ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Colorado State's Gartrell Johnson was reluctant to talk about his career-high 285 yards rushing, so teammate Tommie Hill took over for him.

"I'm not going to give him credit because he got run down twice," Hill joked after Colorado State rallied for a 40-35 victory over Fresno State yesterday in the New Mexico Bowl.

Johnson added 90 yards receiving for 375 total yards and scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns. All day long, he left defenders reaching for the dreadlocks tumbling out of his helmet.

Johnson set a Football Bowl Subdivision record for the most combined yards rushing and receiving in a postseason game. His yards rushing were the second-most ever in a bowl, trailing only a 307-yard effort by P.J. Daniels of Georgia Tech at the 2004 Humanitarian Bowl. It was also the second-best rushing performance in school history.

"It just feels great," Johnson said. "It's good for everyone."

Johnson sealed the victory on a 77-yard touchdown burst with 1:46 remaining. He was named the most valuable offensive player as Colorado State (7-6), which won a bowl for the first time since 2001.

The loss capped a rough season for the injury-depleted Bulldogs (7-6), who talked in fall workouts about a possible Bowl Championship Series run.

COLORADO STATE 10 10 0 20—40

FRESNO STATE 14 7 7 7 —35

FIRST QUARTER

Fre—Miller 1 run (Goessling kick), 11:46.

CSU—Stucker 18 run (J.Smith kick), 9:37.

Fre—A.Harding 2 run (Goessling kick), 6:35.

CSU—FG J.Smith 29, 2:57.

SECOND QUARTER

CSU—FG J.Smith 22, 5:50.

Fre—Miller 69 run (Goessling kick), 4:26.

CSU—Sperry 22 pass from Farris (J.Smith kick), :02.

THIRD QUARTER

Fre—A.Harding 2 run (Goessling kick), 8:31.

FOURTH QUARTER

CSU—G.Johnson 1 run (run failed), 9:45.

CSU—Greer 69 pass from Farris (J.Smith kick), 7:00.

CSU—G.Johnson 77 run (J.Smith kick), 1:46.

Fre—Skidmore 7 pass from Brandstater (Goessling kick), :55.

A—24,735.

               CSU Fre

First downs 22 20

Rushes-yards 39-362 39-248

Passing 257 186

Comp-Att-Int 17-30-1 13-23-1

Return Yards 15 27

Punts-Avg. 2-42.0 5-43.4

Fumbles-Lost 3-0 0-0

Penalties-Yards 6-60 3-25

Time of Possession 31:49 28:11

RUSHING—Colorado St., G.Johnson 27-285, Morton 3-41, Stucker 1-18, Mosure 2-17, Bell 2-6, Farris 3-(minus 1), Team 1-(minus 4). Fresno St., A.Harding 18-120, Miller 13-113, Mathews 4-13, Wylie 1-6, Brandstater 2-4, West 1-(minus 8).

PASSING—Colorado St., Farris 17-29-1-257, Borcky 0-1-0-0. Fresno St., Brandstater 13-23-1-186.

RECEIVING—Colorado St., G.Johnson 5-90, Pauga 4-36, Morton 3-29, Greer 1-69, Sperry 1-22, Gardner 1-6, Liggett 1-3, Mosure 1-2. Fresno St., Ajirotutu 3-81, B.Pascoe 3-39, Marl.Moore 3-25, Evans 1-28, A.Harding 1-8, Skidmore 1-7, Wylie 1-(minus 2).