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November 10th – Boulder No. 10 Washington State 31, Colorado 7
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Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 35-of-58 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns, running for a third, leading the No. 10 Cougars to a 31-7 win over Colorado in Boulder.
The Cougars held the ball for 41:46 of game clock (to 18:14 for the Buffs), going for 477 total yards. The Buffs were held below 300 yards (297), and turned the ball over three times. Steven Montez went 20-of-35 for 199 yards, but was ineffective against the Cougar defense. Wide receiver Laviska Shenault returned for the first time in a month, collecting ten receptions for 102 yards, but had drops when the game was still in doubt, and later fumbled the ball away for the first time all season.
… Still to come … Locker room quotes and Game Notes …
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Game Story … Colorado won the coin toss, deferring to the second half … and giving the nation’s leading passer, Washington State’s Gardner Minshew, the ball to open the game. The move looked liked a good one, though, after the Buff defense forced a three-and-out from the Cougar offense.
The Buffs couldn’t take advantage, though, punting the ball back after quarterback Steven Montez completed a seven-yard pass to wide receiver Tony Brown … on third-and-eight.
Taking over at its 15-yard line after the CU punt, the Washington State offense set off on a 14-play drive … which nonetheless netted no points. The Buffs employed a bend-but-don’t-break defense, surrendering short gains as the Cougars marched down the field.
Facing a fourth-and-two at the CU 20-yard line, Washington State head coach Mike Leach opted to go for the first down. The Gardner Minshew pass fell incomplete, leaving the game scoreless after an almost seven-minute drive.
The Buff offense didn’t need 14 plays or seven minutes to respond. On first down at the CU 20, Montez hit Laviska Shenault for 13 yards. On the next play, running back Travon McMillian went up the middle, going for 64 yards before being stopped at the WSU three-yard line. McMillian then finished the job, taking it in from three yards out to make it a 7-0 Colorado lead with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter.
After CU’s three-play, 80-yard, 48-second drive, the Washington State offense put together another double-digit play drive. Converting a third-and-two and a third-and-four along the way, the Cougar drive stalled at the CU 21 when Cougar running back was stopped by Buff Backer Davion Taylor for a two yard loss on third-and-two. Blake Mazza converted the 39-yard field goal attempt, but the Buffs still had the lead, at 7-3, early in the second quarter.
On CU’s next possession, the deficiencies along the Buff offensive line were on display. On first down, Laviska Shenault took a Steven Montez, and was brought down after a three yard gain … by offensive tackle Josh Kaiser. A play later, after a false start by the offensive line, it was third-and-eight instead of third-and-three. Steven Montez then hit Dimitri Stanley for six yards, bringing about a fourth-and-two and a punt.
The Cougars didn’t need a double-digit drive on its next possession to take the lead. Washington State drove 75 yards in only seven plays, with former CU recruit Max Borghi scoring on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Minshew to make it a 10-7 game midway through the second quarter.
The teams then traded punts the remainder of the second quarter, with the Cougars getting the better of the Buffs. While Washington State was kept out of the end zone, the Cougars did gain an advantage, with CU’s leading tackler Nate Landman being ejected from the game for targeting.
Colorado finished the first half with 131 yards of total offense (80 of those on the three-play touchdown drive), going 0-for-5 on third downs. Washington State held the ball for 20:52 of the first half clock (to 9:08 for Colorado), and had 21 plays on CU’s side of the field (the Buffs had one snap in enemy territory).
But it was still a game.
Halftime score: No. 10 Washington State 10, Colorado 7
The Buffs didn’t open the second half with yet another three-and-out … they went two-and-out.
On the second play from scrimmage, Travon McMillian was stripped of the ball, with Washington State recovering the fumble at the CU 32-yard line.
Seven plays later, it was a two score game. There was a moment of hope for the Buff Nation when Max Borghi fumbled the ball at the CU one yard line. Instead of a game-changing turnover, the ball was recovered by the Cougars, with Gardner Minshew hitting Renard Bell for a one-yard touchdown on the next play. Washington State 17, Colorado 7, less the five minutes into the third quarter.
The Colorado offense finally converted on a third down on its next possession, with Montez hitting Juwann Winfree for 27 yards. The drive then fizzled at midfield when Laviska Shenault, seeing his first action since the USC game a month earlier, dropped passes on successive plays, forcing yet another punt.
The Buff defense then forced a punt … but gave the ball right back to the Cougars. On third-and-eight at the WSU 35-yard line, Minshew hit Easop, with sophomore safety Aaron Maddox being called for a taunting penalty. Instead of punting, the Cougar offense had a first-and-ten at midfield.
Instead of folding, the Buff defense made yet another stand. Washington State drove to the Buff 25-yard line, facing a fourth-and-two. For the third time, Mike Leach went for it on fourth down, and, for the third time, was turned away. A Gardner Minshew pass to the end zone fell incomplete, giving the ball back to the Buffs yet again.
The Buffs then posted their first positive plays on offense since the first quarter, with Laviska Shenault gaining 18 yards on successive plays, one on a pass from Montez, the second on a run. Across midfield for just the second time in the game, the Buffs then stalled, with three plays losing a yard, forcing Davis Price’s seventh punt of the game.
The worn out Colorado defense, which had bent all afternoon, finally broke. Washington State, which held a 391-209 advantage through three quarters (and over 30 minutes of possession time), marched 87 yards in only seven plays to put the game out of reach. Gardner Minshew did the honors himself, taking the ball in from nine yards out. Washington State 24, Colorado 7, in the first minute of the fourth quarter.
With the game out of hand, the Buff offense took the field with the goal of finding something that would work … and punted four plays later after a sack of Steven Montez.
The Buffs did get the ball back after a WSU punt, and put together their second-best drive of the game. Four of the seven Montez completions went to Laviska Shenault. The fourth reception put Shenault over 100 yards for the game … but also resulted in a fumble by Shenault, giving the ball back to the Cougars.
The score no longer mattered … except to Washington State, which needed style points for their shot at a College Football Playoff berth. Gardner Minshew, who hadn’t been held under 300 yards all season, kept passing, going over 300 yards on the drive. The 13-play, 68-yard drive was finished off with a James Williams three-yard run with 3:46 to play.
With the white flag fully raised by the Buffs, backup quarterback Sam Noyer came in … and threw an interception. Adding insult to injury, Noyer was called for targeting on the runback (although the call was reversed on review, keeping Noyer eligible for the Utah game).
The third turnover of the afternoon was a fitting way for the CU offense to leave the field for the final time in the game.
Final score: No. 10 Washington State 31, Colorado 7
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Coming tonight … Game Notes and locker room quotes …
Stuart
Continue reading...
November 10th – Boulder No. 10 Washington State 31, Colorado 7
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Washington State quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 35-of-58 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns, running for a third, leading the No. 10 Cougars to a 31-7 win over Colorado in Boulder.
The Cougars held the ball for 41:46 of game clock (to 18:14 for the Buffs), going for 477 total yards. The Buffs were held below 300 yards (297), and turned the ball over three times. Steven Montez went 20-of-35 for 199 yards, but was ineffective against the Cougar defense. Wide receiver Laviska Shenault returned for the first time in a month, collecting ten receptions for 102 yards, but had drops when the game was still in doubt, and later fumbled the ball away for the first time all season.
… Still to come … Locker room quotes and Game Notes …
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Game Story … Colorado won the coin toss, deferring to the second half … and giving the nation’s leading passer, Washington State’s Gardner Minshew, the ball to open the game. The move looked liked a good one, though, after the Buff defense forced a three-and-out from the Cougar offense.
The Buffs couldn’t take advantage, though, punting the ball back after quarterback Steven Montez completed a seven-yard pass to wide receiver Tony Brown … on third-and-eight.
Taking over at its 15-yard line after the CU punt, the Washington State offense set off on a 14-play drive … which nonetheless netted no points. The Buffs employed a bend-but-don’t-break defense, surrendering short gains as the Cougars marched down the field.
Facing a fourth-and-two at the CU 20-yard line, Washington State head coach Mike Leach opted to go for the first down. The Gardner Minshew pass fell incomplete, leaving the game scoreless after an almost seven-minute drive.
The Buff offense didn’t need 14 plays or seven minutes to respond. On first down at the CU 20, Montez hit Laviska Shenault for 13 yards. On the next play, running back Travon McMillian went up the middle, going for 64 yards before being stopped at the WSU three-yard line. McMillian then finished the job, taking it in from three yards out to make it a 7-0 Colorado lead with 4:14 remaining in the first quarter.
After CU’s three-play, 80-yard, 48-second drive, the Washington State offense put together another double-digit play drive. Converting a third-and-two and a third-and-four along the way, the Cougar drive stalled at the CU 21 when Cougar running back was stopped by Buff Backer Davion Taylor for a two yard loss on third-and-two. Blake Mazza converted the 39-yard field goal attempt, but the Buffs still had the lead, at 7-3, early in the second quarter.
On CU’s next possession, the deficiencies along the Buff offensive line were on display. On first down, Laviska Shenault took a Steven Montez, and was brought down after a three yard gain … by offensive tackle Josh Kaiser. A play later, after a false start by the offensive line, it was third-and-eight instead of third-and-three. Steven Montez then hit Dimitri Stanley for six yards, bringing about a fourth-and-two and a punt.
The Cougars didn’t need a double-digit drive on its next possession to take the lead. Washington State drove 75 yards in only seven plays, with former CU recruit Max Borghi scoring on a 28-yard touchdown pass from Minshew to make it a 10-7 game midway through the second quarter.
The teams then traded punts the remainder of the second quarter, with the Cougars getting the better of the Buffs. While Washington State was kept out of the end zone, the Cougars did gain an advantage, with CU’s leading tackler Nate Landman being ejected from the game for targeting.
Colorado finished the first half with 131 yards of total offense (80 of those on the three-play touchdown drive), going 0-for-5 on third downs. Washington State held the ball for 20:52 of the first half clock (to 9:08 for Colorado), and had 21 plays on CU’s side of the field (the Buffs had one snap in enemy territory).
But it was still a game.
Halftime score: No. 10 Washington State 10, Colorado 7
The Buffs didn’t open the second half with yet another three-and-out … they went two-and-out.
On the second play from scrimmage, Travon McMillian was stripped of the ball, with Washington State recovering the fumble at the CU 32-yard line.
Seven plays later, it was a two score game. There was a moment of hope for the Buff Nation when Max Borghi fumbled the ball at the CU one yard line. Instead of a game-changing turnover, the ball was recovered by the Cougars, with Gardner Minshew hitting Renard Bell for a one-yard touchdown on the next play. Washington State 17, Colorado 7, less the five minutes into the third quarter.
The Colorado offense finally converted on a third down on its next possession, with Montez hitting Juwann Winfree for 27 yards. The drive then fizzled at midfield when Laviska Shenault, seeing his first action since the USC game a month earlier, dropped passes on successive plays, forcing yet another punt.
The Buff defense then forced a punt … but gave the ball right back to the Cougars. On third-and-eight at the WSU 35-yard line, Minshew hit Easop, with sophomore safety Aaron Maddox being called for a taunting penalty. Instead of punting, the Cougar offense had a first-and-ten at midfield.
Instead of folding, the Buff defense made yet another stand. Washington State drove to the Buff 25-yard line, facing a fourth-and-two. For the third time, Mike Leach went for it on fourth down, and, for the third time, was turned away. A Gardner Minshew pass to the end zone fell incomplete, giving the ball back to the Buffs yet again.
The Buffs then posted their first positive plays on offense since the first quarter, with Laviska Shenault gaining 18 yards on successive plays, one on a pass from Montez, the second on a run. Across midfield for just the second time in the game, the Buffs then stalled, with three plays losing a yard, forcing Davis Price’s seventh punt of the game.
The worn out Colorado defense, which had bent all afternoon, finally broke. Washington State, which held a 391-209 advantage through three quarters (and over 30 minutes of possession time), marched 87 yards in only seven plays to put the game out of reach. Gardner Minshew did the honors himself, taking the ball in from nine yards out. Washington State 24, Colorado 7, in the first minute of the fourth quarter.
With the game out of hand, the Buff offense took the field with the goal of finding something that would work … and punted four plays later after a sack of Steven Montez.
The Buffs did get the ball back after a WSU punt, and put together their second-best drive of the game. Four of the seven Montez completions went to Laviska Shenault. The fourth reception put Shenault over 100 yards for the game … but also resulted in a fumble by Shenault, giving the ball back to the Cougars.
The score no longer mattered … except to Washington State, which needed style points for their shot at a College Football Playoff berth. Gardner Minshew, who hadn’t been held under 300 yards all season, kept passing, going over 300 yards on the drive. The 13-play, 68-yard drive was finished off with a James Williams three-yard run with 3:46 to play.
With the white flag fully raised by the Buffs, backup quarterback Sam Noyer came in … and threw an interception. Adding insult to injury, Noyer was called for targeting on the runback (although the call was reversed on review, keeping Noyer eligible for the Utah game).
The third turnover of the afternoon was a fitting way for the CU offense to leave the field for the final time in the game.
Final score: No. 10 Washington State 31, Colorado 7
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Coming tonight … Game Notes and locker room quotes …
Stuart
Continue reading...