BOULDER — Colorado came up with big plays in all three phases Saturday and the No. 18 Buffaloes rolled to a 49-24 win over Utah at Folsom Field.
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ Buffs ended a seven-game CU losing streak to the Utes while winning their fourth in a row — the longest streak in the Coach Prime era — to improve to 8-2 overall and 6-1 in Big 12 play. The Buffs also remained in firm control of their destiny, needing just two more wins to earn a berth in the Dec. 7 Big 12 championship game.
The Utes dropped their sixth in a row to fall to 4-6, 1-6.
Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was 30-for-41 for 340 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. LaJohntay Wester caught 10 passes for 77 yards and also had a 76-yard punt return for a score and Will Sheppard caught five passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns. Two-way star Travis Hunter caught five passes for 55 yards and also had an interception and the first rushing touchdown of his career while true freshman Drelon Miller had the best game of his young career, hauling in six receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Buffs recorded four sacks and produced four takeaways — three interceptions and a fumble recovery. Hunter, Nikhai Hill-Green and DJ McKinney all recorded interceptions while Keaten Wade had a fumble recovery, with two of those takeaways leading to Colorado touchdowns.
Colorado also held the Utes to just 31 yards rushing while the Buffs had 65 on the ground — only the second time this season Colorado has outrushed an opponent.
Overall, CU had a 405-272 total yards edge while averaging 6.6 yards per play compared to just 3.8 for Utah. The 49 points scored by Colorado more than doubled the most given up by Utah in any previous game (21).
“We’re happy with where we are and we know where we could be,” Coach Prime said. “That’s the thing. We’re not even where we could be right now. You see the mistakes, you see the little things that we could clean up, but when you look at the statistics, you say, dang, that was phenomenal.”
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Buffs put themselves in a hole early when Shedeur Sanders threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage.
But CU’s red zone defense came up with a stop, forcing the Utes to settle for a 32-yard field goal and 3-0 lead and Colorado needed just two minutes to take the lead. Sanders threw 19 yards to LaJohntay Wester on third-and-19, then delivered a 40-yard touchdown pass to Will Sheppard on fourth-and-5.
Sanders displayed great recognition on the scoring play. Utah was flagged for offsides on the snap, giving CU a free play — and at least a first down. But the Buffs didn’t need the penalty as Sanders connected with Sheppard for the score and the Buffs never trailed again.
“Every week we say, let’s protect our quarterback,” Coach Prime said. “Let’s do some things that we don’t feel like they can stop. We feel like we have the best receiving corps in the country. If we can protect the quarterback, those guys, eventually, they’re going to get open.”
But the dominant phase of Colorado’s game might have been the defense, especially early.
On the Utes’ ensuing possession, CU’s defense delivered a three-and-out, opening the door for a Buffs special teams play. Wester took the punt at the CU 24, danced up the middle and then outraced Utah’s coverage team for a 76-yard touchdown and 14-3 Colorado lead with 5:49 still to play in the first quarter.
“We have to dedicate ourselves to the return, that’s the thing,” Coach Prime said. “We put in a little more work on the return teams and putting the right personnel out there. And he could hit it. He’s so versatile and so elusive, and you see that after the catch when he’s playing receiver, but that just shows his versatility, and it should make him more impressive to the scouts that are looking for him to get to the next level.”
Both teams’ defense then took charge, resulting in six punts and a Hunter interception for Colorado before another CU turnover opened the door for the Utes. Sanders fumbled a snap and Utah recovered at the Colorado 23-yard line.
But the Buffs’ red zone defense delivered again. Utah managed only 7 yards on three plays and had to settle for a 34-yard field goal, cutting the Buffs’ cushion to 14-6.
Colorado’s offense then found its footing in the final minutes of the half. Sanders completed 12 of 13 passes for 90 yards, including a 28-yard completion to Hunter on fourth-and-8, before completing an 85-yard scoring drive with a 6-yard touchdown pass to Sheppard for a 21-6 CU lead.
The Utes, though, didn’t quit. Utah put together a 36-yard drive in the final 44 seconds of the half to collect a 47-yard field goal as time expired to send the Buffs into the locker room with a 21-9 lead at the break.
The Buffs then took firm control early in the third quarter. CU’s Hill-Green recorded his second interception in as many weeks on Utah’s opening possession, giving CU the ball in Utah territory.
Colorado needed just one play to convert the takeaway into a touchdown as Isaiah Augustave rumbled 37 yards up the middle for a touchdown and 28-9 lead.
Although the Buffs did outrush the Utes, it was the sixth time this season CU has failed to surpass the 100-yard mark on the ground.
“We showed flashes of having a running game,” Coach Prime said. “Isaiah did a phenomenal job today, breaking one, but we got to be more consistent with that, and sky would be the limit if we can really have consistency. We need to really want and desire and just have passion to run the football at times.”
After the two teams traded punts, Utah threatened to make it a game again when Isaac Wilson connected with Dorian Singer for a 40-yard TD pass, cutting CU’s lead to 28-16.
But the Buffs answered again two possessions later. Sanders guided a seven-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, wrapping it up with a 47-yard strike to Miller to give Colorado a 35-16 lead with 13:58 to play.
The Utes didn’t go away quietly, driving 75 yards for a touchdown on their next possession and a successful two-point conversion cut Colorado’s lead to 35-24.
Colorado then handed the ball back to Utah on its next possession when Sheppard fumbled the ball away after a short catch. But the Buffs’ defense answered yet again, with pressure on Wilson resulting in an interception by Buffs cornerback McKinney.
Colorado then drove 63 yards for a score with Charlie Offerdahl notching the first touchdown of his career with a 4-yard run to give CU a 42-24 lead.
The Buffs then drove the final nail on Utah’s next possession. Shilo Sanders sacked Wilson to force a fumble, recovered by Wade.
That gave CU the ball on the Utah 19 and Hunter proceeded to score the first rushing touchdown of his career. CU’s two-way star took a pitch from Offerdahl on a reverse, then reversed field and ran up the middle for a 5-yard touchdown and 49-24 lead.
DECISIVE MOMENT: After Utah notched its second field goal of the day to pull within 14-6, the Buffs regained control for good with a 14-play, 85-yard touchdown march.
KEY STATISTICS: Colorado forced four turnovers and converted two of those into 14 points … CU gave up just one red zone field goal … The Buffs also finished with four sacks.
WHAT IT MEANS: Colorado continues to control its destiny, needing just two more wins to clinch at least a second-place finish in the Big 12 and a berth in the Dec. 7 Big 12 championship game.
NEXT UP: The Buffaloes head to Kansas City next Saturday for a 1:30 p.m. matchup with Kansas at Arrowhead Stadium (FOX).
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Story by Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor for CUBuffs.com. Content courtesy of the University of Colorado at Boulder.
