BOULDER - In the aftermath of his breakout game last weekend, Markques Simas has spent much of this week trying to maintain perspective.
By most accounts, he's doing more than a decent job of it.
Coach Dan Hawkins has been impressed with Simas' drive toward self-improvement, his investing extra time in sharpening routes and catching passes.
It's been a welcome sight, said Hawkins, after Simas stepped up with seven receptions for 135 yards - both career highs - in Colorado's 35-34 win against Texas A&M last Saturday.
"The win felt good, that game felt good," Simas said. "But I kind of just dropped it and started focusing on Iowa State (Saturday, noon, no TV). I didn't want to come in overly confident and not practicing as well as I should have.
"So I'm just taking this week by week; every game is a playoff game for us. We have to get a win. We'd rather win and be playing in late December."
In reviewing his performance against the Aggies on tape, Simas said he has to "expect to get open. There were a couple of times when I caught the ball and was wide open . . . I looked around and thought where's the tackler and defender? Then I got upfield for a couple of yards (before seeing anyone).
"And I need to get out of my breaks a little quicker because the timing (with quarterback Tyler Hansen) is just a little bit off. But other than that, I think I played pretty well."
Simas, who sat out the season's first two games under a disciplinary suspension, said Hansen's style "is so much more different than Cody (Hawkins). But I think it's finally starting to click with us . . . .
"With our offensive line not playing as well as they want to, (Hansen) is able to elude a few tackles and get to the edge. That's brought us a little bit of life.
"When Tyler breaks three tackles and scrambles for 12 yards, you can't help but get excited. We roll from there. It's provided us with a spark that we've been missing."
GOODMAN ON TARGET: Placekicker Aric Goodman appears to have battled through an early October rough patch and has delivered when called upon.
After missing three of four field goal attempts at West Virginia on Oct. 1, Goodman is five-for-five since and 9-of-13 for the season.
In two of CU's three wins - 34-30 against Kansas and the one-point win against A&M - he kicked a pair of field goals in each game.
"If he doesn't make those kicks, we don't win," Hawkins said. "He's a tough nut."
He's toughened up because his self-confidence is on the upswing.
"I feel like I'm kicking like I know I can . . . I'm kicking to the level of the ability I have," he said. "I've been doing that for a season and a half, and I feel like things are clicking."
Goodman, a junior, said he's finally "going out and kicking for the fun of doing it - there's no negativism involved in my thinking.
"Even toward the end of last year, I was feeling more relaxed and just enjoying the opportunity to kick and the chance to play.
"I wasn't getting caught up in what negative might happen. Instead, I've been caught up in the moment and trying to do things with heart and passion."
In addition to his nine made field goals, he's hit 24 of 25 extra point attempts, giving him 51 points (second on the team to tailback Rodney Stewart's 54).
A 'PERK' TO WINNING: Free safety Anthony Perkins' late interception against the Aggies helped seal the Buffs' win. It also provided him with a career memory.
"We had a blitz called, we got pressure on the quarterback and he had to get rid of the ball before he wanted to . . . I just made a play on the ball," he said.
A sophomore who has been in out of the starting lineup, Perkins called last weekend's play "one of the higher points of my season, definitely a career highlight. It was right up there with the best of them.
"But the whole thing is a grind - you've got to take the good with the bad and just keeping grinding, just keep going."
Secondary coach Greg Brown called Perkins' interception "a huge, huge play at the end of the game . . . I'm really happy for him and his contribution.
"He brings a lot of things to the table - the outstanding ability to think on the run, to change calls and make the correct one to our defense. He's a smart guy, as smart as a whip.
EYES ON THE PRIZE: Perkins' first interception of the season helped the Buffs win the turnover battle (2-1) and kept them alive for possible postseason competition. CU (3-6 overall, 2-3 Big 12) must win six games to be bowl eligible.
"I think we're in a good state of mind," said Perkins, who has started six of CU's nine games. "We have to stay focused on the road and come out with that passion and energy we had last week. But I have a good feeling; I think we know what needs to be done."
CU has won twice on the road under Hawkins, and several players have observed that they must take responsibility for creating their own positive sideline environment when they're away from Folsom Field.
"When you go on the road, there's some energy and passion that you've got to create for yourself," Perkins said. "It has to be up just a little more because you're not going to get it from your fans and everything you're familiar with."
Perkins said that has been a point of emphasis this week, although it's been "more unspoken. I think everyone understands what has to be done. For us, it's win or be done."
BUFF BITS: Receiver/punt returner Jason Espinoza is recovering from an infection in his right hand that resulted from a surgical pin pushing through the skin. Espinoza suffered a broken right thumb earlier in the season. He was hopeful of playing Saturday . . . . Winning consecutive conference games has been rare of late for the Buffs. They've done it only once under Hawkins, defeating No. 3 Oklahoma 27-24 on Sept. 29, 2007, at Folsom Field, then winning 43-23 at Baylor on Oct. 6 . . . . The win In Waco, Texas, and a 31-26 victory at Texas Tech that season are CU's only two road wins under Hawkins (17 losses) . . . . Iowa State, which needs one win for bowl eligibility, says goodbye to 11 senior starters (including a punter and holder) Saturday . . . . The home team in the CU-ISU series has won the past five games . . . . The two most recent meetings have been decided by a total of seven points (31-28 Iowa State win in 2007, a 28-24 CU win last season).
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
