Colorado State is finally back in the win column after a brutal month, pulling off a wild 56-49 shootout victory over San Diego State at Canvas Stadium on October 24. This wasn’t just any win, it snapped a tough four-game losing skid, and a huge part of that turnaround was quarterback Hauss Hejny, who absolutely went off, accounting for five total touchdowns.
Hejny’s Infectious Energy and a Coach’s Unforgettable Praise
CSU coach Jim Mora didn’t mince words after the game about his young signal-caller. He called Hejny a “difference maker,” praising his infectious energy and how “Hauss is different.” Mora sees a preparation level in Hejny usually reserved for the pros, saying, “He prepares like great NFL quarterbacks prepare.” That combination of preparation and natural ability is what’s delivering results. Sure, Mora wants to clean up the two turnovers, but he’s not about to tell Hejny to dial back his style. He trusts Hauss to fix it himself, knowing he’ll take those mistakes harder than anyone. It’s clear the team sees it too, with Mora highlighting that Hejny’s teammates respect him because they see how he works, and his voice carries weight when he uses it. Mora even joked about it, saying, “If you’re named Hauss, you better have some damn swagger. I mean, your parents named you Hauss, you’ve got to live up to it.” That’s high praise from a coach, showing just how much belief he has in his young QB. And let’s not forget receiver Tommy Maher, who Mora called a “spark man” alongside Hejny, labeling him a “hidden gem” for his reliability and consistency.
Defense Still a Work in Progress, But Mora Sees Growth
Despite dropping 56 points, giving up 49 isn’t exactly a defensive masterpiece, and Mora was quick to acknowledge that. He admitted there’s “a ton of work to go on defense,” especially after surrendering “over 500 yards and 49 points.” You might think Mora’s bar is low when he says they’re “playing better defense” with those numbers, but he insists the bar is “very, very high.” For him, improvement isn’t just about the stat sheet. He saw improvement in how they play, how they fix errors, and how they respond to tough plays. The defense was “much more consistent stopping the run” and created “more negative plays.” They still allowed too many big pass plays and a couple of runs, but the key takeaway for Mora is that the players now “understand how to fix the issues we have when they happen during a game.” That understanding, that in-game adjustment, is the critical step they need to keep making.
Mora was genuinely “proud of our young men” for their character and commitment through a tough month, emphasizing that these are the games you truly learn from. They didn’t blink, showed “great resolve,” and found a way to win. It’s a huge building block for CSU as they look to carry this momentum forward, with Hauss Hejny leading the charge. What lessons can this squad apply next week to keep that win streak rolling? We’ll be watching to see if that defensive “improvement” starts showing up on the scoreboard too.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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