Fort Collins – Sonny Lubick wanted the spring game to be fun instead of another tedious scrimmage, with the first units running the same plays before disintegrating into the fourth-team walk-ons running out the clock.
He couldn’t have scripted it better Saturday with walk-on punter Jared Lamb kicking the game-winning field goal as the clock ran out, cornerback Darryl Williams going 100 yards for the first PAT return for two points in official or unofficial CSU history, players switching positions and plenty of trash talk between the coordinators who drafted the squads.
When Lamb’s 43-yard field goal was good for a 19-16 victory by the Green team, offensive coordinator Dan Hammerschmidt celebrated with a victory leap on his backup quarterback, Caleb Hanie.
Hammerschmidt’s joy was tempered by a possible back injury, but he said his opponent, defensive coordinator Steve Stanard, hadn’t played by the rules.
“He wasn’t supposed to blitz and he blitzed on 50 snaps,” Hammerschmidt said. He also accused Stanard of not shaking his hand.
Stanard retorted he wasn’t blitzing. “Our linebackers were real fast.”
While everyone else had fun at French Field (Rocky Mountain High School) while Hughes Stadium undergoes construction, running backs Kyle Bell and Jimmy Green came to compete. Bell had separated himself from the backs all spring with explosive running and pass catching. Green, CSU’s most productive back the past two seasons when not injured, kept up the pressure.
Bell showed why he has raised hopes for a revived ground game with 12 carries for 52 yards and two receptions for 15. Playing in the same backfield with starting quarterback Justin Holland, the Gold offense scored off Holland passes to David Anderson on the opening drive and George Hill in the second quarter.
Green made up for erratic passing by Hanie and Billy Farris, finishing with 71 yards on 14 carries and first-half touchdowns of 1 and 2 yards. Luke Roberts grabbed five catches for 94 yards.
“It looks like Jimmy Green came to make a statement and he did,” Lubick said.
Said Green: “I wasn’t thinking about that. I just came out here to do the best I could. If I make a statement, I make a statement.”
Bell, who wished he could have played linebacker during the game, said: “There’s intense competition, but it’s still supposed to be fun. We have enough guys where we can step up and run the ball.
“There’s still a lot of work, but we’ve come along ways.”
The starter has been a game-day decision the past two seasons. Running backs coach Mick Delaney said the job will go to whoever works the hardest this summer. Also, he is anxious to see incoming UCLA transfer Nnamdi Ohaeri.
Footnote
H-back Kory Sperry suffered a separated shoulder, and wide receiver Dustin Osborn broke his collarbone.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
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2005 schedule
Sept. 3 at Colorado
Sept. 10 at Minnesota
Sept. 24 vs. Nevada
Oct. 1 vs. Air Force
Oct. 8 vs. Utah
Oct. 15 at BYU
Oct. 22 vs. Wyoming
Oct. 28 at New Mexico
Nov. 5 at TCU
Nov. 12 vs. San Diego State
Nov. 19 at UNLV
