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Colorado secures it’s fifth win in a game that was dominated from start to finish
This Saturday, Colorado traveled to Tucson to take on Arizona in an old Pac-12 matchup. The Buffaloes came into this game as three-point underdogs, but many Big 12 fans knew this wasn’t realistic, as Colorado has been playing phenomenal football these past few weeks. It became evident early that Colorado had the upper hand, dominating from start to finish.
1st Quarter:
The Wildcats came out looking to steal a possession with an onside kick, but thankfully Colorado recovered and capitalized quickly on the short field. Shedeur Sanders delivered a 46-yard strike to LaJohntay Wester, and the Buffs scored quickly on a reverse “tush push” call to Isaiah Augustave. The Buffs kept the momentum going, forcing a three-and-out and quickly starting another drive. The second drive was a balanced mix of passing and rushing, resulting in a short touchdown reception by Drelon Miller.
Noah Fifita struggled to get the vertical passing game going in the first quarter, but he kept plays alive and helped Arizona move down the field for a touchdown near the end of the quarter.
2nd Quarter:
Colorado started the quarter with the ball, marching down the field for a third consecutive score. This time, it came from a fantastic one-handed grab by Will Sheppard, which was initially called an incomplete pass. The rest of the quarter spiraled into sloppy play and turnovers.
Near the end of the half, a miscommunication between center Hank Zillinskas and Shedeur Sanders resulted in a mistimed snap and a turnover. Immediately after, Nikhai Hill-Green forced a fumble, allowing Colorado to resume their drive. However, the drive would only last three plays, including a fumbled snap by Shedeur that was recovered, followed by an interception on the next play.
Arizona’s offense continued to struggle, and the Buffs capitalized one more time with a quick drive, capped off by a Shedeur Sanders rushing touchdown. The first half ended 28-7 Buffaloes.
2nd Half:
At the start of the second half, it was decided that Travis Hunter would be sidelined for the remainder of the game as he re-aggravated his injury from last week. Despite his absence, the defense didn’t miss a beat, forcing punts on all three of Arizona’s third-quarter drives. The fourth quarter was no better for the Wildcats, who punted three more times, while Colorado’s defense secured two turnovers to seal the deal. One of the turnovers was an interception by Colton Hood, the redshirt freshman transfer from Auburn. Hood now has two second-half interceptions in back-to-back games, and we may see more playing time for him as the season progresses.
Offensively, Colorado appeared to play not to lose in the second half, relying primarily on the run and only passing when necessary. This strategy worked well as the defense played fantastic, keeping Arizona scoreless in the second half. Noah Fifita finished with just 138 passing yards, and was constantly pressured by Colorado’s defensive line. Shilo Sanders, BJ Green, and others reached Fifita at will, with the Buffaloes totaling seven sacks on the day. This was the defense’s best performance of the season, and it could be the type of play that keeps Colorado competitive in the Big 12 title race.
Key Takeaways:
- Over the past four weeks, we’ve learned that this is a good football team. Colorado is now 3-1 in conference play and 4-0 against the spread, which is no small feat for a team new to the Big 12.
- This offense is talented in many ways. As the season progresses, it’s becoming clear that this is potentially the best passing attack in the Big 12, and it’s hard to see anyone stopping them.
- Colorado has a real shot at the Big 12 title after starting 3-1. We could see more AP votes this week, and there’s even an outside chance the Buffs could break into the rankings.
Outlook:
Next week, Colorado will be back in Boulder to face Cincinnati. The Bearcats are also 5-2 and 3-1 in conference play, so this game will have huge implications for the Big 12 standings. I expect Colorado to carry their momentum forward, but they’ll need Travis Hunter back in action if they hope to take the next step. Tune in next Saturday night at 8:15, and Sko Buffs!
by Jacob.Thompson
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