FORT COLLINS — Round 1 went to the offense.
Colorado State’s football team scrimmaged for the first time in fall camp Saturday, and coach Mike Bobo said the offense held the upper hand the majority of the day with quarterbacks Nick Stevens and Coleman Key both looking sharp.
“For the most part, I thought both executed well and moved the ball,” Bobo said after the two-hour session at Hughes Stadium. “I think maybe there was only one situation where it would have been a punt. We didn’t do special teams today, so it was good to see execution out of both the guys. I’ll know a little more when I go back and watch the film.”
In the first key test of camp as the two look to replace Garrett Grayson, the bright spot was neither threw an interception. Stevens completed 15-of-21 passes for 198 yards and a score, while Key hit on 12-of-22 attempts for 213 yards and three touchdowns. He combined with wideout Jordon Vaden for the longest play of the scrimmage, a 59-yard scoring pass.
Bobo said the top three running backs all ran well, also mentioning true freshman Izzy Matthews making gains on the field with the third string.
Five different backs had a carry of 12 yards or better, with Treyous Jarrells providing the biggest hitter, a 47-yarder to account for most of his 59 yards on eight carries. Jasen Oden rushed for 43 yards on seven carries with a touchdown, and Matthews accounted for 40 yards on four totes, one a 17-yard scoring run.
The tempo with which the offense played gave the defense trouble from Bobo’s vantage point, especially on the hottest day of camp, amplified by the artificial surface at the stadium.
“Defense, that’s the thing when you go no-huddle, you get a first down or two, you start to wilt a little bit,” he said. “They did bow their neck on the first drive and hold the offense to a field goal, but we’ve got to play better defense.”
Rashard Higgins, Trent Matthews, Kivon Cartwright, Jordan Benson, Trey Smith and Devin Jones were all held out for various ailments, but tight end Steven Walker played after an eventful Friday evening.
He was on hand as former CSU volleyball player Deedra Foss gave birth to their baby girl, one Bobo said weighed in at 5 pounds. He said when he talked to Walker that evening, the senior said he wanted to take part in the scrimmage. Walker had one catch, but it was good for a 4-yard touchdown from Key.
