Might want to cover that guy

FORT COLLINS, Colo., -- Chad Muma knew it was going to be a challenge.

Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl knew he would pose major problems for the Cowboys' defense.

Outside linebacker Chuck Hicks was actually looking forward to covering him.

Who is this mystery man? CSU tight end Trey McBride. And it came to the surprise of absolutely no one that the junior would play a big role in the Rams' game plan and eventual 34-24 victory in Thursday night's 112th Border War.

Muma said covering McBride was a major point of emphasis all week in practice.

So what happened?

The Fort Morgan, Colo., product snagged five catches for 90 yards. He hauled in a 29-yard touchdown pass from Patrick O'Brien on the Rams first play from scrimmage.

McBride was all by himself in the UW secondary. Bohl said the defensive backs were playing man-to-man and got caught on a rub route.

Late in the third quarter, McBride leaped for a pass and dragged a Keyon Blankenbaker right into the end zone from 38 yards out.

"Trey is a really good player," Muma said. "We talked about him a lot this past week. It's definitely disappointing that some of our busts had to do with Trey McBride and those scores he had.

"It's definitely disappointing, especially because of the focus we had on him this past week."

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 260-pound tight end was coming off a career day in CSU's season-opening loss in Fresno. He pulled down eight passes for 130 yards and a score. The Mackey Award watch lister averaged 93.8 yards receiving over the last four games.

"McBride played excellent," Bohl said during his postgame presser.

What else is there to say?

McBride had been a part of the last three losses to the Cowboys. In fact, during his trio of seasons in Fort Collins, he never beat a rival, falling to Colorado, Air Force and Wyoming.

That all changed Thursday night.

“The boot belongs in Fort Collins,” he said postgame. “Going out there and getting that boot — holding it, kissing it, loving on it — it’s just exciting to have it back.”