SportsLine wire reports
April 13, 1999

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- What once looked like it would be a battle to the finish now looks nearly decided with just one week left in spring drills.

That promising battle was for the starting quarterback position and the frontrunner has to be junior Matt Newton, especially after Saturday's second major scrimmage of the spring on the practice fields south of Moby Arena.

Newton took charge of the Colorado State University football team's starting offense, despite forceful winds, and drove it 70 yards in just five plays for a score on the first series showing he had the composure to do so.

CSU coach Sonny Lubick wouldn't announce Newton as the official starter and that probably won't happen until the actual preparation for the 1999 season begins. It wasn't hard to see that Newton has the edge.

"Matt and the way he's playing this spring and the experience he has, looks like he's been there all along," Lubick said. "Matt's got to be the leading candidate. He's playing adequate enough for us to win."

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Englewood native completed 13 of 18 passes for 180 yards and ran a bootleg to perfection to cap that first drive.

"HE WAS ON FIRE TODAY," receiver Pete Rebstock said. "He got a lot of opportunities to throw the ball. We put in a little more offense today.

"He's got fire in him. People don't realize that."

Highly-touted redshirt freshman Steve Cutlip went just 3-6 for 21 yards, playing mostly with the second team. Cutlip's effort was hurt by numerous false starts by his unit.

Jon Boyer also is participating for the right to replace Ryan Eslinger, and completed 3 of 4 for 50 yards.

Compared to the first scrimmage two weeks ago when the defense thoroughly dominated, the offense proved to be much improved, not having many problems moving the ball.

THE OFFENSIVE LINE LOOKED a little more confident, opening some big holes for the running backs. That was the case for sophomores Jason Stout, who had 16 carries for 60 yards and Duan Ruff with five carries for 33 yards before leaving the scrimmage early with a hamstring injury.

"The offensive line played a heck of a day today," Newton said. "That was a 110 percent improvement."

Junior receiver Will Layne shined along side Newton, grabbing three passes for 108 yards.

Still, there is room for further improvement, as seen by the numerous offensive penalties and a tendency by the running backs to fumble.

The Rams will practice on Tuesday and Friday this week before concluding the spring session with the annual Green and Gold game at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday at Hughes Stadium.