Just 10 days ago, Colorado State kicker Jared Roberts was a walk-on fighting for a scholarship. Yesterday, in the first college football game of his career, he was a star. Roberts connected on three field goal attempts, including kicks from 47 and 48 yards, to spur the Rams to a five-point victory over the rival Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday. His second kick, from 48 yards, gave Colorado State a fourth-quarter lead, and a 32-yard kick with 2:56 to play extended that margin.
Backup quarterback and holder M.J. McPeek told The Coloradoan he was proud with the first-time kicker:
"To do that in his first college game, that's pretty impressive, no matter who you are," McPeek said.
"He got the call, ‘field goal' on the sideline, and he just went out there and kicked it."
Head coach Jim McElwain wasn't nearly as impressed:
"One of the things we preach to our guys, just so everyone understands, is do your job," McElwain said. "I don't care what your job is, just do it. That's with everyone who touches the organization, whether you're in the academic department, whether you're in the training room, whether you're in the equipment room. Do your job and be excellent at what you do."
Things didn't go perfectly for Roberts: He had his first extra point blocked in the second quarter. He did manage to make his second PAT later in the game without incident.
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