FORT COLLINS • Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi lofted a pass 40 yards downfield, and Dylan Goffney seemed destined to run under it and take it into the end zone.

It’s a play that would’ve put Colorado State up 24-3 on Saturday and well on its way to a dominant win over a Nevada team that has become a pretty big rival since Jay Norvell’s hiring.

But the pass went through Goffney’s arms and down to the turf.

On the final play of the first half, Fowler-Nicolosi zipped a ball across the middle of the field, but Tory Horton wasn’t expecting it, and it was intercepted by a Wolf Pack defender and returned for a touchdown.

The Rams hung on for a 30-20 win on Senior Day, but it really should’ve never been that close, and Norvell knows it. His young quarterback just hasn’t gotten over the hump in his redshirt-freshman season.

“We missed a lot of plays that could’ve been big plays,” Norvell said. “Brayden was just a little bit off.”

Just a little bit off is the difference between 414 yards (which CSU had on Saturday) and the 600 yards the offense is capable of putting up against a struggling team like Nevada.

The Rams have all the weapons they need. Horton is the Mountain West’s top wide receiver. Tight end Dallin Holker is a John Mackey Award finalist. There are emerging stars, wideouts Louis Brown IV and Justus Ross-Simmons. The rushing attack has even taken a big step forward recently behind a steady offensive line.

Fowler-Nicolosi, however, completed just 50% of his passes and has eclipsed the team’s goal of 65% just once in the past seven games after starting the season with three straight performances of 69.8% or higher. He’s also thrown interceptions in all but two of his appearances this season.

“It’s frustrating,” Norvell said. “We felt like we really had them dialed in on a couple big plays. We just didn’t execute. We kind of expect to be 65%-70% throwing the football, so he wasn’t (as) sharp as he needs to be, and he’ll be the first one to tell you that.”

It was an emotional game, and Norvell admitted that probably played a role, but that’s also something a quarterback can’t allow to affect their performance.

“I think it’s just my growth as a quarterback, understanding that I need to calm down, understanding when to take those little shots,” Fowler-Nicolosi said. “It’s important to understand the situation and understand when I can take shots and when I can’t.” The big plays were still there, and it was a perfect example of what Norvell wants this CSU offense to look like.