FORT LUPTON — To paraphrase an expression, once Zach Boyd visited Colorado State University-Pueblo, it was all over but the shouting.
    Or, in this case, a letter signing.
Boyd signed his collegiate letter of intent to play football for the Thunderwolves Friday afternoon in the Fort Lupton library.
     “I liked what they offered academically,” he said. “I want to major in elementary education and minor in business administration. Eventually, I want to be an athletic director.”

    The academic piece was huge for Boyd. But so was a visit from the CSU-Pueblo coaches.
    “They were personal with me,” Boyd said. “That was a huge deciding factor for me. I like the guys when I went on my official visit. They welcomed me. It was the best fit.”
    Boyd also drew some looks from Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction and Western State Colorado University in Gunnison.
    “I like the CSU campus,” Boyd said. “They have a great tradition with football. It’s only about 5 or 6 years old (since the school reinstated the football program). They are back-to-back RMAC (Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference) champions. They built a new stadium. They have some good players.”
    Not only that, Boyd said the Thunderwolves run similar offensive and defensive schemes to what he’s seen in Fort Lupton the past two seasons.
    “They have a motion offense with one or two tight ends, so I think I’ll fit in great with their program,” Boyd said.
    “It’ll be a tremendous fit for him,” said FLHS coach Jeff Priestley. “He’s going to a great program. They have football headed in a great direction. They have some good history. Pueblo was so excited to get football back. They love it. They get excited.”
    Boyd will be about 2 ½ hours away by car.
    “Mom and dad can still come and watch me play,” he said. “I’m going to redshirt at first. It’s close enough so I can come see my folks and far enough away to learn skills to be a young man.”
    “What they’re talking about and where they want to use him, I think it’ll be perfect,” Priestley said
“I’m excited to start the next chapter,” Boyd said. “It’s bittersweet. Everyone is sad. I’m excited to go see the next part of my life and go see the rest of the world.”