Denver, CO
Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi-to-Dallin Holker Hail Mary seals CSU Rams’ first-ever win over Boise State
FORT COLLINS — The Boise Streak is dead. And the CSU Rams’ football season suddenly has a new lease on life.
One of the wildest finishes in Rams football history ended with arguably its wildest play, as Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi’s Hail Mary as time expired was batted into the waiting arms of CSU tight end Dallin Holker, sealing a 31-30 victory — the program’s first-ever over the Broncos.
Boise defenders Jaylen Clark and Rodney Robinson appeared to leap over CSU’s Tory Horton and Louis Brown IV in a combo effort to bat the ball down in the end zone, but fate had other plans — it was cradled by Holker, posting up directly in front of the Broncos duo, for the game-tying score before it could hit the ground.
A replay review confirmed the score, and after an extra-point sealed the comeback win, bedlam ensued.
Ironically, by the time the Rams (3-3, 1-1 Mountain West) made it interesting, Canvas Stadium was largely empty. Two onside kicks and two lightning-quick scores helped CSU erase a 30-10 deficit with 6:12 left in regulation.
And a CSU campaign that hit a painful speed bump at Utah State last weekend is back on the winning track again — just as the Rams dive into their toughest month of conference play.
CSU visits resurgent UNLV (5-1, 2-0 MW) next weekend. On Oct. 28, the Rams host rival Air Force (6-0, 4-0), which rallied to beat Wyoming early Saturday evening. And speaking of the Cowboys, that’s who CSU visits on the weekend of Nov. 3, a Friday night showdown for the Bronze Boot against a set of Pokes (5-2, 2-1) who still think they have a shot at the Mountain West championship despite losing at the Academy.
Colorado State’s Dallin Holker is Johnny-on-the-spot, catching a Hail Mary off of a wild deflection to tie the game against Boise State.pic.twitter.com/ps1FdDsXjd
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) October 15, 2023
While the game itself proved to be chippy and somewhat haphazardly officiated, CSU officials had good news for Rams fans Saturday evening in announcing that freshman defensive lineman Kennedy McDowell, who left the tilt on a stretcher cart after a late hit on the opening kickoff of the second half, was taken to UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital, had movement in his extremities and was “responsive.”
A salty second half opened up with the scariest moment of the evening. McDowell took what appeared to be a blindside hit from Boise’s Chase Martin on the initial kick of the third stanza. McDowell laid on the field for several minutes before medical crews arrived, eventually flashing a thumbs-up to the faithful at Canvas before exiting the playing field.
Things got testier from there. After a 5-yard pass to CSU’s Dawson Menegatti at the Boise 26 drew another late hit, the Rams retaliated. Center Jacob Gardner ran in and shoved the offender, Broncos nickel back Seyi Oladipo of Eaglecrest High, to the ground. After that, all heck broke loose near the left hash and across from the CSU bench.
Several shoves and words were exchanged at the 10:51 mark, three players received unsportsmanlike conduct fouls, as did Rams coach Jay Norvell, to Boise’s one, but the penalties offset.
The scrum seemed to light a fire under an otherwise sleepy CSU roster to that point, as the Rams capped off the drive by marching 56 yards on 10 plays for their first touchdown of the evening.
The first half, capping one of the worst offensive displays of the Norvell Era, ended with a 45-yard field goal attempt with the Rams trailing 17-0 and looking for anything positive to take into the locker room.
The kick was blocked.
Boise cornerback Kaonohi Kaniho came hard off the far boundary and got a hand in and impacted Jordan Noyes’ try by a finger or two. Which was all it took.
At halftime, CSU had just four first downs and 71 yards of total offense, compared to 14 and 252 for the Broncos. In other words, if it wasn’t for three Rams takeaways in the first half, two of them coming on interceptions, a 17-0 score would’ve looked more like 27-0 or 31-0.
For the hosts, things opened ominously. After CSU opened with a three-and-out, Rams linebacker Chase Wilson, the roster’s leading tackler, was ejected on a targeting call for popping Boise QB Taylen Green with 10:41 on the Broncos’ first drive. A replay review confirmed the initial call, giving the guests a first down on the CSU 13. Boise scored three plays later on a 2-yard run by Ashton Jeanty to take a 6-0 lead before the extra point.
The Rams looked as if they might jump-start things on Boise’s next drive. CSU linebacker Buom Jock recovered Riley Smith’s fumble at the CSU 47. But the hosts went three-and-out again, this time in just 1:29, punting it back to Boise at the Broncos’ 3-yard line.
While CSU struggled to turn the engine over on offense, the defense continued to give the other side of the ball chances early. Safety Henry Blackburn snuffed a Boise drive with 3:14 left in the first by snaring a pass deflected by Jack Howell for an interception at the Rams’ 29-yard line, CSU’s second takeaway in the Broncos’ first three drives.
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Denver, CO
What Zach Wilson — and Sean Payton — said about his second chance in Denver
Zach Wilson hasn’t been in Denver very long, but the quarterback has already earned praise from his new head coach.
In April, Wilson was traded by the New York Jets to the Denver Broncos and what has since become a crowded quarterback room.
The former second overall pick joined returning quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who started the Broncos’ final two games last season after Russell Wilson was benched. Denver then drafted Oregon quarterback Bo Nix with the 12th overall pick in last month’s draft.
What has Sean Payton said about Zach Wilson and Denver’s quarterbacks?
On Thursday, Sean Payton said all three quarterbacks will and have split reps with the starters during OTAs.
Stidham took the first-team reps on Tuesday, Wilson took them on Wednesday and Nix took them Thursday.
“There’s going to be a time when you read into the reps, I don’t think it’s early in OTAs,” Payton said, according to The Associated Press.
Payton sounded impressed by what he saw from each of his quarterbacks after the end of the first week of OTAs.
“They’re all in a race to learn this system,” he said. “Man, they’re doing well.”
The Broncos’ quarterback room is filled with players looking for a new beginning and the opportunity for a fresh start as an NFL starting quarterback.
“You know, it’s kind of the orphan group,” Payton said. “They’re all orphan dogs. They come from somewhere. But they’re doing good.”
Zach Wilson can see the logic in his coach’s dog metaphor.
“It’s been three years of tough challenges,” he said. “But in the end that’s what makes you stronger, and you just need somebody to believe in you and believe in yourself.”
What has Zach Wilson said about his trade to the Broncos?
Wilson told reporters Thursday that he misses his former Jets teammates but is looking forward to starting a new chapter of his career with the Broncos.
“You know, obviously, there’s bittersweet moments in everything. I was grateful for my experiences (in New York) and the guys. I miss the guys out there and everything, too. But at the same time, a fresh start is good,” he said, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. “I’m excited to attack a new challenge.”
He’s also excited to learn from Payton, who was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints for 15 seasons and won a Super Bowl with the Saints prior to becoming the head coach in Denver.
“I loved watching him and Drew (Brees) back in the day and just the efficiency they played with, how consistent it was, how explosive they were as an offense and just taking what the defense gives you,” he told Tomasson. “(I’m) just looking to keep growing and learning every single day from him.”
The Broncos have been looking for their franchise quarterback since Hall of Famer Peyton Manning retired. Manning was the last quarterback to lead Denver to the playoffs, which was the season they went on to win the Super Bowl. He reached out to Wilson upon his trade to Denver, according to The Associated Press.
“I’ve grown up watching him and the way he plays the game, the way he attacks it every single day,” Wilson said of Manning. “He’s a legend out here. So, hopefully I can spend a little time picking his brain.”
Denver, CO
Broncos may have found their starting tight end already
The Denver Broncos are running through their OTA program and this week the media got their first look at the 2024 Broncos. Ryan Edwards from KOA noted one player had himself a day in third-year tight end Lucas Krull.
#Broncos TE Lucas Krull was easily one of the standout performers of today’s OTAs. Caught everything thrown his way on short, intermediate and deep routes. Impressive throw and catch from Nix to Krull on an out route….ball was on a rope to the left sideline and Krull got both…
— Ryan Edwards (@redwardsradio) May 23, 2024
The former undrafted free agent who head coach Sean Payton signed to the New Orleans Saints in 2022 seems to be coming into his own with Denver this season. He made a couple of big time catches late last season where he got most of his snaps. His biggest game came against the New England Patriots in Week 15 where he hauled in four passes for 28 yards and touchdown. He finished with eight total receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown last year.
Payton had good things to say after practice yesterday too noting that ‘85’ is a number us fans are going to know in 2024.
“I thought he’s had a good week,” Payton said of Krull. “I said, ‘If you didn’t notice, everyone in the media was looking down at their rosters to see who [No.] 85 was.’ I said, ‘Someday soon, they’re going to know who 85 is.’ He’s looking sharp.”
This is a very nice development considering the concern everyone has over the return of oft-injured Greg Dulcich. His hamstring issues have plagued his entire career and the Broncos are not messing around with his progression back to the football field this time around.
“He’s close,” Payton said of Dulcich’s return from injury. “He’s had all the work done. We’re encouraged. I think you’ll see him sooner than later, and we want to be smart.”
It seems like Dulcich’s entire time spent on injured reserve has been meeting with experts to help him resolve this nagging issue. Payton confirmed that this rehab is continuing even to this day.
“Well, no,” said Payton. “The trips back and forth [is] relative to checkups. His rehab has gone well. It’s not going to be we don’t see him until training camp.”
While many fans disparage the situation with Dulcich, I’m feeling a lot more encouraged this time around. If his hamstring gives way again when he returns to the field, then its likely he’ll need to hang ‘em up. However, if that happens it won’t mean that he and the team didn’t do everything they could to give him a chance to make a career in the NFL.
With the glimpses we’ve seen of Dulcich, it is worth the effort. The guy is explosive and could be a major x-factor on the field if he remains healthy. I’m rooting for him.
However, with Krull’s emergence it gives Denver a bit of breathing room knowing they have a capable guy to pair with Dulcich this season. That is something they definitely needed.
Denver, CO
Girl, 15, reported missing from Colorado Springs
A 15-year-old girl has been reported missing from Colorado Springs, according to a Colorado Bureau of Investigation alert.
Leah Black went missing at about 5 p.m. Thursday in the 2600 block of Gobi Drive. Leah, who was last seen wearing light blue pajama pants with ducks on them, a black top, and white Crocs, was walking south on Constitution Avenue.
Leah is described as indigenous with brown hair and brown eyes. She is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 130 pounds.
If anyone sees Leah, call 9-1-1 or the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000.
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