Spruce Sets Pac-12 Receptions Record

PASADENA, Calif. - Of course Nelson Spruce got a first down with the catch that gave him more receptions than any other receiver in Pac-12 history. The play was vintage Spruce — he lined up wide left, on an island with UCLA cornerback Ishmael Adams, who backed off about 10 yards. Spruce ran a slant route and caught Sefo Liufau's pass in front of Adams for a gain of 11.

The Los Angeles native broke the record in the Rose Bowl, in front of family and friends. It was a special moment in a special career, his 259th catch in a game he finished with 11 - the record now at 267 and counting. That was the latest record that Spruce has set this season; he already owns Colorado's career marks for catches and receiving yards, and he's two touchdowns away from that record, too.

"It's cool," Spruce said. "It's something I'll be able to look back on and remember for the rest of my life, but I probably would have traded a win for it. This one hurt."

It hurt because, once again, Colorado was right there. The Buffs led by three in the fourth quarter, gave up the go-ahead touchdown and had two chances at game-winning drives. They couldn't convert.

"We're right there," Spruce said. "I think you can see the progress on the field. We just needed a win like today to validate it."

Spruce caught the final first down of Colorado's last drive, too — an 11-yard comeback out of the right slot — and he was Liufau's target on the next play, when UCLA defensive back Nate Meadors' interception sealed the Buffs' defeat.

This was the third conference loss this year that Colorado had a distinct chance to win. Last year, the Buffs lost four Pac-12 games by less than a touchdown. Colorado must now win three of its final four games to become bowl-eligible and give seniors like Spruce their first taste of the postseason.

Spruce knows that the Buffs' clock is ticking, and with two ranked teams still on the schedule, bowl eligibility is an uphill climb. But he hasn't given up on this season, and he hasn't stopped imparting that mindset to Colorado's many young players.

"[I tell them] we're almost there," Spruce said. "I'm a senior, so I got a sense of urgency, but I gotta install that same sense of urgency in them, you know? If we wanna win games like this, if we wanna bring this program to a level where it should be at, I try to keep them as motivated as possible."

Colorado will fight these next four games to ensure that they aren't the final four games of Spruce's career — to send its seniors out with a bowl. Because records are set to be broken, but wins live forever.

Here's another look at how Nelson Spruce became the leading receiver in Pac-12 history. #GoBuffs #CUvsUCLA https://t.co/ezQzr028Bk
— Colorado Buffaloes (@cubuffs) November 1, 2015

Sefo and Spruce connected on this 2-point conversion to put CU up 3 in the fourth. #GoBuffs #CUvsUCLA https://t.co/ZQ0nchCFom
— Colorado Buffaloes (@cubuffs) November 1, 2015

Players Mentioned

Sefo Liufau

Nelson Spruce

Related Videos