If you thought Week 1 was going to be a confident stride into the season for the Big Horns, you were dead wrong. The Denver squad, under the watchful eye of coach Keith Huskey, laid an utter dud at home, dropping a 17-2 decision to the Bulls, a divisional nemesis that flipped the script decisively in this first taste of 1998 action.

Let's be brutally clear: the Big Horns’ offense looked like it was stuck in quicksand. Despite a respectable 31 completions from Johnny Callahan on 51 attempts, their passing game produced a meager 226 yards and zero touchdowns. Callahan, tasked with moving the offense, was picked off once and managed only 29 yards on the ground over a handful of scrambles that made no dent. This lack of punch was a fatal flaw, especially against a Bulls defense that pressured relentlessly—racking up three sacks and forcing multiple turnovers.

The root of the Horns’ collapse? An offense that couldn’t convert a single third down, combined with a red zone performance that was non-existent. Zero red zone visits, zero touchdowns—this is an offensive nightmare any coach would dread. Keith Huskey has to see this first week as a clarion call for urgency and reinvention.

The defense deserves some grudging credit—they forced a safety early, thanks to Vern Aaron’s tackle that put two points on the board and gave Denver an initial spark. But that spark fizzled fast. The Bulls’ offense, led by Garry Griggs’ calm precision, effectively countered. Griggs completed 18 passes on 21 attempts, throwing for two touchdowns and managing the run game with a team-high 79 yards and two rushing scores, showing a balanced attack that Denver’s defense couldn’t handle.

Big Horns fans were left frustrated as Bulls receivers Mark Ponder and Kevin Hartshorn carved through Denver’s defense for critical plays. Ponder alone amassed 91 receiving yards and a touchdown scamper that put the Bulls comfortably ahead. The kicking game also betrayed the Big Horns: lacking any field goal attempts while Bulls kicker Michael Thomas nailed crucial points, including a field goal and a pair of extra points that sealed the deal.

Special teams were a mess for Denver. Punter Rolando Wilson booted away multiple times but failed to flip the field position in any meaningful way—often resulting in touchbacks or fair catches that stymied any momentum gains.

At the end of the day, the Big Horns emerged not just defeated but embarrassed on their own turf. The stout Bulls defense forced turnovers, disrupted any offensive rhythm, and kept Denver on its heels for four quarters straight. The Horns’ stat sheet reads like a sobering reminder: seven penalties for 40 yards, no red zone touchdowns, and a paltry two points scored.

Denver sits at 0-1 and at the bottom of the division standings. Meanwhile, the Bulls swagger into a 1-0 record, looking like the team to beat in this heated rivalry. If Huskey’s squad doesn’t shake off this lethargy and sharpen their execution fast, the rest of the season promises to be an uphill battle. The Mile High faithful deserve better than this uninspired display.