Photo by: Maggie Still
Thomas: Defense Showed Signs But Wore Down In Second Half
September 24, 2017 | Football
BOULDER— For much of the game Saturday night, Colorado's defense seemed up for the task in stopping the Washington Huskies.
But as the clock ticked on, the Buffs were unable to stop UW's high-powered offense in the second half. Â What was billed a redemption opportunity from last year's Pac-12 title game instead ended with a similar result, as the Buffs fell short, 37-10.
"We just didn't handle business, simple as that," CU safety Afolabi Laguda said. "We just have to go out next week and prepare for UCLA and move forward."
Colorado's defense is still continuing to gel and they knew coming into the game that Washington's offense would pose a threat because of their experience.
"They are very physical, they had a lot of guys returning," linebacker Rick Gamboa said. "They have good running backs. They know what they do. They know how to fit the run. I think eventually as the game went on, they were wearing us down a bit. We kept fighting, kept fighting. Slowly, a good team like that, they are going to crease you if you give them a chance."
"We have a lot more season left," safety Ryan Moeller said. "It's not going to be an easy road but it's one that we are happy to be on."
Colorado's two starting linebackers both had 10 tackles on the night. Gamboa had his ninth career game of 10 or more tackles. Drew Lewis also had 10 tackles, making him the first linebacker since Greg Biekert in 1990 having 10-plus tackles in his first four starts.
As the Buffs defense wore down, Myles Gaskin and the Huskies took advantage on the ground, racking up 122 yards in the fourth quarter while putting the game away, with Gaskin gashing the Buffs for a 57-yard touchdown run.
But Washington quarterback Jake Browning knew coming into the game the Buffs would put up a tough fight.
"I think they just play really sound, they always have a lot of energy at home and they've played a lot of close games at home," Browning said. "Obviously, they have a chip on their shoulder about the Pac-12 Championship so we knew they were going to give us their best shot."
"I thought we played hard on all sides of the ball," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "I didn't think there was a lack of intensity or physicality. I think they played hard. We should have stopped the run better than we did, but we didn't."
The Buffs are going to need to have a bounce-back mentality next week as they travel to Los Angeles to take on the Bruins next Saturday night. UCLA dropped to 2-2 with a 58-34 loss at Stanford on Saturday.
"It is definitely humbling when you take an 'L,'" Laguda said. "You just got to keep pushing. I think we will bounce back, we're going to practice hard this week and see how the chips fall next Saturday."
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But as the clock ticked on, the Buffs were unable to stop UW's high-powered offense in the second half. Â What was billed a redemption opportunity from last year's Pac-12 title game instead ended with a similar result, as the Buffs fell short, 37-10.
"We just didn't handle business, simple as that," CU safety Afolabi Laguda said. "We just have to go out next week and prepare for UCLA and move forward."
Colorado's defense is still continuing to gel and they knew coming into the game that Washington's offense would pose a threat because of their experience.
"They are very physical, they had a lot of guys returning," linebacker Rick Gamboa said. "They have good running backs. They know what they do. They know how to fit the run. I think eventually as the game went on, they were wearing us down a bit. We kept fighting, kept fighting. Slowly, a good team like that, they are going to crease you if you give them a chance."
"We have a lot more season left," safety Ryan Moeller said. "It's not going to be an easy road but it's one that we are happy to be on."
Colorado's two starting linebackers both had 10 tackles on the night. Gamboa had his ninth career game of 10 or more tackles. Drew Lewis also had 10 tackles, making him the first linebacker since Greg Biekert in 1990 having 10-plus tackles in his first four starts.
As the Buffs defense wore down, Myles Gaskin and the Huskies took advantage on the ground, racking up 122 yards in the fourth quarter while putting the game away, with Gaskin gashing the Buffs for a 57-yard touchdown run.
But Washington quarterback Jake Browning knew coming into the game the Buffs would put up a tough fight.
"I think they just play really sound, they always have a lot of energy at home and they've played a lot of close games at home," Browning said. "Obviously, they have a chip on their shoulder about the Pac-12 Championship so we knew they were going to give us their best shot."
"I thought we played hard on all sides of the ball," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "I didn't think there was a lack of intensity or physicality. I think they played hard. We should have stopped the run better than we did, but we didn't."
The Buffs are going to need to have a bounce-back mentality next week as they travel to Los Angeles to take on the Bruins next Saturday night. UCLA dropped to 2-2 with a 58-34 loss at Stanford on Saturday.
"It is definitely humbling when you take an 'L,'" Laguda said. "You just got to keep pushing. I think we will bounce back, we're going to practice hard this week and see how the chips fall next Saturday."
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