Senior quarterback Ryan Colburn had nine minutes and 90 yards to leave one lasting impression on his doubters.
Up until that drive in the fourth quarter, Colburn had compiled a 15-9 record as a starter at Fresno State, completing 61 percent of his throws with 37 touchdown passes. The problem is, even on his senior night, most fans remember number 15 for his 20 career interceptions, his numerous fumbles and his perceived inability to lead the ‘Dogs to big-time victories.
But for the 30,625 on hand Friday night Colburn had his shot to give fans at least one big-game memorable moment, and he delivered.
Clinging to a slim 25-23 lead on Big Ten foe Illinois with 9:31 left in the game, Colburn and the offense went to work starting at their own 10-yard line. The drive lasted 15 plays and netted just 50 yards, but chewed up 9:13 off the clock and sent the senior out the way he wanted to be remembered.
“We all kind of knew what that drive was,” Colburn said. “One thing I said to the guys in the huddle was that people are going to remember this drive, the way people remember the drive against UCLA a couple of years ago. I said let’s make sure we make people remember this drive.”
Colburn finished the game throwing for more than 300 yards for just the third time in his career and completing 18 passes, but perhaps no completion was more important than the one that came with 6:30 remaining in the contest. Colburn faced a 3rd-and-10 situation but found Jamel Hamler on a 15-yard drag across the middle to move the chains and keep the ball away from a clicking Illinois offense.
Colburn’s play on senior night enabled Fresno State to finish the regular season with an 8-4 record for the third time in four years. His big game caught the attention of not only fans and coaches, but his defensive teammates as well.
“I’m just happy he was able to end on such a great note,” senior defensive end Chris Carter said. “He’s the heart and soul of our offense. He leads those guys. He’s had a couple of tough times this year and he’s always able to bounce back. I really admire that guy; he’s so resilient.”
After Colburn opened the season completing 73 percent of his passes and averaging 248 yards per game, he had Fresno State sitting at 3-1 and talks of him having the best start by a Bulldog quarterback ever.
But following the Oct. 9 home loss to Hawaii, grumblings about the quarterback’s competence to lead the program spread across campus. Colburn threw three interceptions against Hawaii and both he and the rest of the offense had not looked the same since. Following the two wins over New Mexico State and San Jose State, Colburn committed nine turnovers over the last four games as Fresno State slipped to 6-4.
“Ryan Colburn had been struggling a little bit only because our timing wasn’t good,” Hill said. “We weren’t doing a very good job of getting our kids all together, and tonight they really came together.
And for Colburn, a two-year starting career under center for Fresno State came together for an emotional finale in Fresno.
“I was pretty emotional and I couldn’t really control it,” Colburn said. “I felt like my heart was just jumping the whole game. I could just feel it beating in my chest.”