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PDF versionGREELEY, Colo. -- As the only player on Weber State's roster from Colorado, freshman Bo Bolen was hoping for the opportunity to play well in front of family members and friends in attendance at the Wildcats' game against Northern Colorado on Saturday. Thanks to a disciplinary action against one of his current teammates, he got the chance to do that as well as face some former teammates.
"When I found out I was starting I looked at it as my opportunity," Bolen said. "Granted, it's not how you would want to earn the spot, but I'll take it."
Bolen started at running back for the No. 16-ranked Wildcats in their 28-20 win against the Bears after senior running back Trevyn Smith was suspended for the first half after violating team rules. Smith reportedly missed a team meeting Friday night at the team's hotel in Loveland, Colo., and was told he'd sit out the first half.
Bolen took advantage, finishing the game with 207 yards and a touchdown off 37 carries. He also had three catches for 43 yards.
"He's a redshirt freshman and we asked him to carry a load and he did an excellent job," said WSU coach Ron McBride.
Not only did Bolen play well offensively, but he finished with 295 all-purpose yards, which included his 45 yards from kickoff returns, which is the sixth-highest single-game mark in WSU history.
"I was nervous, I was very nervous when they told me," Bolen said.
He didn't play like it, especially in the first half.
Bolen gained 105 yards off 20 carries in the first half, one of which was a one-yard touchdown run that gave WSU a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Bolen also had all of his receiving yards during that time.
Bolen's first-half performance gave the coaches a reason to stick with him in the second half.
"(Smith) could have played the second half but I didn't play him," McBride said. "Bolen was doing all right, so we saved him for next week."
Prior to the game Bolen spent a few minutes on the field with some former teammate. During his time at Grandview High School in Aurora, Colo., Bolen led the Colorado state 5-A schools in rushing in both 2006 (1,190 yards) and 2007 (2,374 yards). Five of Bolen's former teammates from high school play for the Bears, and two in particular were good friends with Bolen.
UNC safety Max Hewitt and defensive tackle Dominique Ceja met Bolen on the field before facing each other for the first time as opponents.
"We talked before the game about not being friends for two hours," Bolen said. "Then after the game they were joking that they were trying to hit me with kill shots whenever they could."
The former Grandview players also joked that they never knew how well the others played since they were always on the same team prior to Saturday. Now, after Bolen got the chance to show what he can do, many WSU fans also learned what he's capable of.
"He's one of the hardest workers on this team," said WSU wide receiver Joe Collins. "That's what happens when you work hard, you get benefits."
On Saturday, so did the Wildcats.
