ORLANDO, Fla. — Colorado delivered an emphatic message to the college football world Saturday, dishing out a 48-21 thumping of UCF at FBC Mortgage Stadium.
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ Buffaloes showed an improved run game, an opportunistic defense and a high-powered passing game to collect their third straight win, improving to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Big 12 play.
UCF, which entered the game as a two-touchdown favorite, dropped to 3-1, 1-1.
The Buffs put forth perhaps their best overall performance of the Coach Prime era, dominating virtually every phase of the game when it mattered most. The Buffs led 14-7 after the first quarter, pushed their lead to 27-14 by halftime and then put the game away by outscoring the Knights 21-7 in the second half.
CU finished with 407 yards total offense, including a season-best 128 yards rushing, while Buffs QB Shedeur Sanders threw for 290 yards and three touchdowns. Two-way star Travis Hunter saw his streak of 100-yard receiving games stopped at five, but he still recorded nine catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. Will Sheppard and LaJohntay Wester also had touchdown catches, with Sheppard nabbing four catches for 99 yards.
On the ground, Isaiah Augustave had four carries for 39 yards while Dallan Hayden and Micah Welch each had a rushing touchdown.
But maybe most importantly, Colorado played well in the trenches. The offensive line gave up just two sacks and opened holes for the run game all day. The defensive line held UCF’s run game, which was averaging 375 yards per game, to just 177 — with much of that coming after the game had already been decided.
CU’s defense also forced four UCF turnovers, two interceptions and two fumbles, with Cam’Ron Silmon-Craigreturning a fumble 95 yards for the final score of the game. The Buffs also limited the Knights to just seven points in the second half, the fifth time in five games this year CU has held an opponent to seven points or less in the second half.
UCF’s RJ Harvey finished with just 77 yards rushing — barely half his average for the season — while quarterback KJ Jefferson had 284 yards passing with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“It’s oneof the first times that we came out and played a collective game offensively, defensively, as well as special teams,” Coach Prime said. “Shedeur, I think he got touched a couple times, buut other than that, we ran the darned ball effectively. That’s what we want. We want that kind of balance. We desire that kind of balance. And I know these guys can do it, and I believe in them wholeheartedly.”
HOW IT HAPPENED: Colorado put together a solid first half in all three phases to take a 27-14 lead into the break.
CU’s first possession didn’t end well, with Shedeur Sanders throwing an interception in Colorado territory and the Knights taking over at the Buffs 31-yard line.
But the CU defense stepped up. Buffs corner Preston Hodge stopped a potential UCF scoring drive with an interception in the end zone and the Colorado offense didn’t waste its second opportunity.
“Basically, I threw a pick, he threw a pick, so now the game starts over,” Sanders said. “That was the message.”
Sanders then guided the Buffs on an impressive 11-play, 80-yard drive, mixing in a healthy dose of run game with the pass. Hayden had two carries for 8 yards and Welch ran twice for 27 yards, setting up a 23-yard Sanders touchdown pass to Hunter for a 7-0 lead.
The Knights then delivered one of their few answers of the game, getting a 75-yard touchdown pass from Jefferson to Harvey to tie the game at 7-7 — but the Buffs didn’t blink.
Instead, they put together two scoring drives sandwiched around a three-and-out from the defense.
Sanders first directed a 75-yard scoring march in eight plays, capping the drive with a 47-yard pass to Will Sheppard for a 14-7 lead. Following a CU defensive stand, the Buffs struck again, with Hayden scoring from 14 yards out to give CU a 21-7 lead minutes into the second quarter.
UCF did manage to keep the game close on its next possession with a 68-yard scoring drive. An 8-yard Jefferson touchdown run narrowed Colorado’s lead to 21-14.
But the Buffs then tallied two field goals in the final 42 seconds of the half. Alejandro Mata delivered from 36 yards out for a 24-14 edge before the defense came up with a three-and-out stop.
That forced a UCF punt and Jimmy Horn Jr. notched a 27-yard return into Knights territory. A quick 6-yard pass to Welch put CU in Mata’s range and he punched through a 46-yard attempt as time expired to extend CU’s lead to 27-14 at the halftime break.
“Mata hitting that field goal right before the half was tremendous,” Coach Prime said. “Even the play call right before, we got out of bounds with three seconds left. It was just phenomenal execution of what the offense was capable of.”
Colorado continued to dominate in the third quarter.
UCF’s first possession stalled in Buffs territory and a 55-yard field goal try went wide left. It took the Buffs just four plays to push their lead to 20, with Welch capping a 63-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run for a 34-14 lead.
Hunter then delivered a terrific defensive play on UCF’s next possession. The CU two-way star dropped into coverage, then when Jefferson threw to another receiver Hunter broke on the ball and recorded his second interception of the year.
But the Buffs couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity and were forced to punt with UCF taking over on its own 8-yard line.
The Knights offense then went to the air and drove 92 yards in just three plays. Jefferson completed three straight passes on the drive, finishing it with a 15-yard scoring toss to Xavier Townsend to cut Colorado’s lead to 34-21.
The score momentarily brought life to the FBC Mortgage Stadium crowd but the Buffs just as quickly extinguished that hope. Colorado calmly drove 65 yards in six plays for its fifth touchdown of the day. Augustave ran twice for 40 yards before Sanders completed the drive with a 10-yard pitch to LaJohntay Wester for a 41-21 lead with 1:32 left in the third quarter.
Colorado then forced and recovered a fumble on UCF’s ensuing possession but could not move the ball and punted.
The Knights threatened to close the gap, driving to a first-and-goal from the CU 2-yard line. But the Colorado defense stiffened, finally stopping the Knights just inches short of the goal line on fourth down, with Hunter stopping Harvey just before he reached the end zone.
It was CU’s second red zone stop of the game, basically clinching the win for the Buffs — but if there was any doubt, Colorado’s defense sealed the win on UCF’s next possession.
The Knights drove deep into CU territory before linebacker Jaylen Wester delivered a hit on Jefferson. The ball popped loose and Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig scooped it up on the run, racing 95 yards for a touchdown and 48-21 Colorado lead.
TURNING POINT: After CU’s first possession ended with an interception, UCF drove to a first-and-goal from the Colorado 5-yard line. But CU’s Hodge picked off Jefferson in the end zone to give the ball back to the Buffs and CU drove 80 yards for a touchdown. While the Knights did come back to momentarily tie the score, the Buffs regained momentum and kept UCF on the ropes the rest of the day.
KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs gave up just two sacks and recorded four defensive takeaways that led to 14 points … CU averaged 4.4 yards per rushing attempt … Colorado was 5-for-11 on third down conversion tries while holding UCF to 6-for-18 … CU finished with 13 tackles for loss … The Buffs also had two red zone stops when UCF had first-and-goal from the 5-yard line and 2-yard line.
WHAT IT MEANS: Colorado is now 2-0 in the Big 12 with a week off before a big home game with Kansas State. The Buffs showed they can play complementary offensive football and the defense came up with big plays and big stops at critical moments.
NEXT UP: The Buffs have next weekend off before returning to action Oct. 12 with a home game against Kansas State.
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Story by Neill Woelk, Contributing Editor for CUBuffs.com. Content courtesy of the University of Colorado at Boulder.