FORT COLLINS, COLO. ? Cecil Sapp ran for 130 yards and three touchdowns, and No. 24 Colorado State withstood a late scare from Louisville to win 36-33 Saturday night.

Colorado State (3-1) led 36-14 with five minutes left, but Louisville (1-2) scored 19 points in a span of 1:41 to make it close.

Dave Ragone hit Joshua Tinch on a 22-yard touchdown pass with 4:45 left, but the Cardinals failed on the 2-point conversion.

Josh Minkins recovered the onside kick, leading to a 1-yard touchdown run by Henry Miller, but the Cardinals again missed the 2-point try.

Miller later punched it in again for a 2-yard touchdown, and Nate Smith’s extra point made it 36-33 with 3:04 left.

Colorado State’s Joey Cuppari recovered the next onside kick, but the Rams were forced to punt after three plays.

Colorado State improved to 9-1 in home openers under coach Sonny Lubick.

No. 24 Colorado State 36, Louisville 33

Louisville 7 7 0 19 33

Colorado St. 7 13 13 3 36

First Quarter

CSUSapp 1 run (Babcock kick), 12:15.

LouMiller 1 run (Smith kick), 1:49.

Second Quarter

LouWhite 55 interception return (Smith kick), 13:51.

CSUSapp 12 run (Babcock kick), 9:23.

CSUFG Babcock 37, 3:30.

CSUFG Babcock 42, 1:42.

Third Quarter

CSUWynn 66 punt return (kick failed), 12:32.

CSUSapp 1 run (Babcock kick), 3:12.

Fourth Quarter

CSUFG Babcock 44, 8:36.

LouTinch 22 pass from Ragone (pass failed), 4:45.

LouMiller 1 run (pass failed), 3:44.

LouMiller 2 run (Smith kick), 3:04.

A31,607.

Lou CSU

First downs 22 24

Rushes-yards 32-72 45-205

Passing 294 264

Comp-Att-Int 22-41-1 16-31-2

Return Yards 136 109

Punts-Avg. 7-35 1-39

Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2

Penalties-Yards 8-79 2-20

Time of Possession 26:55 33:05

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHINGLouisville, Miller 16-48, Gates 6-24, Ragone 9-8, Patterson 1-(minus 8). Colorado St., Sapp 30-130, Sanders 5-40, Walker 4-24, Van Pelt 3-22, Holland 1-(minus 5), team 2-(minus 6).

PASSINGLouisville, Ragone 22-41-1-294. Colorado St., Van Pelt 11-25-2-170, Holland 5-6-0-94.

RECEIVINGLouisville, Ghent 6-69, Dorsey 6-59, Spillman 5-106, Tinch 2-35, Clark 1-12, Gates 1-10, Russell 1-3. Colorado St., Cuppari 5-99, Pittman 4-52, Childs 3-70, Dreessen 3-29, Anderson 1-14.