GREELEY, Colo. —  A jury found former Northern Colorado backup punter Mitch Cozad guilty of second-degree assault Thursday in a stabbing attack on the starter, but acquitted him of attempted first-degree murder.

Cozad was accused of attacking Rafael Mendoza in a desperate bid to get the starting job. The defense argued it was another student who attacked Mendoza.

Mendoza was attacked last Sept. 11 outside his apartment in Evans, a small town adjacent to Greeley. He was left with a deep gash in his kicking leg but later returned to the team.

He testified he could not see who attacked him.

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