Upset at Folsom Field
Mama said there would be days like this.
The University of Colorado football team found out the meaning of the old adage the hard way with their 19-10 loss to Montana State on Sept. 2 before a crowd of 45,513 at Folsom Field.
“We got out-played and we got out-coached,” Head Coach Dan Hawkins said. “Montana State made the plays they had to make to win, and we didn’t. That’s pretty much the sum of it.”
The loss marks the first for CU in a season opener in the last three seasons and the first loss for CU against a Division I-AA opponent in school history. The loss began the Hawkins era at CU on a less than memorable note, but Hawkins remained optimistic.
“If you can’t understand how to deal with losing, then you are never going to win,” Hawkins said. “Losses are only devastating if people make it devastating.”
The Buffs struggled offensively in the second half, as the unit was unable to net a first down until there was 10:45 left in the 4th quarter. The defense had its own difficulties in stopping the Bobcats on third down. Montana State was 14 of 23 on third down conversions in the game.
The offense’s penchant for going three downs and out coupled with the defense’s inability to stop Montana State on third down led to a tired defense that Montana State took advantage of.
“When they needed to make plays, they made them,” senior linebacker Thaddeus Washington said. “No matter what the situation, all I’m thinking about is getting the ball back. Unfortunately, we didn’t do that.”
The Buffs began the game seeming completely in control. The defense forced Montana State three-and-out on their first possession, and senior quarterback James Cox completed a 42-yard throw to sophomore wide receiver Patrick Williams on CU’s first play from scrimmage.
The next 6 plays would only yield 10 yards for the Buffs and they were forced to settle for a field goal. The Bobcats would match that mark with a field goal of their own on the ensuing possession.
CU was forced to punt after a holding penalty negated a 46-yard pass from Cox to senior tight end Dan Goettsch, and Montana State took advantage of the blunder, marching down the field for another three points to make it 6-3.
The Buffs responded on the next series with Cox running a quarterback sneak from the one-yard line, putting CU ahead 10-6 heading into the locker room for halftime.
The team that came out for the second half looked completely different, as the Buffs punted four straight possessions.
Meanwhile, the Bobcats made it a 13-10 contest after Montana State quarterback Corey Carpenter completed a 10-yard touchdown pass to receiver Michael Jefferson, garnering a lead they would not surrender.
“We had things there,” Cox said referring to plays the offense couldn’t convert. “Coach put us in position to make plays, and there were a lot of plays out there that we just didn’t make.”
The Bobcats eventually made it 16-10 in spite of two tough goal-line stands by the Buffalo defense, and the ensuing kick-off after the field goal was fumbled by junior receiver Stephone Robinson. Montana State got another field goal, making the score 19-10.
The Buffs encroached onto Bobcat territory for the first time in the second half after getting the ball back, and senior kicker Mason Crosby was given a chance at a 63-yard field goal attempt with 1:11 remaining. He came up short, sealing the Buffs’ fate.
“You want to win. That’s why you play,” Hawkins said. “But we also know that sometimes you lose, and so we need to take that to heart and find out what those issues are and resolve those issues.”
