Comment on Mort & Schefter: Steve Smith Sr. ... the Patriot?

All the Colorado School of Mines football program can do now is wait. The Orediggers did what they could in Saturday’s regular-season finale at Marv Kay Stadium, steamrolling Fort Lewis 67-9 in their last chance to make a closing statement for inclusion in the NCAA Division II playoffs. Mines (8-3, 6-3 RMAC) piled up 622 yards of offense and even got a touchdown from its defense in an all-phases rout.

BOULDER — By the time Shilo Sanders crunched Utah quarterback Isaac Wilson late in the fourth quarter, forcing a fumble that set up another score to fuel the blowout, the point had been made repeatedly on Saturday at Folsom Field. This CU defense, a critical part of the program’s turnaround this fall into a College Football Playoff contender, is as salty as the offense is glitzy. “We know (Utah) is on their third or fourth quarterback; we understand that,” CU head coach Deion Sanders pointed out.

BOULDER — Shedeur Sanders tripped over Travis Hunter’s Heisman. “I fell backwards and the defensive back landed on me,” Sanders, the Buffs’ QB1, explained with a grin after 17th-ranked CU pounded Utah, 49-24, on Saturday at Folsom Field. “I knew (Hunter) was going to make the right decision in that situation.” OK, quick back story.

COMMERCE CITY — As if Cole Wearner was preparing for one of those pro-style champagne celebrations following his overtime winner in the Class 5A boys soccer final — well, maybe sparkling apple cider in his case — Cherry Creek’s latest sports hero took his post-championship interviews with a pair of ski goggles wrapped around his head. The senior had already tossed aside his jersey after his 93rd-minute goal sent the Bruins past Broomfield, 2-1, on Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

The number’s in UMKC’s contact list. Against the University of Denver in the Summit League final, the Roos dialed it again. After dominating possession and going up a goal early, the Pioneers men’s soccer team looked to have a lock on the conference title that eluded them against the same opponent a year ago.

The Avalanche survived an apocalyptic injury/availability crisis by treading water in the NHL standings, and critical reinforcements have arrived. The Avs are now (mostly) healthy. They have work to do to ensure a spot in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and to try and reestablish themselves as a legit championship contender. There are also some significant questions left for the Avs to answer before the trade deadline, which will shape the final form of this roster and potentially play a huge role in whether or not Colorado can make a real push for a second title in four seasons. Let’s dig into them. 1a.