Friday, September 2
Denver, Colo.
6:05 PM
Colorado
1-0-0
44
vs
7
Colorado State
0-1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Colorado State
0
0
0
7
7
Colorado
21
10
6
7
44
Devin Ross (2) and his teammates celebrate the junior's touchdown reception.
Colorado Jumps On Colorado State Early, Cruises To 44-7 Win
September 02, 2016 | Football, B.G. Brooks
Box ScoreBuy TicketsPac-12 Highlights: CU 44, CSU 7WATCH Bryce Bobo's One-Handed Catch Woelk: Buffs D DominantBrooks: ‘Coach Chev’ Calls Buffs’ Offense PassableLiufau Celebrates ReturnCoach Chev’ Calls Buffs’ Offense PassableQuotesNotesFinal Game BookWATCH Coach Mac Pregame SpeechWATCH Mark Johnson & Gary Barnett RecapWATCH Coach MacIntyre PostgameWATCH Sefo Liufau PostgameWATCH Phillip Lindsay PostgameWATCH Chidobe Awuzie PostgameWATCH Devin Ross Postgame
DENVER – Starting fast offensively and rock solid defensively, the Colorado Buffaloes opened the 2016 season with a 44-7 wrecking of in-state rival Colorado State on Friday night at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
The Buffs rolled up 578 yards of total offense – their most in a season-opener since 1994 (649 vs. Northeast Louisiana in a 48-13 rout) – and held the Rams to 225 – the fewest by a CU opening opponent since 1998 (202 vs. CSU in a 42-14 Buffs blowout).
CU senior quarterback Sefo Liufau, playing his first game since successfully rehabilitating his broken left foot (Lisfranc injury), completed 23-of-33 passes for 318 yards and one touchdown, becoming the school's career leader in passing yardage (7,715).
CU's first scoring march was its longest in both time required (2:59) and distance covered (73 yards, 11 plays). Tailback Phillip Lindsay ran for 38 yards during the drive and Liufau completed two of three passes for 22 yards.
Liufau carried twice in that march, gaining eight yards on first down from the CSU 13, then fumbling at the goal line on second down. But his 310-pound center, Alex Kelley, smothered the football in the end zone.
Kelley had the first TD of his career (the first scored by a CU O-lineman since Heath Irwin in 1995) and the Buffs had their first TD of the 2016 season.
Four more scores would follow in quick succession – a 17-yard Liufau to Devin Ross pass (14-0), a 1-yard Lindsay run (21-0), a 30-yard Diego Gonzalez field goal (24-0), and another 1-yard Lindsay dive (31-0) that followed a 46-yard Liufau to Bryce Bobo completion that Bobo controlled with one hand before stepping out at the CSU 1-yard line.
In addition to his 30-yard field goal, Gonzalez kicked four PATs, extending his streak to 39 straight over last season and this. Through Friday night's first half, CU kicking specialists had made 142 straight extra points.
The Buffs' 31-0 halftime lead was their largest since being up 37-0 against Iowa State in 2003. CU won 44-10. Their largest halftime lead last season was 24-0 against Nicholls State.
CU outgained CSU 364-79 in total yardage in the first half, including holding a 248-22 passing yards advantage. The Rams used two quarterbacks – starter Nick Stevens, transfer Faton Bauta – who combined to go 6-of-17 with one interception.
That pick was by CU nickel back Chidobe Awuzie, who picked off Stevens late in the first half to set up the Buffs at their own 41-yard line. Lindsay scored on his second 1-yard dive five plays later.
CU increased its lead to 37-0 on a pair of third-quarter Gonzalez field goals (29, 22 yards) and took its shutout into the final quarter.
The Rams finally reached the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter, getting a 5-yard TD pass from Bauta to Marcus Wilson. Wyatt Bryan's PAT made it CU 37, CSU 7.
Liufau left the game after fumbling the ball away after a jarring tackle on a QB keeper with 12:38 remaining. CSU took possession at its own 33 but couldn't capitalize on the turnover.
But Liufau returned on the next series, march the Buffs 50 yards in 11 plays for their final score. The touchdown came on a 1-yard leap by former walk-on tailback Kyle Evans, who was awarded a scholarship midway through preseason camp. Gonzalez's PAT pushed CU's lead to 44-7 with 4:24 remaining.
Seeing his first college action, redshirt freshman QB Steven Montez spelled Liufau on the Buffs' final possession.
TURNING POINT: The tone was set early by the CU 'D.' The Buffs held the Rams to 10 yards on 15 first-quarter plays, limiting them to 8 yards rushing and sending a decisive early message about stopping the CSU running game. The Rams didn't register their initial first down until 10:22 remained before halftime, and that possession ended three plays later with their sixth punt of the first half.
CU STANDOUTS: Lindsay, 20 carries-95 yards, 2 TDs; Liufau, 23-33, 318 yards, 1 TD; Awuzie, 8 unassisted tackles, 1 interception.
KEY STATISTIC: After allowing CSU to average just over 240 rushing yards in the last two meetings, the Buffs had limited the Rams to 131 through three quarters on Friday night. CSU's four-quarter rushing total: 162 yards.
THE PLATI'-TUDE STAT: Kelley's fumble recovery for a touchdown marked the first time in CU football history that a season's first points were scored by an offensive lineman.
WHAT IT MEANS: After a downer of an opener last season in Hawai'i, the Buffs needed something more upbeat to justify their preseason expectations and their fan base's optimism. Friday night's performance did both, sending CU back to Folsom Field for next weekend's home opener with a rare bit of swagger. The Buffs were dominant on both sides of the ball against their in-state rival.
NOTEWORTHY: Liufau entered the game owning 75 school records, and made it 76 on the Buffs' first possession. With 7,397 career passing yards when the game started, he needed 13 to surpass Cody Hawkins' record of 7,409. He got the mark on a 12-yard completion to Lindsay . . . . CU leads the series with CSU 64-22-2, including wins in seven of last 11 meetings . . . . Friday night's attendance was 69,850 . . . . The Buffs have won two of four openers under Mike MacIntyre, whose 2103 team defeated the Rams in his first game as CU's head coach . . . . CU made two interceptions against CSU, with Awuzie getting his third career pick and senior safety Tedric Thompson his seventh . . . . The Buffs fumbled three times, losing two of them . . . . CU freshman Anthony Julmisse saw his first college action at cornerback. He recovered a CSU fumble in the fourth quarter . . . . CU is now 8-2 in non-conference games under MacIntyre (3-1 vs. CSU), and MacIntyre is 2-2 in season openers . . . . Lindsay earned five first downs in the game's first 10 minutes . . . . CU didn't have a 100-yard receiver, but two Buffs came very close. Devin Ross caught 8 passes for 97 yards (TD), Bryce Bobo 5 for 99 yards . . . Shay Fields' 60-yard reception was the sixth 50-plus yard play of his career.
QUOTEWORTHY: "I thought we played great tonight; there was a great crowd with a lot of excitement from both schools. Coach Mike Bobo does a great job with his guys. ... It's just one game, and we had too many turnovers. We haven't fumbled the ball like that in the past. We have to go out and fix that, which is something we'll do this week, I promise you. Our young men know where we're heading and what we're doing and they know that's one of a lot that we have left." — CU head coach Mike MacIntyre
"Give Colorado credit. They were very well prepared, very well coached, ready to play this game and we were not. That starts with me. I did not have this team ready to play. ... It's embarrassing. That's what I told them. We embarrassed our name but there is only one way we can do this, and we have to go back to work." — CSU head coach Mike Bobo
"We were never able to get it back or slow them down. I know it took us at least a few drives to get a first down (and) it just went downhill from there. It definitely wasn't our best showing. This wasn't the team you'll see the rest of the season, but unfortunately it was tonight. We've just got to try to rebound and come back next week." — CSU quarterback Nick Stevens
"This version of Sefo (Liufau, CU quarterback) that we have right now is way better. His passion for the game has never been this high. His work ethic has never been this high. You could see it tonight." CU center Alex Kelley
"A couple of plays before that I dropped a wide-open pass. It hit me dead in the hands. We have a motto on the team, which is 'one snap and clear.' Sefo gave me another chance to go deep and threw me the ball again. I guess it was more of a trust factor and him wanting me to redeem myself on that dropped pass. It just happened to be a one-handed catch. I've been working on my one-handed catches in practice and it finally paid off." Buffs WR Bryce Bobo on his 46-yard catch that set up CU's fourth touchdown of the night.
NEXT UP: The Buffs play host to Idaho State in their Folsom Field opener next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
The Buffs rolled up 578 yards of total offense – their most in a season-opener since 1994 (649 vs. Northeast Louisiana in a 48-13 rout) – and held the Rams to 225 – the fewest by a CU opening opponent since 1998 (202 vs. CSU in a 42-14 Buffs blowout).
CU senior quarterback Sefo Liufau, playing his first game since successfully rehabilitating his broken left foot (Lisfranc injury), completed 23-of-33 passes for 318 yards and one touchdown, becoming the school's career leader in passing yardage (7,715).
HOW IT HAPPENED: CU scored on three of its first four possessions and led 24-0 with 13:59 left in the first half. By the end of the first quarter, the Buffs offense had outgained the Rams 253-10, with the CU defense emphatically answering the pressing pregame question about stopping the CSU run game.
And the Buffs' up-tempo offense was up-and-running (and passing) early. The Buffs were fast: Their four first-half TD drives required 2:59, 1:56, 1:09 and 1:01.CU's first scoring march was its longest in both time required (2:59) and distance covered (73 yards, 11 plays). Tailback Phillip Lindsay ran for 38 yards during the drive and Liufau completed two of three passes for 22 yards.
Liufau carried twice in that march, gaining eight yards on first down from the CSU 13, then fumbling at the goal line on second down. But his 310-pound center, Alex Kelley, smothered the football in the end zone.
Kelley had the first TD of his career (the first scored by a CU O-lineman since Heath Irwin in 1995) and the Buffs had their first TD of the 2016 season.
Four more scores would follow in quick succession – a 17-yard Liufau to Devin Ross pass (14-0), a 1-yard Lindsay run (21-0), a 30-yard Diego Gonzalez field goal (24-0), and another 1-yard Lindsay dive (31-0) that followed a 46-yard Liufau to Bryce Bobo completion that Bobo controlled with one hand before stepping out at the CSU 1-yard line.
In addition to his 30-yard field goal, Gonzalez kicked four PATs, extending his streak to 39 straight over last season and this. Through Friday night's first half, CU kicking specialists had made 142 straight extra points.
The Buffs' 31-0 halftime lead was their largest since being up 37-0 against Iowa State in 2003. CU won 44-10. Their largest halftime lead last season was 24-0 against Nicholls State.
CU outgained CSU 364-79 in total yardage in the first half, including holding a 248-22 passing yards advantage. The Rams used two quarterbacks – starter Nick Stevens, transfer Faton Bauta – who combined to go 6-of-17 with one interception.
That pick was by CU nickel back Chidobe Awuzie, who picked off Stevens late in the first half to set up the Buffs at their own 41-yard line. Lindsay scored on his second 1-yard dive five plays later.
CU increased its lead to 37-0 on a pair of third-quarter Gonzalez field goals (29, 22 yards) and took its shutout into the final quarter.
The Rams finally reached the end zone on the first play of the fourth quarter, getting a 5-yard TD pass from Bauta to Marcus Wilson. Wyatt Bryan's PAT made it CU 37, CSU 7.
Liufau left the game after fumbling the ball away after a jarring tackle on a QB keeper with 12:38 remaining. CSU took possession at its own 33 but couldn't capitalize on the turnover.
But Liufau returned on the next series, march the Buffs 50 yards in 11 plays for their final score. The touchdown came on a 1-yard leap by former walk-on tailback Kyle Evans, who was awarded a scholarship midway through preseason camp. Gonzalez's PAT pushed CU's lead to 44-7 with 4:24 remaining.
Seeing his first college action, redshirt freshman QB Steven Montez spelled Liufau on the Buffs' final possession.
TURNING POINT: The tone was set early by the CU 'D.' The Buffs held the Rams to 10 yards on 15 first-quarter plays, limiting them to 8 yards rushing and sending a decisive early message about stopping the CSU running game. The Rams didn't register their initial first down until 10:22 remained before halftime, and that possession ended three plays later with their sixth punt of the first half.
CU STANDOUTS: Lindsay, 20 carries-95 yards, 2 TDs; Liufau, 23-33, 318 yards, 1 TD; Awuzie, 8 unassisted tackles, 1 interception.
KEY STATISTIC: After allowing CSU to average just over 240 rushing yards in the last two meetings, the Buffs had limited the Rams to 131 through three quarters on Friday night. CSU's four-quarter rushing total: 162 yards.
THE PLATI'-TUDE STAT: Kelley's fumble recovery for a touchdown marked the first time in CU football history that a season's first points were scored by an offensive lineman.
WHAT IT MEANS: After a downer of an opener last season in Hawai'i, the Buffs needed something more upbeat to justify their preseason expectations and their fan base's optimism. Friday night's performance did both, sending CU back to Folsom Field for next weekend's home opener with a rare bit of swagger. The Buffs were dominant on both sides of the ball against their in-state rival.
NOTEWORTHY: Liufau entered the game owning 75 school records, and made it 76 on the Buffs' first possession. With 7,397 career passing yards when the game started, he needed 13 to surpass Cody Hawkins' record of 7,409. He got the mark on a 12-yard completion to Lindsay . . . . CU leads the series with CSU 64-22-2, including wins in seven of last 11 meetings . . . . Friday night's attendance was 69,850 . . . . The Buffs have won two of four openers under Mike MacIntyre, whose 2103 team defeated the Rams in his first game as CU's head coach . . . . CU made two interceptions against CSU, with Awuzie getting his third career pick and senior safety Tedric Thompson his seventh . . . . The Buffs fumbled three times, losing two of them . . . . CU freshman Anthony Julmisse saw his first college action at cornerback. He recovered a CSU fumble in the fourth quarter . . . . CU is now 8-2 in non-conference games under MacIntyre (3-1 vs. CSU), and MacIntyre is 2-2 in season openers . . . . Lindsay earned five first downs in the game's first 10 minutes . . . . CU didn't have a 100-yard receiver, but two Buffs came very close. Devin Ross caught 8 passes for 97 yards (TD), Bryce Bobo 5 for 99 yards . . . Shay Fields' 60-yard reception was the sixth 50-plus yard play of his career.
QUOTEWORTHY: "I thought we played great tonight; there was a great crowd with a lot of excitement from both schools. Coach Mike Bobo does a great job with his guys. ... It's just one game, and we had too many turnovers. We haven't fumbled the ball like that in the past. We have to go out and fix that, which is something we'll do this week, I promise you. Our young men know where we're heading and what we're doing and they know that's one of a lot that we have left." — CU head coach Mike MacIntyre
"Give Colorado credit. They were very well prepared, very well coached, ready to play this game and we were not. That starts with me. I did not have this team ready to play. ... It's embarrassing. That's what I told them. We embarrassed our name but there is only one way we can do this, and we have to go back to work." — CSU head coach Mike Bobo
"We were never able to get it back or slow them down. I know it took us at least a few drives to get a first down (and) it just went downhill from there. It definitely wasn't our best showing. This wasn't the team you'll see the rest of the season, but unfortunately it was tonight. We've just got to try to rebound and come back next week." — CSU quarterback Nick Stevens
"This version of Sefo (Liufau, CU quarterback) that we have right now is way better. His passion for the game has never been this high. His work ethic has never been this high. You could see it tonight." CU center Alex Kelley
"A couple of plays before that I dropped a wide-open pass. It hit me dead in the hands. We have a motto on the team, which is 'one snap and clear.' Sefo gave me another chance to go deep and threw me the ball again. I guess it was more of a trust factor and him wanting me to redeem myself on that dropped pass. It just happened to be a one-handed catch. I've been working on my one-handed catches in practice and it finally paid off." Buffs WR Bryce Bobo on his 46-yard catch that set up CU's fourth touchdown of the night.
"We really wanted to go out there and make a statement in our first game and show people what we have as a defense. It was important to us to start this off on the right foot." — CU linebacker Kenneth Olugbode.
NEXT UP: The Buffs play host to Idaho State in their Folsom Field opener next Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
Team Stats
CS
COLO
Total Yards
225
578
Pass Yards
63
318
Rushing Yards
162
260
Penalty Yards
15
35
1st Downs
12
28
3rd Downs
5
12
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
25:24
34:36
1st Quarter
CS 0, COLO 7
COLO - Kelley, Alex 0 yd fumble recovery (Gonzalez, Diego kick)
CS 0, COLO 14
COLO - Ross, Devin 17 yd pass from Liufau, Sefo (Gonzalez, Diego kick) 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 1:56
CS 0, COLO 21
COLO - Lindsay, Philli 1 yd run (Gonzalez, Diego kick), 3 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:09
2nd Quarter
CS 0, COLO 24
COLO - Gonzalez, Diego 30 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 1:14
CS 0, COLO 31
COLO - Lindsay, Philli 1 yd run (Gonzalez, Diego kick), 5 plays, 59 yards, TOP 1:01
3rd Quarter
CS 0, COLO 34
COLO - Gonzalez, Diego 29 yd field goal 16 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:17
CS 0, COLO 37
COLO - Gonzalez, Diego 22 yd field goal 10 plays, 61 yards, TOP 4:28
4th Quarter
CS 7, COLO 37
CS - WILSON, Marcus 5 yd pass from BAUTA, Faton (BRYAN, Wyatt kick) 10 plays, 65 yards, TOP 4:02
CS 7, COLO 44
COLO - Evans, Kyle 1 yd run (Gonzalez, Diego kick), 11 plays, 50 yards, TOP 6:20
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
23
TD
1
YDS
318
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
PK
/ Football
C
/ Football
TB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DB
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