Suiaunoa, Bertagnole Looking to Hoist Bronze Boot For Fifth Time

LARAMIE -- Colorado State's offense came out in a "trips formation."

Those three receivers set up to the left of quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. The closest, soon-to-be named All-Mountain West tight end Dallin Holker.

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The 6-foot-4, 235-pound senior was a favorite target. He had 48 catches coming into this meeting, including six touchdowns.

The pass was likely headed his way.

That's what went through Shae Suiaunoa's mind pre-snap.

"Within the film and the week of preparation, I knew that route was coming," he said. "Once I saw him kind of come my way on the over route, I looked back at the quarterback. I took my chances not to really guard the guy but just go meet him. We met where the ball was going to be thrown.

"He threw it right at my chest and it all worked out."

Then Wyoming's outside linebacker, Suiaunoa jumped that third-quarter route near midfield and returned the ball to the Rams' 46-yard line. Eight plays later, running back Sam Scott barreled his way into the end zone from six yards out to give the Cowboys a commanding 24-7 lead inside a raucous War Memorial Stadium.

That is easily Suiaunoa's favorite Border War memory, he said with a grin on Monday in Laramie as he prepares to suit up against CSU for the sixth -- yes, sixth -- and final time Friday night.

For fellow graduate student Jordan Bertagnole, this will be his fifth time in uniform against Wyoming's most-hated rival. Then a redshirt freshman, he watched the 2019 meeting from the sidelines in street clothes.

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These two have hoisted the coveted Bronze Boot traveling trophy four times, the lone hiccup coming inside an empty Canvas Stadium during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 campaign.

That was a bittersweet performance for Bertagnole. The defensive tackle from Casper tallied eight tackles in that 34-24 setback. It was a career night, up to that point.

"That was a fun one," he recalled. "But obviously we lost that one so I don't like thinking about it."

Another forgettable moment came in the next meeting against the Rams.

"One of the offensive linemen threw up," Bertagnole joked. "It was pretty close to my hand. It's happened to me a couple times in my career."

Suiaunoa was born in California and spent his prep days in the Greater Houston Area. He didn't initially grasp the voracity of this matchup. The gospel was spread by the older players in the locker room, but until you get between the lines, he added, you don't truly understand.

Pressure from the fanbase, border to border, also played a role.

This one, he said, definitely means more.

"You realize how important it is to the whole state," Suiaunoa said. "Winning that boot is just an unreal feeling. You know, if there's one game you're going to win all year, it better be that one."

Bertagnole is now one of the elder statesmen spreading the word to the youngsters on this roster. Yes, he's verbalized his thoughts on that team and this game. More so, though, he said the veterans show it this week every day in practice.

The pads pop a little louder. Attention to detail is sharp.

This is his last crack at the Rams. A mostly uninspiring two-win campaign can be thrust into the rear-view mirror for one night, at least, if the Cowboys end up on the right side of the scoreboard.

CSU, who is unbeaten in Mountain West play, enters Friday night on a four-game winning streak. Jay Norvell's squad is already bowl eligible and looking to sneak into the conference title conversation with just three weeks remaining in the regular season.

That talk can all but be laid to rest in the 116th meeting between these two bitter adversaries.

"It's like two birds, one stone," Suiaunoa said with a smile. "We do that, you know, it might sound evil, but that's how it has to be."

Bertagnole, on the other hand, is envisioning one more celebration -- one more anti-CSU chant (you know the one) -- in front of the faithful.

"Shoot, it would mean everything," Bertagnole said. "We already lost one trophy this year (Jim Bridger's rifle), so I'm going to do everything in my power to make sure that this team's ready to go and that we're not going to lose another one. Really, it would mean everything to finish my career with that boot."