loss to open the year against Hawaii and were blown out by rival Colorado last week. By the end of the night, there were no groans. No moans. Just the sweet taste of victory at the dawn of a new era.

“I guess if you didn’t know, now you know,” Matthews grins. “But anyone that’s been paying attention knows this kid is a special talent and he’s up there with those other two.”