Broncos' task: Just win, baby

Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler scrambles against Seattle on Dec. 3 in Denver. Cutler leads the Broncos on Sunday against the 49ers. (Post / Craig F. Walker)

In Denver, the final day of 2006 is all about San Francisco.
Beat the not-so-scary 49ers, and move on to the playoffs. That's all the Broncos care about. They know a victory today over the 49ers at Invesco Field at Mile High will give them the No. 5 seed and a wild-card game next weekend, likely at New England, a team the Broncos have beaten three times in the past 14 months.
A victory would more than help erase the memory of a four-game losing streak that nearly capsized their season.
"We know what we need to do," Denver safety John Lynch said. "We've been playing playoff football the past few weeks. We have to win to continue to play."
But there is far more to the final day of the year, with intriguing story lines throughout the NFL. As the season winds to a close, a look at 10 key things to watch for that will have great bearing heading into the new year.

Chemistry works in 2006

1. Head of the class: The 2006 quarterback draft class may
go down as one of the best since the Dan Marino-John Elway draft of 1983. The
three first-rounders – Vince Young (Titans), Matt Leinart (Cardinals) and Jay Cutler (Broncos) – all
look like studs. Young is emerging as the top offensive rookie and has the
Titans within a tiebreaker of the playoffs. Cutler rebounded from a tough start
and has the Broncos on the verge of locking up a playoff spot. Leinart, whose
season ended Sunday with a shoulder injury, displayed the poise and passing
skills to make the Cardinals a playoff contender next year.

10. Taking the snap: Non-quarterbacks are getting a chance to get
behind center and take shotgun snaps. This trend is partially due to the success
the Steelers had with Antwaan Randle El. It started this year with more
running backs taking direct snaps while in shotgun formations and running with
the ball. But teams are also getting receivers involved. The Broncos ran a trick
play Sunday in which wide receiver Rod Smith took a direct snap and threw a lateral to Jay Cutler, who fired a 36-yard pass to Javon Walker to setup a touchdown.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

The Cut

(Dec. 25, 2006) -- Despite their better efforts, the Broncos are most likely
heading to the postseason.

A botched extra point by Cincinnati is what probably catapulted a
mistake-prone Denver team into the playoffs. For one of the AFC's two wild
cards, the Broncos are tied with the Jets have and a one-game lead on four other
teams while being led by a rookie quarterback, two running backs that take turns
not playing -- one of whom has a fumbling problem -- and a defense that is as
schizophrenic as any.

But wouldn't you know it … all those wins at the beginning of the season paid
off. It didn't pay off for an AFC West title, and now Denver must go on the road
for the next two games -- at San Francisco in Week 17 and then in the first
round of the playoffs, provided the team gets there. If Jay
Cutler hopes to have any first-year success, he better get ready in a
hurry and not act like a first-year guy.

Cutler got away with some rookie mistakes in the first half against the
Bengals, but after a few halftime adjustments, it was only the snow and wind
that was holding him in the 24-23 win over the Bengals. Starting on his own
1-yard line, Cutler led a 14-play, 7:17-long drive that culminated in a 2-yard
Mike
Bell touchdown run to put Denver up for good at 21-17 in the third
quarter. The next drive went 51 yards in nine plays, and Jason
Elam capped it off with a chip-shot field goal.

While Cutler wasn't outplaying his counterpart, Carson
Palmer, he made some plays that would cause you to do a double take.
The Broncos' first touchdown of the game was on a third down and came from an
unlikely source in rookie backup tight end Tony
Scheffler. Cutler rolled to his right and threw a laser that went
right through the DB's hands and into Scheffler's arms. Only the All-Pros and/or
the brave attempt that throw.

Right now we'll just call Cutler brave. If that throw is made 10 more times,
three times it is picked off and taken back for a touchdown, three times it is
knocked down, two times it is dropped by the receiver and one time the throw is
offline. But in this single, solitary instance, Scheffler kept his concentration
and held on for his third score of the season.

This should have been Palmer's game, but the wintery conditions and Denver's
outside pass rush forced him to be too wild with his throws, and they routinely
were high and behind the intended receivers. Four times Palmer had receivers
open for touchdowns and four times bad passes resulted in a lack of points. You
can put a lot of blame on long snapper Brad St.
Louis or holder Kyle
Larson for that last-minute blunder, but Palmer was the goat for not
overcoming the jitters.

Those are jitters he's probably only had twice in the NFL -- his first game
in his rookie season and opening weekend of 2006 after coming back from knee
surgery. Jitters happen to guys like Cutler, who are supposed to have them in a
game of this magnitude.

The Bengals shouldn't be so quick to get away from Rudi Johnson on the ground.

Cincy still has a chance of making
it to the playoffs thanks to heartbreaking losses by Jacksonville and Buffalo. A
victory over the Broncos would have sealed the deal. The team also holds a good
deal of tiebreakers over the three other teams currently at 8-7, and even on the
9-6 Jets, who won in Miami on Monday night. The Jets' win gave New York the
inside track, but a loss in Week 17 and it's a sprint for the finish.

And after eight arrests by players this season, a potentially
career-threatening neck injury to 2005's No. 1 draft pick, and putting a rookie
at left tackle, the Bengals are still in good shape.

Up until now, the biggest Bengals fans in town were the bail bondsmen. Now
the support will be coming from the 65,535 people crammed into Paul Brown
Stadium for next weekend's season finale against Pittsburgh. Winning at home
against the hated Steelers on New Year's Eve will be just like a playoff
victory, even if one isn't in the cards.

But chances are the Bengals are going to have at least one extra game if they
get the job done themselves. And maybe with a little luck they'll get some
revenge on the Broncos a little bit down the road in the postseason. Unlikely,
but not impossible.

In a season where the AFC has show superiority to the NFC, it's interesting
to see a bunch of teams muddled around .500 as the campaign winds down, hoping
for a playoff invitation. If both these teams end up making it to the
postseason, they should be happy to be there. But good enough isn't going to cut
it. The AFC does have a reputation to uphold this year.

By
Seth
Polansky
NFL.com

Also you can check Broncos report: Inside slant

Merry Christmas Bronco Fans

THE SNAP

Merry Christmas, Denver Cincinnati Bengals holder Kyle Larson gave Denver Broncos fans a huge Christmas gift when he botched the snap of the game-tying extra point with 41 seconds to play. Kicker Shayne Graham tries to steady himself as the ball floats past. Thanks to the blown snap, a win agains the 49ers would put Denver in the playoffs. Full story
Broncos-Bengals slide show: 1Q 2Q 3Q 4Q

CutWay?

Cutler making Shanahan look brilliant once again

By John ClaytonESPN.comArchive



DENVER -- During the Broncos' back-to-back Super Bowl run in the 1990s, a Denver columnist dubbed Mike Shanahan "The Mastermind."
Everyone who came across Shanahan knew he was brilliant. Al Davis hired him early in his career but made the mistake of firing him in his second year with the Raiders. Shanahan ended up calling plays for the 49ers and gained a reputation as a great play-caller before the Broncos named him head coach in 1995. With John Elway as his quarterback, Shanahan figured he should put 40 points a game on an opposing defense. His standards were high.
Well, the old Mastermind has pulled off another brilliant move. By going down the stretch with rookie quarterback Jay Cutler and a cast of other rookie offensive players, the Broncos appear set to enter the AFC playoffs as one of the wildest of the wild cards. Though they needed a bad extra point snap by Brad St. Louis of the Bengals to seal their 24-23 victory in the final seconds, The Mastermind is back in the playoff saddle again, and the Broncos will only be better in future years with Cutler at the helm.
Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
Jay Cutler is now 2-2 since taking over as the Broncos' starting QB.
Cutler isn't John Elway but he might be the next best thing. His stats didn't reflect how huge he played in this game. Though he was 12-for-23 for 179 yards and two touchdowns, Cutler did some Elway-like things.
For one, he executed a 99-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter. Elway was known for those long, game-winning drives in the playoffs. The pressure was on the Broncos, who almost fell out of the playoff hunt in making the quarterback transition from Jake Plummer, and Cutler responded when he needed to, even though he was competing against Carson Palmer.
"I don't think I outplayed Carson Palmer," Cutler said. "I just think our team outplayed their team."
But in many ways, Cutler did outplay Palmer. He opened the game with a dumb interception, but with Cutler everything is a learning experience. After all, this was only his fourth start. Cutler thought he could get the ball deep to tight end Tony Scheffler so he pumped once and pumped again.
Shanahan later reminded him that the NFL is different than Vanderbilt. Defenders are too quick. Double pump and you can't go deep because the defender will intercept the pass. Safety Dexter Jackson did just that at the Broncos' 5. In then future, Cutler will throw the 4- or 5-yard completion.
What impressed Shanahan was Cutler's demeanor after the play. "By the time I was running off the field, the play was out of my mind," Cutler said. That's what the great ones do, they forget the mistakes and dwell on what will make them better."
Watching Cutler on Sunday proved he has the present and the future solidly in control.
"Like I said from Day One, this guy is going to be something special," Shanahan said. "There are going to be some growing pains along the way, but you watch the way he handles himself in practice and the way he handles himself in meetings. You could see today, he made some mistakes, but when it was on the line, he made some big time plays."
His big time plays were Elway-like plays, something Broncos fans have been waiting for since his retirement. It was never more obvious than on two big time throws Cutler made in the first half.
The first came in the second quarter when the Broncos tried a trick play. Rod Smith took a direct snap from center. He heaved the ball to his left to Cutler, who rifled a ball that exploded from his hand into the waiting hands of rookie Brandon Marshall 36 yards downfield. It set up a 1-yard touchdown pass to Scheffler.
After Cincinnati's Chad Johnson fumbled a completion, Cutler made him pay a little more than a minute later. Broncos receiver Javon Walker made a double move that allowed him to get past Jackson and into the end zone. Cutler fired a laser to him for the 39-yard touchdown that gave the Bengals a 14-7 lead. With that, Cutler also set a NFL rookie-record by having multiple touchdown passes in his first four games as a starter. He has eight TDs for the season.
In the second half, the 99-yard drive won the game. The Broncos trailed, 17-14. Kyle Larson placed a perfect punt that was downed at the 1-yard line. Put any rookie quarterback in a big game at his 1 and you have problems. Not Cutler.
His biggest play was a 25-yard completion to Scheffler when he saw a blitz coming. Cutler had enough time to put air under the ball as Scheffler was going downfield against a linebacker and it took the Broncos to their 41. Once again, Cutler had Denver rolling.
The combination of Mike Bell and Tatum Bell took a little pressure off Cutler, but he still made enough throws to keep drives going.
"I didn't do a lot in that drive," Cutler said. "We ran the ball so well."
An interference call against Bengals rookie corner Johnathan Joseph helped. It turned a third-down incompletion at the Bengals' 21 into a first down. Cutler converted a third-and-11 into a 17-yard completion to Walker and set up a first-and-goal at the 2. Mike Bell scored two plays later.
Shanahan had been thinking all season about the time to unleash Cutler. He came to the conclusion early that it was going to be hard for Plummer to take this team deep into the playoffs. Once Plummer suffered back-to-back losses to the Chargers and Chiefs in a five-day stretch around Thanksgiving, Shanahan made the change.
Cutler was like all other rookie quarterbacks and wasn't very good in his first start. The Broncos lost to Seattle. But each week he improves, and each week the Broncos are winning with a younger cast of players.
Mike Bell, an undrafted rookie, is taking over the halfback role for Tatum Bell, who makes big plays but fumbles too much. Brandon Marshall has moved into the No. 3 receiver role in the three-receiver set and is making more big catches each week. Erik Pears is a first-year left tackle filling in for injured Matt Lepsis. Scheffler seems to have the confidence of Cutler even though Shanahan was putting him on the inactive list just a few weeks ago.
"I roomed with Tony during the preseason and he has great hands," Cutler said. "A tight end like that can stretch the field."
At 9-6, the Broncos control their own destiny. If they beat the 49ers next Sunday in Denver, they are the AFC's fifth seed. To think, Shanahan did it with a cast of rookies. That's why they call him The Mastermind.
John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

Did a wild-card spot slip through Cincinnati's hands Sunday in Denver?

Jack Dempsey/AP Photo

'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through a wild Week 16, visions of the postseason danced ... even for all those 7-8 NFC teams.Following Sunday's clatter, here's what matters. Last Call Picture

Keep Hope Alive

It's the time of year where hope and faith become important. Yes, it's Week 16. If the Broncos beat the Bengals Sunday, their playoff stock will be a mile high. John Clayton rates postseason odds

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Jay Cutler and the Broncos are smack dab in the wild-card hunt at 8-6.

AFC

• Denver Broncos (8-6): Rookie quarterback Jay Cutler and the Broncos will be headed to the playoffs if they can beat the Bengals Sunday and follow that up with a home win against the 49ers. Even if the Broncos make the playoffs and lose in the wild-card round, Mike Shanahan will have given his quarterback of the future a taste of postseason football.

• Cincinnati Bengals (8-6): From the very beginning, Marvin Lewis knew this wasn't going to be an easy season. He had the AFC's toughest schedule. Eight of his players have been arrested in the past year. His linebacking corps has been ravaged at times with injuries. He's been without as many as three starting offensive linemen at times. And it doesn't get easier. He probably needs wins at Denver and against the Steelers to make the playoffs.

South 64, Lewis Palmer 47

South 64, Lewis Palmer 47
Tournament of Champions
South 18 16 13 17 - 64
L. Palmer 9 11 17 10 - 47
South-Marinucci 7 5-10 21, Sorenson 6 0-0 12, Cartwright 1 0-0 2, Dome 5 6-6 17, Medina 1 0-0 2, Lockett 0 2-2 2, Williams 1 0-0 2, Zufall 1 1-1 3, Haning 1 0-0 3. Totals: 23 14-19 64. 3-point goals: Marinucci 2, Dome, Haning. Fouls: 13.
Lewis Palmer-Quigley 3 2-4 9, Agvege 3 0-0 9, Hoogenboom 2 0-0 5, Caparelli 1 0-0 2, Adams 1 0-0 2, Hammond 3 0-0 9, Schustedt 1 0-0 3, Dyer 4 0-0 9. Totals: 18 2-4 47. 3-point goals: Agvege 3, Hammond 3, Quigley, Hoogenboom, Schustedt, Dyer. Fouls: 15.

A little Christmas Card From San Diego

Pac Ladies' Starlight

CSU-Pueblo sophomore
Mary Rehfeld

CSU-Pueblo women 68, Colorado Christian 63
CSU-PUEBLO (5-5, 3-1)
Black 4-9 5-6 14, Draper 3-7 0-0 8, Miller 1-5 0-0 3, Rehfeld 7-15 2-2 20, Lewis 6-10 3-5 18, Ackerman 0-0 0-0 0, Dahlberg 0-1 0-0 0, Pritchett 0-0 0-0 0, Hansen 1-6 1-4 3, Simpson 0-0 0-0 0, Fineran 0-1 0-0 0, Bahe 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 23-55 11-17 68. 3-point goals-11-28 (Rehfeld 4-10, Lewis 3-6, Draper 2-4, Black 1-2, Miller 1-2, Hansen 0-4). Fouled out-none. Rebounds-37 (Rehfeld 8). Assists-6 (Black, Rehfeld 2). Totals fouls-17.
COLORADO CHRISTIAN (2-7, 0-4)
Braasch 1-9 0-0 2, Davis 6-11 3-4 15, Rosenthal 7-9 3-3 17, Aguirre 6-23 4-4 21, Miller 1-7 1-1 3, Barratt 2-6 1-2 5, Valdez 0-1 0-0 0, Hurst 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 23-66 12-14 63. 3-point goals-5-22 (Aguirre 5-16, Barratt 0-1, Davis 0-2, Braasch 0-3). Fouled out-Miller, Barratt. Rebounds-41 (Davis 10). Assists-11 (Braasch, Aguirre 3). Totals fouls-16.
Halftime score-CSU-Pueblo 32, Colorado Christian 27.
A-312.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Women's basketball
The Pack is back in a familiar position, leading the West Division of the RMAC with a 3-1 record. A pair of road victories this past weekend, including a 52-50 upset of 15th-ranked Metro State, has left the women in solid shape entering the holiday break.
Senior forward Kerry Lewis, who had a double-double against Metro with 14 points and 10 rebounds, was named RMAC West Division player of the week. Lewis also scored 18 points in CSU-Pueblo's 68-63 win over Colorado Christian.
The T-Wolves next travel to California Dec. 29 and 30 to participate in the Cal State Stanislaus Tournament. CSU-Pueblo meets Cal State Dominguez Hills and the host team in the two-day classic.
Men's basketball
The men enter the break with a 5-5 overall record and 2-2 mark in the RMAC after splitting a pair of conference road games this past weekend, falling 73-65 to No. 21 Metro State and knocking off Colorado Christian 66-64.
Senior shooting guard Brett Cloepfil had a tremendous weekend, pouring in 45 points and connecting on 13-of-18 shots from 3-point range. Cloepfil lifted his scoring average to 12.5 points a game, second on the team.
The Pack has two weeks off before returning to action Dec. 30 with a non-league road game against RMAC foe CU-Colorado Springs.

In The Hive

HORNET HOLIDAY
All-tourney team
Rachel Espinoza, Central
Maleah Gregory, East
Kara Kochenberger, Central
Emily Lekahal, Overland
Whitney Willbanks, Pueblo County
MVP: Rachel Espinoza, Central
Hornet Holiday Tournament
Saturday's scores
Championship: Central 37, East 32
Third place: Overland 66, Pueblo County 53
Consolation: Fountain-Fort Carson 63, Liberty 49
Seventh place: Battle Mountain 45, Pueblo County JV 40
Central 37, East 32
Hornet Holiday championship
Central 4 8 12 13 - 37East 7 5 6 14 - 32
Central-Kochenberger 2 1-2 5, Toribio 1 2-2 4, Solano 3 1-3 7, Espinoza 5 10-11 21. Totals: 11 14-18 37. 3-point goals: Espinoza. Fouls: 11.
East-Eickelman 0 4-4 4, Thompson 1 0-2 2, Gradisar 2 2-2 7, Baca 1 0-0 3, Gregory 7 2-2 16. Totals: 11 8-10 32. 3-point goals: Gradisar, Baca. Fouls: 15.

get the rest of the story Pueblo Chieftain Sports

CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/MIKE SWEENEY
Pueblo County High School's Brooke Baker (55) rejects a shot attempt by Central's Ashton Toribio during their semifinal game of the 2006 Hornets Holiday tournament Friday night at the Hornets Nest.





Hornet Holiday Tournament
Friday's scores

Fountain-Fort Carson 52, Pueblo County JV 27
Liberty 59, Battle Mountain 43
Central 54, Pueblo County 46
East 57, Overland 40

Today's games

10:45 a.m., seventh place, Pueblo County JV vs. Battle Mountain
12:30 p.m., consolation, Fountain-Fort Carson vs. Liberty
2:15 p.m., third place, Pueblo County vs. Overland
4 p.m., championship, Central vs. East

Central 54, Pueblo County 46

Hornet Holiday Tournament

Central 13 13 11 17 - 54
P. County 13 10 15 8 - 46

Central-Kochenberger 7 1-1 15, Toribio 1 4-6 7, Solano 2 2-2 6, Espinoza 5 5-5 15, Cardenas 1 0-1 2, Vunovich 3 3-4 9. Totals: 19 15-19 54. 3-point goals: Toribio. Fouls: 14.
Pueblo County-Andenucio 4 5-6 13, Ortiz 2 0-0 4, Villegas 1 0-0 3, Wilson 3 0-2 6, Willbanks 2 0-0 5, Golob 2 0-2 4, Baker 3 5-6 11. Totals: 17 10-16 46. 3-point goals: Villegas, Willbanks. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Andenucio.
East 57, Overland 40

Hornet Holiday Tournament

Overland 15 2 7 16 - 40
East 9 13 15 14 - 57

Overland-Henegan 1 0-0 2, Everett 7 0-0 14, Lindsey 0 1-2 1, Goodlow 2 0-0 5, Marshall 2 1-1 5, Butler 1 0-0 2, DeMichelis 2 1-4 5. Totals: 17 3-7 40. 3-point goals: Lindsey 2, Goodlow. Fouls: 21. Fouled out: DeMichelis.
East-Eickelman 1 11-16 13, Archuleta 2 0-0 4, Gradisar 2 0-1 5, Gregory 9 11-13 29. Totals: 14 22-30 57. 3-point goals: Gradisar. Fouls: 12.

Chieftain Sports

PACK POINTERS: The Pack wraps up its two-game road trip with a 7 p.m. game tonight at Colorado Christian . . . Julien Franklin was the only other Pack player to finish in double figures with 16, including a 4-for-5 performance behind the 3-point arc . . . CSU-Pueblo won the battle of the boards 38-23 with Trahern leading the way with 12. But they committed 19 turnovers and hit only five of 13 free throws.
Metro State 73, CSU-Pueblo men 65
CSU-PUEBLO (3-4, 1-2)
Sewald 1-2 0-3 3, Trahern 2-8 3-4 7, McTyer 1-32-4 4, Cloepfil 7-11 0-0 20, Franklin 6-8 0-0 16, Willette 4-6 0-0 8, Pickens 1-6 0-1 3, Thomas 0-2 0-0 0, Orchard 0-0 0-0 0, Childress 2-5 0-1 4. Totals: 24-51 5-13 65. 3-point goals-12-20 (Cloepfil 6-8, Franklin 4-5, Sewald 1-1, Pickens 1-6). Fouled out-McTyer. Rebounds-38 (Trahern 12). Assists-15 (McTyer 5). Total fouls-17.
METRO STATE (6-1, 2-1)
Bahl 6-10 3-4 18, Wagstaff 6-9 6-8 21, Couligaly 0-1 0-0 0, Carrington 2-4 0-0 6, Veikalas 1-5 1-2 4, Smith 0-0 0-0 0, Moore 1-2 2-2 4, Price 2-6 0-0 4, Ciancio 0-1 0-0 0, Burgess 5-8 5-6 16, Bass 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 23-48 17-22 73. 3-point goals-10-22 (Wagstaff 3-4, Bahl 3-6, Carrington 2-4, Veikalas 1-3, Burgess 1-2, Moore 0-1, Ciancio 0-1). Rebounds-23 (Wagstaff 9). Assists-13 (Veikalas 4). Total fouls-16.
Halftime score-Metro State 33, CSU-Pueblo 30.
A-254.

Chieftain Sports

CSU-Pueblo women 52, Metro State 50
CSU-PUEBLO (4-5, 2-1)
Black 3-9 1-2 7, Rehfeld 5-10 0-0 13, Lewis 4-16 3-4 14, Draper 2-6 0-0 5, Miller 4-9 1-4 10, Ackerman 0-0 0-0 0, Dahlberg 0-1 0-0 0, Hansen 0-3 0-0 0, Simpson 0-2 0-0 0, Bahe 1-3 1-2 3. Totals: 19-59 6-12 52. 3-point goals-8-24 (Rehfeld 3-5, Lewis 3-7, Miller -14, Draper 1-5, Black 0-1, Dahlberg 0-1, Hansen 0-1). Fouled out-none. Rebounds-47 (Lewis 10). Assists-15 (Black 5). Totals fouls-11.
METRO STATE (7-2, 2-1)
Sinclair 3-6 2-2 8, Bratton 4-9 3-4 11, Mickens 2-9 1-2 5, Ellerington 3-15 0-0 6, Torp 4-10 0-0 8, von Tillow 0-1 0-0 0, Harris 3-15 2-4 10, Powers 0-1 0-0 0, Sauter 0-2 0-0 0, Johnson 0-3 0-0 0, Bruzewski 0-0 2-2 2. Totals: 19-71 10-14 50. 3-point goals-2-15 (Harris 2-7, Torp 0-1, von Tillow 0-1, Powers 0-1, Johnson 0-1, Sauter 0-2, Mickens 0-2). Fouled out-none. Rebounds-49 (Ellerington, Harris 8). Assists-12 (Sinclair 5). Totals fouls-13.
Halftime score- CSU-Pueblo 30, Metro State 25.

PACK POINTERS: The T-Wolves return to action at 5 p.m. tonight when they wrap up their short two-game road swing at Colorado Christian . . .Two of Metro's top scorers - Danielle Ellerington and Harris - were a combined 6-for-30 from the field.

Chieftain Sports

Hornet Holiday Tournament
Thursday's scores

Central 52, Fountain-Fort Carson 42
East 65, Battle Mountain 38
Pueblo County 64, Cripple Creek-Victor 12
Overland 56, Liberty 24
Today's games
Fountain-Fort Carson vs. Pueblo County JV, 3 p.m.
Battle Mountain vs. Liberty, 4:45 p.m.
Pueblo County vs. Central, 6:30 p.m.
East vs. Overland, 8:15 p.m.
Central 52, Fountain-Fort Carson 42
Fountain-FC 6 7 14 15 - 42

Pueblo Central 7 17 10 18 - 52

Fountain-Fort Carson-Strange 3 0-1 6, Flores 2 0-0 5, Foe 3 1-2 8, Broughton 5 0-7 10, Clouser 3 3-8 9, Jones 2 0-0 4. Totals: 18 4-18 42. 3-point goals: Flores, Foe. Fouls: 26. Fouled out: Foe, Clouser.
Central-Kochenberger 1 2-2 4, Toribio 1 0-0 2, Espinoza 6 20-23 34, Cardenas 1 2-2 4, Vunovich 2 4-5 8. Totals: 11 28-32 52. 3-point goals: Espinoza 2. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Solano.

more go to Pueblo Chieftain Sports

CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/BRYAN KELSEN
Pueblo County High School's Kevin Miller (12) battles Mitchell's Alan Paul (15) for a rebound during the first quarter Thursday in an opening-round game of the East Coaches' Classic tournament at Mel Spence Gymnasium. The Hornets outlasted the Marauders 54-51.


East Coaches' Classic
Thursday's scores
Mesa Ridge 66, Pueblo West 54
Pueblo County 54, Mitchell 51
Central 64, Grand Junction Central 58
East 56, Classical Academy 48
Today's games
Mitchell vs. Grand Junction Central, 4 p.m.
Pueblo West vs. Classical Academy, 5:30 p.m.
Pueblo County vs. Central, 7 p.m.
East vs. Mesa Ridge, 8:30 p.m.
Pueblo County 54, Mitchell 51
Mitchell

16 8 18 9 - 51
P. County 4 19 17 14 -
54
16 8 18 9 - 51 P.County 4 19 17 14 - 54 Mitchell-Paul 5 3-4 13, Moore 6 0-0 15, Pollard 0 1-2 1, Scales 1 0-0 2, Borello 1 0-0 3, Braxton 7 1-2 15, Hamilton 1 0-0 2. Totals: 21 5-8 51. 3-point goals: Moore 3, Borello. Fouls: 14. Technical foul: Bench.
Pueblo County-Miller 4 0-1 11, Ingo 8 4-4 24, Escobedo 1 0-0 2, Comfort 1 0-0 2, Meserve 5 1-2 12, Cresswell 0 3-4 3. Totals: 19 8-11 54. 3-point goals: Miller 3, Ingo 4, Meserve. Fouls: 12.

Pueblo: Still a Sports Town?By Adam Combs

Pueblo has been known for many things throughout its history, mainly for being blue collar and being Democratic in a mostly Republican state. However, Pueblo is also known for being a sports town.
There have been many great teams, some semi-professional, but mostly high school. In the old days, some would say, fans used to come out in droves to support the local teams. Looking through the archive of old photos from the 1950s and before at the Robert H. Rawlings Public Library, Runyon Field can be seen packed to the gills just to watch a city league game between two companies and their employees. Of course, Pueblo’s minor league franchise, the Pueblo Dodgers, was also a big hit during that period.

MORE>
CO Springs School 47, Dolores Huerta 45 (OT)
CSS 2 7 22 14 2 -47
DHPH 6 11 16 12 0 -45
-
45Springs School-Finger 1 0-0 2, Jacobson 1 0-0 2, Lindroth-Yates 8
1-2 17, Quintero 0 1-3 1, Dawson 3 0-2 6, Leeper 6 3-4 15, Anderson 2 0-2 4.
Totals: 21 5-13 47. 3-point goals: None. Fouls: 20. Fouled out: Leeper.

Dolores Huerta-Sanchez 2 0-2 4, Gonzales 0 2-2 2, Martinez 0 0-3 0, Solano 3
3-6 9, Perri 3 3-6 9, Smith 2 4-4 8, Masias 3 5-6 13. Totals: 13 17-29 45.
3-point goals: Masias 2. Fouls: 15. Fouled out: Masias.

View photo/Mike Griffin
Pueblo West guard Josh Moser looks to make a pass against Arapahoe.

Pine Creek 80, Pueblo West 72
Creek 19 19 18 24 - 80 West 21 18 15 18 - 72
West: Fillmore 13, Carson 12, Denogean 6, Moser 30, Boggs 4, Vaughan 5, Larson 2.

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Pueblo West freshman Josh Evans (top) pins teammate Tyler Yates for third place at 215 pounds.




View photos/Mike Griffin
Pueblo West senior Steve Young works against Manitou's Jon Muncher in the 145-pound championship match in Woodland Park.Freshman Vinny Sanchez (in black) pins Peyton's Garrett Baca at the Panther Invite.



Cyclone sophomore Jordan Lira wrestles Alex Davis of Pinnacle Academy at the Panther Invite.







Panther Invite
1. Doherty 236; 2. Pueblo West 224.5; 3. Falcon 138.5; 4. Manitou 122; 5. Liberty 110; 6. Woodland Park 91; 7. Peyton 72; 8. Pueblo County 58; 9. Cripple Creek
Top Cyclones
Vinny Snachez (112) championJordan Garcia (130) champion Steve Young (145) champion Mike Ross (171) champion Kyle Newton (135) second place Victor Martinez (152) second place Devon Thieme (189) second place Trae Borror (285) second place Daniel Trujillo (119) third place Marc Guerrero (125) third place Josh Evans (215) third place Cody Meyer (103) fourth place Tyler Yates (215) fourth place

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View photo/Mike Griffin

By MIKE GRIFFIN The Pueblo West View
Despite a sizzling score in the season opener, the Pueblo West girls swim team may be a little slow to round into form this year.
The Cyclones smoked East 127-53 last Thursday and followed the season-opening win with some mixed results at the Valley Invite in Gilcrest on Saturday.
"I liked the effort I saw from the girls - especially the support for each other," said coach Andy Halvorson.
But the mechanics were a different story.
"My main impression was that they showed a lot of sloppy turns, exchanges and stroke work. More than any other team I have coached, I want to focus on stroke technique over conditioning for a lengthier portion of the season," Halvorson said. "I see times suffering a little bit through December while some stroke overhauls take place."
Among the early ups and downs, Halvorson said Stephanie Meyer and Alissa King stood out as pleasant surprises among his younger set of swimmers.
Veteran Shalana Gray, known for her distance swimming, showed potential in the sprints at Valley.
While West's speed may take a while to catch up this year, a few of the top swimmers are showing signs early.
Karlee Canfield took fourth in the 100 backstroke at Valley while Samantha Davenport finished sixth in the 200 individual medley. And the 4 by 50 freestyle relay placed second at Valley, about 3 seconds off the state-qualifying time.
"Our 4 by 50 freestyle relay is looking like it could be a special one. Since we have access to blocks this year, we are working on a more aggressive relay exchange. Right now the exchanges are horribly slow," Halvorson said.
The Cyclones' schedule gets tougher this week, as they are scheduled to swim at Pueblo South today. The Cyclones have been pretty well entrenched in the No. 3 spot in the South-Central League in recent years behind Centennial and La Junta, but South gave Centennial a scare in a close season opener last week.
"South worries me greatly. If we win the meet, it will show good depth," Halvorson said. "It is possible that we will not take a single individual first place in the meet."

Do not for get Pueblo West View Sports News

The Pueblo Chieftain Online - Pueblo, Colorado U.S.A: "Captain Crunch Time' for Eagles
S-CL basketball Photo: Scoring leader Josh Dusbabek Through three quarters of most high school basketball games, East High School senior Josh Dusbabek is the mild-mannered leading scorer in the South-Central League. But when the fourth quarter rolls around, Dusbabek turns into 'Captain Crunch Time.' His magical maroon cape, emblazoned with the number 31, turns him into a scoring machine. He fights crime, er, opponents freely in those final eight minutes. ... More"

CHIEFTAIN PHOTO/MIKE SWEENEY
East High School's Justin Keys (right) works David Shawcroft in position for a pin during their 145-pound grand championship match Saturday at the East Invitational tournament. Keys pinned Shawcroft.


East Invitational
Here are the team scores and grand championship match results from the 46th annual East Invitational held Saturday at East High School:
Team scores
1, Alamosa, 214; 2, Rocky Ford 150; 3, Fort Lupton, 124; 4, Pueblo South 113; 5, Cheyenne Mountain, 112; 6, Montrose, 107 7, Green Mountain, 96; 8, Centaurus, 89; 9, Pueblo East, 87; 10, Central, 77; 11, Lamar 77; 12, La Junta 69; 13, Aurora Central, 62; 14, Fountain-Fort Carson, 60; 15, Pueblo County 42; 16, Centennial, 27.
Grand championship matches
103-Jesse Meis, Alamosa, dec. Marcus May, Green Mountain, 4-2; 112-Dalton Kelley, Alamosa, dec. Cutter Garrison, Montrose, 9-8; 119-Eric Zamora, Fort Lupton, dec. Duell Kelley, Alamosa, 6-4; 125-Dominic Valenzuela, Centaurus, dec. Mike Burgess, Green Mountain, 7-4; 130-Lawrence Lopez, Central, dec. Justin Fleshman, 14-7; 135-Saul Guerrero, Fort Lupton, pinned David Vasquez, La Junta, 2:21; 140-Matt Basquez, East, dec. Austin Stubas, Cheyenne Mountain, 6-2; 145-Justin Keys, East, pinned David Shawcroft, South, 1:06; 152-Chris McWhorter, South, dec. John Finkbiner, Lamar, 8-5; 160-Cody Yohn, Alamosa, pinned Garrett Lanham, Centaurus, 3:29; 171-Davi Martinez, Alamosa, pinned Jacob Jurney, Rocky Ford, 5:54; 189-Sonny Yohn, Alamosa, pinned Syrus Dejong, Montrose, 3:29; 215-Phoebus Yannetsos, Cheyenne Mountain, pinned Brandon Vaughn, Lamar, :56; Hwt.-Troy Appel, Lamar, pinned Brock Freidenberger, Rocky Ford, 5:26.

>>>Complete Scoop

Eight quarterbacks have started for the Broncos since John Elway retired in 1999. But Jay Culter might be the man to finally replace a legend in Denver.



Full circle?
(Clockwise, from top)
John ElwayGames started: 231 When: 1983-1999 Playoff resume: 22 appearances with a 14-8 record. Elway played in five Super Bowls and ended his career with seven straight playoff wins and two titles.
Brian GrieseGames started: 51When: 1999-2002 Playoff resume: Inactive due to shoulder injury in Denver's 21-3 AFC Wild Card loss to Baltimore in December of 2000.
Chris MillerGames started: 3When: 1999 Playoff resume:No playoff appearances with the Broncos
Gus FrerotteGames started: 7 When: 2000-2001 Playoff resume: Subbing for an injured Brian Griese, Frerotte threw for 124 yards and an interception in 2000 Wild Card loss eventual Super Bowl winners Baltimore Ravens.
Steve BeuerleinGames started: 5 When: 2002-2003 Playoff resume: No playoff appearances with the Broncos
Jarious JacksonGames started: 1 When: 2003 Playoff resume: No playoff appearances with the Broncos
Danny KanellGames started: 2 When: 2003 Playoff resume: No playoff appearances with the Broncos
Jake PlummerGames started: 54 When: 2003-2006 Record: 0-1 Playoff resume:1-3 in playoffs; sacked three times and intercepted twice in AFC title game loss to Steelers last year.
Jay Cutler Games started: 1 When: 2006 Playoff resume: None, the rookie started his first game last week in a 3-point loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Read the complete story

Eight quarterbacks have started for the Broncos since John Elway retired in 1999. But Jay Culter might be the man to finally replace a legend in Denver.
By Jerry MageeUNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERFull
(Clockwise, from top)
John ElwayGames started: 231 When: 1983-1999 Playoff resume: 22 appearances with a 14-8 record. Elway played in five Super Bowls and ended his career with seven straight playoff wins and two titles.
Brian GrieseGames started: 51When: 1999-2002 Playoff resume: Inactive due to shoulder injury in Denver's 21-3 AFC Wild Card loss to Baltimore in December of 2000.
Chris MillerGames started: 3When: 1999 Playoff resume:No playoff appearances with the Broncos
Gus FrerotteGames started: 7 When: 2000-2001 Playoff resume: Subbing for an injured Brian Griese, Frerotte threw for 124 yards and an interception in 2000 Wild Card loss eventual Super Bowl winners Baltimore Ravens.
Steve BeuerleinGames started: 5 When: 2002-2003 Playoff resume: No playoff appearances with the Broncos
Jarious JacksonGames started: 1 When: 2003 Playoff resume: No playoff appearances with the Broncos
Danny KanellGames started: 2 When: 2003 Playoff resume: No playoff appearances with the Broncos
Jake PlummerGames started: 54 When: 2003-2006 Record: 0-1 Playoff resume:1-3 in playoffs; sacked three times and intercepted twice in AFC title game loss to Steelers last year.
Jay Cutler Games started: 1 When: 2006 Playoff resume: None, the rookie started his first game last week in a 3-point loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

The first appearance by the Denver Broncos' heralded rookie quarterback had not gone so well, which is being kind. Jay Cutler's introduction as a starter last week against Seattle? Yeah, that, too, but the reference is to how John Elway broke in against the Pittsburgh Steelers in September 1983. Elway went 1-for-8, with one interception, and was replaced in the second half by Steve DeBerg.

“For 14 yards,” said Cutler, in a conference call with the San Diego media, noting Elway's yardage total. As Cutler confirmed, the Broncos have been recitingElway's figures to him as a means of making the point that even the greats – andElway was a great – can experience trials in their career's beginning
Cutler's arrival was the stuff of controversy. For an NFL team to change quarterbacks in the middle of a season often is an act of desperation. The Broncos were not desperate. They were 7-4 before coach Mike Shanahan took the football from Jake Plummer and handed it to the rookie from Vanderbilt. Some scholars contended Shanahan was misguided, that this was no time to invest an offense in a rookie, no matter what his potential.

“My only question is what took them so long?” said NFL Network analyst Cris Collinsworth. “After watching this kid in the preseason, he's absolutely phenomenal. Everybody you talk to who has been associated with this franchise for any length of time – Dan Reeves, Shanahan – they all throw out the 'E' word; they think he is the next Elway.”
Only Cutler did not wake up any Elway echoes against the Seahawks. He was a 10-for-21 passer for 143 yards with two interceptions, one of a poor, fluttering pass that he launched while in the grasp of a defender. It was returned for a touchdown. Through 57 minutes, Cutler had thrown for just 57 yards before wide receiver Brandon Marshall carried a completion 71 yards for a touchdown on a pass-run play that was largely run.
The Seahawks won 23-20. When Elway made his debut in Three Rivers Stadium against the Steelers 23 years ago, the Broncos won 14-10. This, though the winners finished with a minus 1 in net passing yards. Pittsburgh fumbled four times and had three interceptions.
Cutler, due to make his second start against the Chargers here tomorrow in a game the Broncos must win to avoid elimination in the AFC West race, accepts that the shadow Elway casts is a long one.
“It's tough,” he said. “The bar here is extremely high. They don't want you just to win, they want you to win big. They want the offense to be extremely explosive. It's something you have to deal with.”
“Welcome to the NFL,” Shanahan said. “This is reality, this is what happens in the NFL. You learn by your experiences and you go out there and you compete and that's what you do.”
Cutler cited what was the leading lesson of his first professional start. “Just to be patient,” he said. “These things will come naturally to me, but I just need to be patient, keep studying things, what I do good and what I do bad.
“I did some things out there, made some good throws, but did some stuff I wish I could have had back. But I'm learning from it and moving on.”
Elway has said Shanahan acted properly in deeding the football to the 6-foot-3, 233-pound Cutler, who is from Santa Claus, Ind. “It means a lot,” Cutler said, “but in the same breath, I have to go out and play football.”
Shanahan said he was mindful of only one factor in choosing Cutler: what would lend the Broncos the best chance of winning. When he made his decision, Shanahan said he was aware he was leaving himself open to the second guess should Cutler not perform creditably.
“That's the nature of the job,” Shanahan said. “But I think you know me well enough that I'm not going to base my decision on what is the most popular.”
How Shanahan adjudges Cutler's future: “I think he can be very good. Being fortunate enough to have been around some good quarterbacks – or some great quarterbacks – I think he has everything it takes to be a top guy in the NFL.”

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Shanahan, meantime, does not accept that because his squad is 7-5, it cannot become a playoff factor.
“I mean this when I say it: We just have to get ready for this game,” he said. “You understand that every game is the most pivotal, and if you look at things this way, then you've got a chance to do something special.”
Shanahan said he can recall instances when teams that were 7-5 with three straight defeats came on to win a Super Bowl. The Broncos have dropped three straight.
“Obviously, last year,” said Shanahan, remembering the course the Steelers took to victory in Super Bowl XL. “These things happen all the time. People forget that they happen, but they happen. What you have to do is play your best football in December and January. Regardless of what your record is, you have to be at the top of your game once the playoffs start. If you're not, you're just another team, because there is only one team that is going to be happy at the end of the season.”
So he has given the football to Jay Cutler. He wants to be a happy man

Colts flex muscles vs. ’Dogs

By TRACY RENCKTHE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

In the past three seasons, the South High School wrestling team had more stars than a planetarium.
It showed in the Colts' results.
South won the Class 4A state championship in 2004, again in 2005 and was second a year ago.
South 49, Centennial 26103-Anthony DeHerrera, CB, pinned Kevin Maglia, 2:25;112-Kris Williams, S, tech. fall Alyssa Garcia, 18-3;119-Jeremy Aguero, S, pinned Luke Campbell, 1:56;125-Chad Pompa, S, tech. fall Abram Griego, 20-3;130-Daryll Cunningham, S, pinned Francisco Fargando, 3:51;135-Corbin Gray, S, won by forfeit;140-Adrian Gomez, S, major dec. Juan Vasquez, 16-3.145-David Shawcroft, S, pinned Josh Zarate, :45;152-Chris McWhorter, S, technical fall Antonio Andrini, 18-2;160-Dan Cleaver, CB, tech. fall Nick Portillos, 18-2;171-Andre Andrini, CB, pinned James Lotches, 4:54;189-J.J. Garcia, CB, dec. Chris Maynes, 13-10;215-Troy Mumme, S, pinned Leonard Martinez, 1:10;Hwt.-Gerald Trujillo, CB, pinned Zach Guddendorf, :37;
Story >>

Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway passes against the Pittsburgh
Steelers during the AFC Championship game in this Jan. 11, 1998 file photo at
Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. The Broncos have been searching for a
premier passer since Elway hung up his helmet after leading them to consecutive
championships in the late 1990s and now he is preaching patience with Jay
Cutler. (AP Photo/Doug Mills, File)

•
Elway Talks About
Cutler

Can Cutler Cut It?

Denver's new
Q Cutler B

Mean Moose Bolted

DECEMBER 2, 2006

Let’s put it this way 47 - 14

Alamosa's Mean Moose Machine Takes State

preps - 3a football
Mean Moose on loose
Garcia's 5 TD passes complete run to perfect season
By Brady Delander Special to The Denver Post

Alamosa quarterback Clay Garcia plants a kiss on the Class 3A championship trophy Saturday. (Pueblo Chieftain / Mike Sweeney)

Read all about it here from Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News Click here

TodayChance Of Snow High 25°F

Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 20s. Southeast winds up to 10 mph. Lowest wind chill readings 2 below to 12 below zero in the morning

Tonight Chance Of Snow Low -12°F

Cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow this evening and overnight. Lows 8 below to 16 below zero. East winds around 10 mph becoming west up to 10 mph after midnight. Lowest wind chill readings 15 below to 25 below zero after midnight.

Today’s Sports forecast: Mean Moose fans were shell-shocked on the success of how a swarm of Hornets crossed the mountains with extreme temperatures and set pit stop at Al Bennett Field.The Pueblo County Hornets managed a great state championship game showing an amazing performance in a blistering hostile environment. This game will go down in the books & memories. All of Alamosa turned out to see their Hornets VS. Mean Moose.

CHIEFTAIN PHOTOs/MIKE SWEENEY

TodayChance Of Snow High 25°F

Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 20s. Southeast winds up to 10 mph. Lowest wind chill readings 2 below to 12 below zero in the morning

Tonight Chance Of Snow Low -12°F

Cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow this evening and overnight. Lows 8 below to 16 below zero. East winds around 10 mph becoming west up to 10 mph after midnight. Lowest wind chill readings 15 below to 25 below zero after midnight.

Today’s Sports forecast: Mean Moose fans were shell-shocked on the success of how a swarm of Hornets crossed the Rocky Mountains into extreme temperatures to set pit stop at Al Bennett Field.The Pueblo County Hornets managed a great state championship game showing an amazing performance in a blistering hostile environment. This game will go down in the books & memories. All of Alamosa turned out to see their Mean Moose VS. Hornets.................

Listen to the game live Enjoy Pueblo Sports Blog