Fort Collins – The biggest challenge facing Colorado State defensive backs coach James Ward in August was sorting through all the players he had at safety.
With three seniors – three-year starter Ben Stratton and part-time starters Travis Garcia and Miles Kochevar – Ward had to devise a nickel-back rotation to keep everyone happy. Others battling to get on the field included Lukas Davis, returning from a knee injury, sophomore walk-on Mike Pagnotta and true freshman Klint Kubiak, a surprise in preseason camp.
That was August. Now it’s November, and the Rams (5-5, 4-3) face last-place UNLV (2-8, 1-6) for the regular-season finale, with Garcia and Kochevar the last safeties standing.
“That’s crazy going from the most depth to the least depth,” Ward said.
Stratton blew out his knee midway through preseason camp. Davis was lost for the season when he reinjured his knee. Kubiak, the star of the freshman class, pulled a hamstring in practice a week ago. Pagnotta has missed several weeks with a knee problem, though he could be available if needed Saturday.
“That’s football for you,” Garcia said.
The former walk-on from Longmont Skyline leads the Rams in tackles (73) and interceptions (three). Kochevar is second with 71 tackles and has spent most of the season with an ice bag attached to his shoulder. Garcia has played through tendinitis in his knee since midseason. He has had neck stingers the past three games.
“They keep pushing themselves through,” said Ward. “Those two guys are warriors.”
As for taking some time off in practice, Ward said, “Not those two.”
Said Stratton: “Travis with his neck and Miles with his shoulder, neither should be playing. They’ve been the leaders on defense they need to be.”
Garcia dismisses his ailments as “bumps and bruises.”
“Nothing is going to sideline us,” Garcia said. “We know how to stay healthy. I’m never going to complain, and neither is Miles. We can get through a lot.”
That attitude comes from the perspective of a former walk-on who had to fight to get on scholarship and dreamed of working his way into the starting lineup by his senior year.
“I cherish every play,” he said.
As for overcoming adversity, Garcia said, “All I have to do is think of my days on the scout team.”
Kochevar is equally difficult to get off the field.
“There have been times it might have been hurting the team a little bit for me to be in there,” he said. “I always thought I could play and if it had ever been a situation where I thought I couldn’t do it, I’d take myself out.”
More often than not, CSU seniors go into the final week of the regular season with a bowl bid on the line. That’s the case Saturday, with CSU needing a victory to have a chance at a bowl.
“Everything is starting to get different now,” Kochevar said. “You start thinking this could be the end. You go out there and get everything you can out of it.”
Garcia said the thought of sitting home without going to a bowl is all the incentive the Rams need. There’s no guarantee the Rams will get a bowl with a 6-5 record, especially if 5-5 Utah upsets 6-4 BYU. But it’s almost certain they will if they win Saturday and Utah loses.
CSU safeties expect to have their hands full Saturday defending 6-foot-8, 225-pound tight end Greg Estandia, the Rebels’ best player.
“A great athlete,” Kochevar said. “The safeties will cover him a lot and bump around and rise to the challenge one more time.”
COLORADO STATE AT UNLV
KEY MATCHUPS
CSU (5-5, 4-3): QB Justin Holland does not want to end his CSU career with anything like the past two games, when he was picked off seven times and failed to throw a touchdown pass. Holland came off the bench against UNLV as a sophomore two years ago to rally CSU to a San Francisco Bowl berth. The Rebels haven’t had much defensive success, but there’s one standout in the secondary, safety Joe Miklos, who has six interceptions. RB Kyle Bell is coming off his best game in several weeks, and with 1,075 yards he should surpass Kevin McDougal’s school sophomore season rushing record of 1,111, set in 1997. The Rebels are last in the MWC and 109th overall in scoring defense, giving up 35 points a game.
UNLV (2-8, 1-6): John Robinson didn’t leave much when he retired, but TE Greg Estandia (6-feet-8, 225 pounds) is an NFL prospect. He leads the Rebels in receiving with 47 catches for 538 yards. He’ll have QB Shane Steichen throwing to him for the first time since Steichen broke a finger Sept. 24. A banged-up CSU secondary will need help from its linebackers to stop the big target. The Rams had problems a week ago with San Diego State’s 6-4 receiver Chazeray Schilens. Steichen is a running threat; CSU has struggled against mobile quarterbacks.
KEY STAT
38-6: Slow-starting Rams seem to always be playing from behind. They have been outscored 38-6 in the first quarter of their past six MWC games.
KEYS FOR COLORADO STATE
Just for the fun of it, CSU needs to put up some points early. If the Rams can’t start fast against UNLV, which has allowed an average of 47.5 points in the past four games, the season might well end Saturday. Given UNLV’s woes, CSU probably not only needs to win, but win big to make any kind of bowl statement.
KEYS FOR UNLV
Make CSU sweat. Rams are heavy favorites but the longer the game is close, the more confident UNLV will become.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
