Some Colorado football fans who came to Folsom Field Sunday morning for the first scrimmage of fall practices left the stadium a few hours later downright giddy, using terms like "explosive" to describe the offensive production.

Boy, have these people been starved for action.

Five touchdowns in 14 drives probably doesn't qualify as incendiary at most programs around the country, but in Boulder, where the Buffs scored just 196 points in 2006, it's more than enough to get people talking.

The Buffs racked up 609 yards of total offense, including 332 yards rushing on 60 attempts. The scrimmage lasted just under two hours and included 122 plays — 103 from scrimmage.

Senior linebacker and tri-captain Jordon Dizon said the difference between the offense now as compared to last season is "night and day."

"Last year they were so predictable. They could only run so many plays. They were limited in what they could do," Dizon said. "This year, they opened it up. They had four months to learn what they can learn and they're finally doing what they can do. It's nice to see them actually run a whole bunch of different plays and different schemes."

Redshirt freshman quarter-back Cody Hawkins emerged still holding a slight lead in the battle for the starting job with junior Nick Nelson, who suffered a bruised hand on one of the most exciting plays of the day.

Nelson scrambled to his right on the play trying to avoid on-rushing Dizon. He heaved the ball down field just as Dizon clobbered him and he hit his hand on Dizon's helmet. X-rays were negative.

Freshman wide receiver Josh Smith was on the other end of the pass, hauling it in and diving into the end zone in celebration. The act drew a 15-yard penalty and the ire of coaches.

"He definitely brings a bunch of excitement to what we're doing," coach Dan Hawkins said of Smith. "If it was the Dan Hawkins league, you could jump and shout and do all the gyrations you wanted. But it's not the Dan Hawkins league. The rules are the rules."

Smith said after Hawkins got in his face he wanted to get back to the end zone to show he knew how to handle himself. He almost did twice, but one pass fell just out of his reach and another was called back on a penalty.

"As coach Hawkins said, the rule is the rule and you've got to act like you've been there before," Smith said. "I'm just an excitable guy. I have to learn to control those emotions."

Smith wasn't the only wide receiver to have a big day. Junior Patrick Williams caught a pair of touchdown passes from Cody Hawkins.

CU did not release official individual statistics because coaches believe it gives opponents too much advance information, sports information director Dave Plati said.

Cody Hawkins led the Buffs to three scores and looked calm and comfortable directing the offense. Nelson led the team to one score but also threw an interception to safety Ryan Walters. Nelson said he felt like Hawkins performed better overall.

"Cody did have a real good game today," Nelson said. "He's pushing me and hopefully I'm pushing him. So I think it's pretty close still."

Cody Hawkins said the first scrimmage this year felt entirely different than the first go-around last fall. He joked that he was able to correctly call plays in the huddle. He also downplayed any perceived advantage he might have in the quarterback race at this point.

"I think today some things went my way, but Nick definitely made some great plays," he said. "He had a couple protection busts that we're going to work on to improve. I was just on the good end of that.

"He made that one throw to Josh, which was an unbelievable play. That was a senior-quarterback, starting-caliber type play because he got blasted by Jordon. "

Offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich will make the final decision about the starting job and he called the competition healthy.

"Both guys are making plays," he said. "Both played fairly free and confident today. In a situation like this, guys start to press or tighten up and start to press or push or force, and that didn't really happen today, except for maybe once. "

Smith and the quarterbacks stole the headlines, but the running game was the real success story. Running backs Hugh Charles and Byron Ellis looked solid in their roles as 1A and 1B on the depth chart. But underclassmen such as Demetrius Sumler, Kevin Moyd and Brian Lockridge also ran hard.

Freshman wide receiver Kendrick Celestine also scored a touchdown on a reverse play near the goal line.

"In general for a young untested offensive line, and, to some degree, some untested backs, I thought they hammered it up in there pretty good," coach Hawkins said.

Scoring summary

Kendrick Celestine 5 run (Kevin Eberhart kick)

Josh Smith 54 pass from Nick Nelson (Eberhart kick)

Patrick Williams 8 pass from Cody Hawkins (Eberhart kick)

Jake Behrens 4 pass from Matt Ballenger (Eberhart kick)

Eberhart 48 yard field goal blocked (Terrence Wheatley)

Williams 12 pass from Hawkins (Eberhart kick)