FORT COLLINS — Colorado State wide receiver Johnny Walker became the rare recipient of a Mountain West player of the week award in a losing cause.
Walker’s career-high 177 yards and two touchdowns Saturday earned him the honor despite the Rams’ last-second 26-23 loss at New Mexico. He also won the award after the Rams’ victory over Colorado in 2006.
The biggest surprise to CSU coach Sonny Lubick came after the game when he was told it was Walker’s first TD since the 2005 Poinsettia Bowl.
“We have a great receiving corps. I know our record is rough, but I wouldn’t trade this group of players for anyone, especially Johnny,” Lubick said. He recalled Walker hurting a knee and an ankle making a block against Air Force. Some thought he would miss several weeks.
But Walker returned the following week, and teammates credited him with the pregame speech of the year before the lone victory, at UNLV.
Walker, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior from Lancaster, Calif., has 2,125 career receiving yards and passed Pete Rebstock on Saturday for fifth on the all-time list.
Schedule blip. Lubick said he would have preferred to play Georgia Southern (7-3) earlier in the season, before conference games began. When the NCAA added a 12th regular-season game for Division I-A teams in 2006, there was a mad scramble to pick up I-AA opponents.
Secondary decimated. Lubick isn’t sure who will be available at safety this week besides walk-on Steve Juedes, who participated on 97 plays on defense and special teams despite a broken hand. He has played with a cast on his hand for several weeks. Mike Pagnotta, an original starter, keeps reinjuring his ankle.
Zac Bryson and Jake Galusha, who filled in for Pagnotta and other original starter Klint Kubiak (ulcer), are doubtful with knee injuries. Redshirt freshman Michael Johnson was down the depth chart and lacks practice time.
Sportsmanship lives. Lubick said he called New Mexico coach Rocky Long to thank him for his postgame comments about CSU’s effort.
Dollar day. Everyone 17 and younger will be admitted Saturday for $1 if accompanied by a paying adult.
Natalie Meisler: 303-954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com
