Colorado
4-2 , 2-1
USC
3-3 , 2-2
Buffs Fall Short At USC, 21-17
October 08, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
LOS ANGELES — After falling behind 14-0 in the first half Saturday, the No. 21 Colorado Buffaloes rallied to tie the game at 14-14 in the fourth quarter before finally falling to USC, 21-17.
Colorado forced four turnovers in the game, but could only manage to convert one into a score. CU dropped to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in the Pac-12 while USC improved to 3-3, 2-2.
The loss also dropped CU to 0-11 against the Trojans all time.
HOW IT HAPPENED: USC broke a 14-14 tie midway through the fourth quarter by going 70 yards in six plays for the winning touchdown, getting a 7-yard pass from Sam Darnold to Tyler Petite.
The Buffs had battled back from a 14-0 halftime deficit, finally tying the game with 10:20 to go in the game on a 10-yard Steven Montez scoring pass to Bryce Bobo. Earlier in the half, Bobo helped the Buffs cut into USC's lead by throwing a 67-yard touchdown pass to Phillip Lindsay after taking a lateral from Montez.
Colorado's defense was stellar for most of the second half. The Buffs forced three second-half turnovers — two fumbles and an interception — and Colorado converted one of them into a touchdown. Afolabi Laguda and Jordan Carrell had fumble recoveries for the Buffs and Kenneth Olugbode had an interception.
The Buffs converted Carrell's fumble recovery, created by an Addison Gillam sack of Darnold, into a touchdown. CU needed just one play for Montez to throw a lateral to Bobo to the left and the CU wide receiver threw the first pass of his career to a wide-open Lindsay, who raced down the right sideline to the end zone.
CU's defense continued to hold and early in the fourth quarter, after the Buffs forced a second straight USC punt, Colorado finally put together its first first sustained scoring drive of the game. Colorado went 84 yards in eight plays for the tying score. Montez helped keep the drive alive with an 11-yard throw to Kabion Ento on third-and-6 before Lindsay rumbled 37 yards to the USC 11. Three plays later, Montez found Bobo in the end zone for a 10-yard scoring pass and Davis Price's PAT tied the game at 14-14.
The Trojans, however, finally put together a second-half scoring drive to regain the lead. The drive was kept alive when USC receiver Darreus Rogers outfought Witherspoon for a 46-yard reception, setting up Darnold's touchdown throw.
Colorado quickly answered with a drive inside USC territory that produced a 42-yard Davis Price field goal, but that finished the scoring for the game as USC managed to drive into CU territory and run out the clock on its next possession.
After outscoring opponents 85-17 in the first quarter and 164-47 in the first half this season, the Buffs were held scoreless while the Trojans put a pair of touchdowns on the board. The Trojans put together a pair of long scoring drives, going 80 yards in nine plays for their first touchdown, then adding a 13-play, 92-yard drive for the 14-0 lead.
The Buffs dodged a bullet on USC's first possession by forcing a Darnold fumble near the goal line and getting an Ahkello Witherspoon recovery in the end one.
But after CU punted on its second possession, the Trojans put together their first scoring drive. Darnold completed four passes on the drive, including a 32-yard scoring toss to Daniel Imatorbhebhe for a 7-0 lead.
CU never mustered much of an offensive threat in the opening 30 minutes. The Trojans threw a variety of stunts and blitzes at CU starting quarterback Steven Montez, and the Buffs' high-powered offense never found a rhythm. Colorado also produced some self-inflicted wounds, including a pair of penalties that stifled the Buffs' deepest penetration into USC territory. Just after reaching the Trojan 34, the Buffs committed two penalties on three snaps, setting them back to their side of the 50.
CU's defense managed to come up with another stop, but after another Colorado punt, the Trojans then methodically manufactured a 13-play, 92-yard scoring drive. Darnold completed six passes on the drive, including the 11-yard scoring toss to Tyler Petite on a play that saw Darnold scoop up a fumble and roll to his right before finding Petite for the score.
Montez was injured on CU's last possession of the half. Sefo Liufau replaced Montez and moved the Buffs into Trojan territory before the drive stalled, leaving USC with one play to run before the half ended.
Montez returned for the second half and finished the game.
TURNING POINT: After Colorado went 84 yards to tie the game in the fourth quarter, the Trojans responded with a 70-yard scoring drive and Colorado could only answer with a field goal.
KEY STATISTIC: CU's defense produced four takeaways — three fumble recoveries and an interception — but converted only one of those turnovers into a score.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs will likely slip out of the nation's top 25, but that will be the least of their concerns. Still tied for the Pac-12 South lead, the Buffs need to show their resiliency and bounce back next week at home against Arizona State.
NOTEWORTHY: Colorado's scoreless first half was the first since Week 12 last year, when CU trailed 14-0 at the half at Washington State. … CU's Ahkello Witherspoon had his second takeaway in the end zone this year when he recovered a Darnold fumble. He also had an interception in the end zone to clinch a win at Oregon.
NEXT UP: The Buffs play host to Arizona State on Saturday in a 6 p.m. game at Folsom Field.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
Team Stats
COLO 0, USC 7
USC - Imatorbhebhe, D 32 yd pass from Darnold, Sam (Boermeester, Ma kick) 9 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:54
COLO 0, USC 14
USC - Petite, Tyler 11 yd pass from Darnold, Sam (Boermeester, Ma kick) 13 plays, 92 yards, TOP 6:25
COLO 7, USC 14
COLO - Lindsay, Philli 67 yd pass from Bobo, Bryce (Price, Davis kick) 1 plays, 67 yards, TOP 0:11
COLO 14, USC 14
COLO - Bobo, Bryce 10 yd pass from Montez, Steven (Price, Davis kick) 8 plays, 84 yards, TOP 2:47
COLO 14, USC 21
USC - Petite, Tyler 7 yd pass from Darnold, Sam (Boermeester, Ma kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:51
COLO 17, USC 21
COLO - Price, Davis 42 yd field goal 10 plays, 51 yards, TOP 3:39
