Woelk: Buffs Defense Says 'CU In Santa Clara'

BOULDER — Simply put, Colorado's seniors weren't going to let this one get away.

Not with all that was at stake, not with the biggest Folsom Field crowd in years on hand ready to celebrate a Pac-12 South championship.

The ninth-ranked Buffs made sure there was something to celebrate. On a night when Colorado's offense struggled to produce some consistency and the Buffs' special teams gave up a pair of big plays, the Buffs turned to their ace in the hole: their defense.

Colorado 27, Utah 22 for the Pac-12 South title.

CU in Santa Clara.

"I'm so proud of this team," said Buffs cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. "We've come a long way. It's so fitting that this class, the class that came in with Coach (Mike) MacIntyre, was able to get it done."

Indeed, in a game when the Buffs needed big play after big play to produce their 10th win, it was more often than not CU's seniors who were producing the plays — and more often than not, those plays came on defense.

Not that the offense was ineffective. CU's offense did put 20 points on the board, and the total could have been higher had it not been for some miscues. When absolutely necessary, the offense did deliver a 75-yard scoring drive in the third quarter that broke a 13-13 tie.

But just as happened all year, when one unit wasn't firing on all cylinders, the other came to the rescue.

On this night, it was the defense. On four different occasions with the game still up for grabs, the Utes reached the red zone — and came away with a paltry nine points to show for their efforts. Every time the Buffs defense had their backs to the wall, that wall became impenetrable.

Three times, the defense forced the Utes to settle for a field goal, with the fourth trip resulting in a Ryan Moeller hit on Joe Williams that produced a fumble and Awuzie recovery.

"I didn't have to tell them anything when they got down there," shrugged defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt. "We talk about those situations. We practice them during the week. We have leaders who know how to react when those things happen. They know how to respond. That's what they did tonight."

Then came the clincher, a defensive touchdown. With the Utes backed up on their own 13 after a punt, Rick Gamboa ripped the ball loose from Williams. On the spot to grab the loose ball and race into the end zone was fellow linebacker Kenneth Olugbode, producing a score with 10:56 to go that finally gave Colorado a 27-16 lead and some much-needed breathing room.

The 10-2 Buffs were vicious on defense all night long. Williams entered the game having rushed for more than 1,000 yards in the last five games, with his lowest total 149 yards in last week's loss to Oregon.

He left Boulder with 97 yards on 26 carries and a long run of just 15.

"We knew if we could slow him down and stop him, we'd have a chance to win," Gamboa said. "When they got to the red zone, we preach that if they're going to get there, they can't get in the end zone. We have to hold them and that's what we were able to do tonight."

Colorado also stretched its nation-leading streak of games with at least one defensive takeaway to 25, finishing with two interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

"You have to give a lot of credit to our coaching staff," said safety Tedric Thompson. "Coach Leavitt and Coach (Joe) Tumpkin came here and pretty much turned it around."

No doubt, this night belonged to the seniors, who played their final game in Folsom Field and finished CU's first unbeaten season at home (6-0) since 1994.

MacIntyre, a strong candidate for national coach of the year honors, tipped his hat to the group.

"I can't say enough about these seniors," he said. "They're my heroes."

Against the Utes, there were plenty who lived up to that billing.

Awuzie was a demon. Along with eight tackles — all solo — he had a sack, a tackle for loss and one of the key fumble recoveries. He also had one of the most important tackles of the game when he chased down kick returner Kyle Fulks and nudged him out of bounds at the 3-yard line.

Had Fulks reached the end zone, it would have tied the game at 20-20. Instead, the Buffs came up with a red zone stop and forced the Utes to settle for a field goal.

"I was thinking he was the fastest guy on the planet," Awuzie said. "Usually people don't outrun me like that, but he had some get-up. I was just lucky enough to chase him down and make a tackle."

Then there was Thompson, who turned in another monster game. The CU senior had four tackles, two interceptions, four pass break-ups, four third-down stops and one tackle for a loss. His first interception broke up a Hail Mary attempt by the Utes to end the first half; his second came in the fourth quarter to end a Utah drive. His second pick was his seventh of the season, tying him with Dick Anderson (1967) and Cullen Bryant (1972) for the CU single-season record.

Olugbode, meanwhile, once again displayed an almost uncanny ability to be in the right spot at the right time. His fumble recovery — his third of the season — produced his second career touchdown and was the third time he and Gamboa have produced a defensive scoring play in the last two years.

"Before the play even started, Rick was talking about 13 yards, that's not too far to get a touchdown," Olugbode said with a grin. "He stripped it and I just ran it in. We're always on the same page. It's just the way our defense works."

It's no coincidence all three are seniors and members of MacIntyre's first recruiting class. They came to Colorado with the idea of rebuilding a once-proud program and leaving a legacy that people will remember.

They have no doubt accomplished that feat. CU fans will not forget this team, a group that accomplished a worst-to-first turnaround.

"Nobody thought we'd be here, especially four years ago," Thompson said. "But we kept our faith in Coach Mac and in each other. It's a blessing to see the excitement in the locker room and the excitement in the seniors faces and the excitement on Coach Mac's face."

There were plenty of other big-play producers. Senior Josh Tupou made Williams' life miserable all night. When Williams tried to go up the middle, Tupou was there to greet him. Senior Jimmie Gilbert had seven tackles, a sack and two quarterback hurries. Juniors Afolabi Laguda and Ryan Moeller each had five tackles. Senior Ahkello Witherspoon had four pass breakups.

Everyone, it seemed, made a play when the Buffs needed it.

Now comes the next chapter. With at least two games left to play, these Buffs could still accomplish something no other team in CU history has done: win 12 games.

But Saturday night, even as they celebrated CU's first division title since 2005, the Buffs already had an eye on next Friday's 7 p.m. championship showdown with North champ Washington at Levi's Stadium.

"We're ready to get back to work tomorrow," said defensive lineman Jordan Carrell, who had three tackles and a big sack that pushed the Utes out of field goal range. "It's going to be a great one Friday in Levi's Stadium."

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu