Dalyn Dawkins powers Colorado State football past UNLV

Dalyn Dawkins rushed for a career-high 151 yards and caught a touchdown pass to power CSU to a 49-35 victory over UNLV on Saturday at Hughes Stadium.

It was the second consecutive 100-yard game for Dawkins, a sophomore running back. Colorado State University ran for a season-best 326 yards in the win in front of 15,641 fans on senior night.

In a back-and-forth affair, CSU jumped ahead early with a three-play drive that opened with a 69-yard pass from Nick Stevens to tight end Steven Walker. Two plays later, Stevens connected with All-American wide receiver Rashard Higgins for a nine-yard touchdown pass. Stevens would find Higgins in the end zone twice more for touchdown passes of eight and four yards in the second half.

Higgins, a junior likely playing his final game at Hughes Stadium, finished the night with seven receptions for 102 yards. It was his first multi-touchdown game of the season.

With the game tied at 21-21 with less than a minute remaining in the first half, CSU senior fullback Nu’uvali Fa’apito scored from one yard out, the first rushing touchdown of his career, to give the Rams (5-5, 3-3 MW) a 28-21 lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Fa'apito scored on another one-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.

The majority of UNLV’s offense came from wide receiver Kendal Keys, who had six catches for 87 yards and three scores.

UNLV quarterback Blake Decker, who completed 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns, exited in the second quarter after getting sacked by Deonte Clyburn. Kurt Palandench replaced him and threw for 154 yards and a touchdown while adding another score on the ground.

The CSU defense had four sacks on the night. There were 1,036 total yards of offense between the two teams.

The Rams are one win shy of bowl eligibility with games remaining at New Mexico and Fresno State.

Stay tuned to Coloradoan.com for more coverage of this game.