Colorado sophomore quarterback Cody Hawkins likely will not have to wait until the second half to get into Saturday’s 6 p.m. home finale against No. 11 Oklahoma State.
When asked Monday on the Big 12 teleconference about the quarterback situation for this week, CU coach Dan Hawkins replied: “I don’t know. We’ll probably lean back more and more in favor of Cody.
“But we’ll still get Tyler (Hansen) in the action. He brings some stuff to the table.”
Cody Hawkins did not expect to play in Saturday’s 28-24 victory over Iowa State but took over for Hansen after halftime. Playing the entire second half, Cody passed for a career-best four touchdowns, completing 20-of-29 passes for 226 yards with no interceptions or sacks.
Hansen, CU’s most athletic quarterback, ran well in the first half, netting 48 yards on nine carries. But he struggled through the air, completing just 4-for-12 for 48 yards, with one interception. Colorado trailed 10-0 at halftime.
Here come the Cowboys.
Colorado and Oklahoma State have not met since 2005, so this will be Hawkins’ first game against the Cowboys. OSU (8-2, 4-2) dropped three places in The Associated Press poll, to No. 11, after losing 56-20 at Texas Tech.
“Okie State, they’re a great team,” Hawkins said. “They’ve got some of the greatest players in the country. Unfortunately, they’re just like the rest of us, where they’ve had to play just a barnburner schedule.”
Kicking woes.
With the two missed field goals by CU freshman Jameson Davis against Iowa State, the Buffs stand 4-for-14 on the season.
Hawkins was asked on the teleconference what coaches can do to instill confidence in Davis and sophomore Aric Goodman.
“We do a lot of live stuff with them; we do a lot of mental stuff with them,” Hawkins said. “We continue to put them in pressure situations. At some point, the bubble will burst and they’ll get back in a groove.”
CSU safety Kubiak out.
Klint Kubiak’s two-year streak of bad luck took yet another turn for the worse when the Colorado State safety was ruled out for the remaining two games of the season with an unspecified knee injury.
Kubiak sprained his ankle in the Mountain West opener Oct. 4 against UNLV. He didn’t return to practice full time until two weeks ago and didn’t play until Saturday’s game at Air Force.
In 2007, he took a medical redshirt when a stomach ailment forced him out early in the season.
On the first play Saturday, he limped off the field with the knee injury.
“I feel so badly for him because of all the work he’d put in and what a tremendous year he was having when he was playing,” CSU coach Steve Fairchild said. Kubiak had 28 tackles. His interception in the end zone against Houston sealed a victory for CSU.
Two-for-one tickets.
CSU announced a two-for-one ticket promotion for Saturday’s noon home finale against New Mexico. Specially marked cans of Mountain Dew can be redeemed for the promotion. CSU’s 16 seniors will be honored in pregame introductions.
Falcons’ injury report.
On Air Force’s roster, only sophomore outside linebacker Patrick Hennessey is listed as likely to miss Saturday’s 1:30 p.m. Mountain West Conference home game against BYU.
Hennessey suffered a strained shoulder in Saturday’s 38-17 victory against Colorado State.
Senior fullback Todd Newell suffered an ankle injury against CSU, but coach Troy Calhoun expects Newell will be able to play.
Tom Kensler, Irv Moss and Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
