BOULDER — The remainder of Colorado’s 2008 football season just became a lot more interesting.
Not even listed on Colorado’s pregame roster, true freshman quarterback Tyler Hansen tossed away his redshirt Saturday night at Folsom Field and gave fans a reason to cheer. Heck, he just might have helped salvage the season and keep a bowl game in CU’s sights.
At the very least, Hansen helped save the day in a 14-13 squeaker over Kansas State.
“This is huge,” senior safety Ryan Walters said. “We had a players meeting (last Sunday). We said this is our Super Bowl.”
Who could have guessed Hansen would become the star? A buzz could be heard from the crowd of 52,099 as the 18-year-old came off the bench with 2:01 remaining in the first quarter. His impact was immediate. Eleven plays later, thanks to Hansen’s keepers of 13, 24 and 12 yards, a struggling Colorado offense got into the end zone and took its first lead, 7-6.
The Buffaloes (4-3, 1-2 Big 12) never trailed again. A three-game losing streak is gone.
And, who knows? Perhaps a new star was born.
“We thought Tyler could help us because of his legs. He can really run,” CU coach Dan Hawkins said. “It was a huge sacrifice for him (losing his redshirt). But that speaks of the camaraderie (on the team).”
Was Hansen nervous? Who wouldn’t be?
“The first couple of plays were a little shocking,” he said. “Then I settled down.”
Did he ever. Becoming just the 10th true freshman quarterback to play for CU since 1973, Hansen chalked up his first touchdown pass in the second quarter, a 21-yarder that led sophomore wideout Scotty Mc-Knight, who made the over-the-shoulder catch in full stride in the end zone, heading toward the left corner.
It was the kind of pass coaches and wide receivers love — on target and over the defense, with no chance to be intercepted.
Hansen finished with 7-for-14 passing for 71 yards and a touchdown, with one interception. He also ran 19 times for 86 yards. That almost doubled the leading rusher for K-State, Logan Dold (13-for-47).
“I heard a couple of (Kansas State) guys talking, ‘Who is this guy?’ ” Hansen recalled. “They were trying to get in my head and make me nervous.”
“(Hansen’s) game, I wasn’t familiar with,” said Kansas State coach Ron Prince, who had won his previous two meetings with Colorado. “But the idea of the quarterback running the ball . . . a lot of people are doing it these days.”
Hansen’s running threat helped open up holes for Rodney Stewart, who squirted for 141 yards and a touchdown and helped Colorado keep the ball away from Kansas State junior quarterback Josh Freeman, an NFL prospect. CU finished with a huge advantage in time of possession, 36:21 to 23:39.
“Tyler’s first TD pass — he’s never ran that play,” sophomore quarterback Cody Hawkins said. “That’s one of my plays. He goes out there and throws a dime. The guy is going to have an awesome future.”
Hansen was asked last Sunday if he would consider discarding his redshirt. Cody Hawkins was told sometime thereafter the fuzzy-cheeked rookie would get some reps.
There may be some quarterback shuffling for the remainder of the season, but Dan Hawkins will be surprised if there is any hint of a quarterback controversy. He has long said that his son is always “team first.”
“You come to Colorado not to have so much individual success,” Cody said. “I want to win football games.”
Cody was not exactly benched. He rotated at times with Hansen. And on Colorado’s final drive, when the Buffs needed to at least consume some clock, it was Cody who got the call.
Leading by just a point, the Buffs gave up the ball on downs at the Kansas State 31. But Freeman had only 1:03 to work with, no timeouts. In the end, he threw a “Hail Mary” pass on the final play that was well short. Walters batted it away at the 13, anyway.
Hansen did more than pump up the fans. Following Hansen’s second-quarter TD pass, the Colorado defense took over and promptly recorded a sack by senior safety D.J. Dykes.
“I’m proud of the way the defense played,” Walters said. “We disguised some things. We didn’t want Freeman to just sit back there and pick us apart.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
KEY STAT
13: Kansas State’s lowest total this season — 15 fewer points than its previous low and the fewest since a 23-13 loss at Auburn last season. Game marked second time this season Josh Freeman, the tenth-ranked quarterback in the country, failed to throw a touchdown pass.
Key play
Freshman Tyler Hansen, in his second college series, pump-faked to Scotty McKnight, then hit him over cornerback Joshua Moore for a 21-yard touchdown and a 14-6 second-quarter lead. Hansen set up the scoring play with a 13-yard pass to Patrick Williams.
John Henderson, The Denver Post
