There is no quarterback controversy in the San Luis Valley, where Adams State coach Wayne McGinn is content to play two quarterbacks: sophomore Clint Buderus and junior Billy Lindquist.
The system has helped the Grizzlies break out to a 2-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference record, 3-1 overall. The experience Lindquist gained in the second and third games was especially vital Saturday when Buderus was out because of a knee injury and Lindquist led the offense to a 34-17 victory over New Mexico Highlands.
Lindquist, a former Poudre High School athlete, completed 21-of-32 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns.
“For his first start, he did a great job of taking care of the ball and throwing the ball away when he had to and not into the other team’s hands,” McGinn said. “And he moved the offense real well.”
McGinn didn’t rotate quarterbacks in his previous five years, but when Buderus and Lindquist showed similar pass and run skills, he gave them both a shot.
“It helped that we played Billy in the first three games,” McGinn said. “We did that in case we lost Clint to injury and we were still trying to see who is No. 1 and who is No. 2.”
Through four games, Lindquist has completed 37-of-65 passes for 468 yards and four touchdowns. Buderus is 30-of-60 for 373 yards and three touchdowns.
Buderus, a 5-foot-10 former Florence High standout, is questionable for Saturday’s game at Western New Mexico. If he can play, the quarterback position will be a job shared.
Rankings
Chadron (Neb.) State (4-0, 1-0 RMAC) is ranked No. 17 in the American Football Coaches Association Division II poll. Fort Lewis (3-2, 3-0) received three points in the voting. Former Thornton standout Matt Gutierrez leads the RMAC with a 66 percent passing completion rate for 927 yards and seven touchdowns. Pueblo South alum Kris Ducy leads the RMAC with 40 receptions.
RMAC predictions
The Regis women’s basketball team was picked to win the RMAC East Division in a poll of RMAC coaches released Wednesday. Metro State was picked second. CSU-Pueblo got the nod over Fort Lewis in the West Division.
In the men’s poll, Nebraska- Kearney was tabbed the favorite in the East Division, followed by Metro State. Fort Lewis earned top billing in the West Division ahead of Mesa State.
The all-RMAC preseason team includes Regis’ Diana Lopez, Metro State’s Paige Powers, and Brittany Fowler of Mesa State. Among the men selected were Brian Stamer of Colorado Christian, Tim Bieri of Fort Lewis, Patrick Hannaway of UC-Colorado Springs and Stephen Soriano of Mesa State.
