Holland Leads White over Green in Spring Game

Fort Collins - Junior quarterback Justin Holland completed 17-of-22 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns to lead his White team to a 31-10 win over the Green in Colorado State University's intrasquad spring game played before about 2,100 fans at Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium.

Holland, a junior-to-be, had been Bradlee Van Pelt's understudy the past two seasons but is firmly entrenched as the team's starter entering 2004.

"Justin is a pretty accurate passer," said Rams' coach Sonny Lubick. "He can make things happen."

Saturday he handed his team a 14-3 lead at the end of the first quarter when he hit wide receiver David Anderson - a first-team All-Mountain West Conference pick last season - on a 16-yard scoring play. Late in the game he connected with runningback Marcus Houston on a 25-yard scoring play.

Lubick said he was pleased in general with the game, in particular the team's offense.

"Today, we kind of jelled a little bit on offense. The defense has had the upper hand most of the spring. But the offense looked good."

Anderson and tight end Clint Oldenburg each finished with five receptions. Anderon gained 45 yards and the one touchdown, while Oldenburg gained 34 yards. H-back Joel Dreessen caught three passes for 55 yards and an eight-yard touchdown pass from backup Joey Kearney. Jimmy Green and Houston tied for rushing honors, each player gaining 35 yards.

"I'm encouraged," said Lubick of the final workout of the spring prior to next season's opener Sept. 4 at Colorado. "I thought the offense looked good, and I know we'll be tougher on defense."

Lubick said while he's encouraged, he has some concerns to solve before the 2004 season arrives.

"My biggest concern is that we play solid and tough in the secondary. We do not want to give up the big play. We'll be a team that will play hard. I'm more encouraged now than I was a month ago. I thought we got a lot accomplished."

Safety Ben Stratton, a junior from Cheyenne, Wyo., led all defensive players with 11 tackles in the game, while linebacker Luke Mueller had seven stops.

Kevin Mark of the Green team opened the scoring midway through the first period on a 35-yard field goal. Shane Wise blocked a punt that he returned 18 yards for a score and put the White team ahead to stay, 7-3 following Jeff Babcock's point-after kick.

Holland then found Anderson on a 16-yard pass play to make the lead 14-3, and Kearney came back with 5 minutes, 56 seconds to play in the second quarter and hit Dreessen on an 8-yard scoring play.

Mike Wysocki's 27-yard field goal pushed the lead to 24-3 in favor of the White team. George Hill's 10-yard run on a reverse cut the lead to 24-10 at the end of the third quarter.

Houston's 25-yard pass from Holland in the fourth quarter closed the scoring with 1 minute, 57 seconds remaining.

Lubick also said Saturday's game could help clear up the battle for the team's backup quarterback position. Kearney completed 5-of-6 passes for 45 yards and the score, while redshirt freshman Cassey Hansen threw for 75 yards, completing 7-of-11 passes. Zac Bryson, another redshirt freshman quarterback, completed 4-of-10 passes for 42 yards.

Athletic department officials said season tickets for the Rams' six-game home schedule next year are currently on sale by calling 491-RAMS, 1-800-491-RAMS, or online at CSURAMS.com.