Rams kicker Bryan makes good on his chance for redemption
FORT COLLINS» Wyatt Bryan had a feeling.
It was strong in his mind that Saturday was the day Colorado State would need him to hit a gamewinning field goal.
The senior place kicker was correct, but it couldn’t have played out any differently on the field from the vision he had in his mind.
As time ran out, he connected for a 26yarder to beat New Mexico 2018 in front of a sellout crowd at Canvas Stadium, but it was more than that.
He had to make it. Second chances can be a wondrous thing.
“It’s weird. I had this feeling before the game, I think this is going to be the game, like, I’m going to get a gamewinner this game,” he said. “I kept telling myself that. It was supposed to be a close game, and I was like, it was going to be a fourthquarter battle, we’re going to need a field goal.
“When were down by one point there, I was like, this is it, I’m going to hit it. It seems like everything happens when you least expect it. I wasn’t expecting to miss one right before it and have to go down and hit another one.”
Not exactly the way one would draw it up.
“We talked all week about just trying to find a way to win the ball game, and we did,” CSU coach Mike Bobo said. “It wasn’t pretty, but that’s who we are right now. We’re growing and we’re learning.”
Just the drive before, with 2:29 remaining on the clock and CSU down 1817, Bryan pushed an 18yard attempt to the right, his hands flying immediately to his helmet in disbelief.
He was given a mulligan, thanks to a threeandout by the defense and a strong, hurryup drive by the offense, getting the ball back with 2:01 remaining.
The Rams needed 11 plays to go 65 yards, and near the end, Bobo was trying to make sure they took their time as to not leave the Lo
bos with anything to work with.
Bobo had no reservations about playing for a field goal, even though Bryan had given him reason for pause. Even Bryan knew the one he missed was shorter than an extrapoint try.
“I was shooting myself for missing that. I kind of felt rushed a little bit. I mean, and just tried to hurry myself at the end there,” he explained. “I came across on it really bad. It’s unbelievable I missed that kick. It literally could not have been any shorter. It was probably the worst kick I’ve ever had in my career.”