Branch Leads Blue Over Gray, 44-34

Calvin Branch never considered himself a second-string player. So when it looked as if he would be backing up Troy Davis at Iowa State, he went elsewhere.

And his decision to transfer to Colorado State never looked better than it did Wednesday when Branch ran for 77 yards and two touchdowns and was honored as the most valuable player in the Blue’s 44-34 victory in the Blue-Gray Classic.

“When we came out of spring practice in 1995, coaches were saying Troy and I were No. 1 and 1-A,” Branch said of Davis, who surpassed the 2,000-yard mark in two consecutive seasons with the Cyclones. “But I didn’t think the idea of splitting time and playing for a losing team was going to get me anywhere. So I moved. Looking back, it was a great decision.”

In an all-star game full of big plays, Branch was the no-glamour workhorse. His 12 carries included one 25-yard gain, but most were like his touchdown runs of two and five yards--modest, hard-running drives up the middle.

He may have lacked flash, but not so the rest of his team. The Blue piled up 419 yards in offense and broke two touchdown plays of more than 60 yards.

Oregon’s Tony Graziani completed nine of 18 passes for 145 yards and connected with his Duck teammate, tight end Josh Wilcox, for a 63-yard touchdown pass play to give the Blue a 37-21 lead early in the fourth quarter.

“Josh is my teammate and a good friend of mine,” said Graziani, who sat out five games early in the season because of an injured knee. “I hope I helped myself and did some good things. But no matter what, that touchdown pass is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”