Colorado quarterback Sefo Liuafu releases a screen pass midway through Saturday’s 38-34 loss to Utah in the final game of the 2014 season. (James Bradbury/CU Independent)
If just a couple things went differently Saturday, Colorado could’ve come away with its first conference victory against Utah. But alas, sophomore quarterback Sefo Liufau threw a key interception that was returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. The pick gave Utah a lead it never relinquished.
“I lead him too far outside,” Liufau said about the screen pass. “It cost us the game.”
The Buffs finished the season on a 38-34 loss to Utah that put Colorado without a conference victory for the first time since 1915. This was one among many CU could have pulled out this year.
“All that means to me is that we went 0-9 in conference,” head coach Mike MacIntyre said. “We’re a lot closer in our Pac-12 games this year than last year. We’ll punch through and start winning a lot of games.”
Despite the costly mistake, Liufau still did pretty well statistically. He went 20-31 for 317 yards, a touchdown and one interception. He also set a Colorado school record for passing yards in a season Saturday with 3,200.
Christian Powell, who had three rushing touchdowns in the first half and finished with 76 yards on 10 carries, highlighted the Colorado run offense. His best run was a 33-yard scamper that gave CU a 14-10 lead in the second quarter.
“The offensive line was making blocks,” Powell said. “The receivers down field were blocking. You have to work with what you’re given.”
Junior wide receiver Nelson Spruce didn’t have his best statistical game, but he still managed to break the school receiving touchdown record with 12. His touchdown catch gave Colorado a 34-28 lead in the third quarter.
Similar to many other times this year for the Buffaloes, the team couldn’t put two solid halves together. After leading 24-16 at halftime, Utah outscored the Buffs 22-10 thereafter.
A critical play took place at the start of the second half when senior Terrel Smith appeared to have an interception off of a deep pass from Utah quarterback Travis Wilson. After the play was reviewed, the call was reversed. Smith was not pleased to say the least.
“I think I intercepted the ball clearly,” Smith said. “I don’t know how they reversed the call…The refs need to make a better call on that play.”
Smith showed a lot of emotion in the post-game press conference. He held back some tears when talking about his last game.
“CU has been great to me,” Smith said. “I’m going to definitely miss this place.”
Utah ran a fake punt the very next play to keep its drive alive. The Utes scored on a Devontae Booker run three plays later.
The Utes, known for their rushing attack, got most of their offense through the air surprisingly. Quarterback Travis Wilson threw for 311 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Coming into the game, he only averaged 168 yards per game. The CU run defense in general held Booker, who averaged just three point eight yards a carry. Coming into the game he had 1,255 yards rushing and eight touchdowns.
Although Colorado ended the season on an eight-game losing streak, the players are still trying to look on the bright side.
“If you’ve paid attention to the whole season compared to last year when we got blown out by 40 points in so many games I don’t know how you can’t say this isn’t an improvement,” Liufau said. “Except for one or two games we were in each one.”
MacIntyre said he isn’t worried about this season’s record negatively affecting seasons to come.
“We’ve been doing a good job recruiting right now, “ MacIntyre said. “We have quite a few commitments that want to be here at the University of Colorado, want to play in the Pac-12 and see our new building. They understand how much better we’re getting. The train is going in the right direction.”
The Buffs have had four losses by less than a touchdown this year. A few improvements, and the Buffs might just be looking at a winning season next year.
Notes: Saturday finished off Colorado’s 125th football season. Utah, although unranked in the two traditional polls, came into the game at No. 25 in the College Football Playoff rankings. CU freshman tailback Phillip Lindsay left the game with a sprained ankle and didn’t return. On his last game for Colorado, senior wide receiver Tyler McCulloch had his first 100-yard receiving day. Save the opener against Colorado State, Liufau threw an interception in every game he started this year. Spruce only needs 10 catches to break Colorado’s all-time receptions record. 21 seniors played their last game for CU. The Buffs haven’t won a Pac-12 game in 12 tries. Their last win dates back to Nov. 16 last year against California. The 2015 season is schedule to kickoff at Hawaii on Sept. 5. Colorado will face CSU in Denver on Sept. 19.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Jared Funk-Breay at Jared.funkbreay@colorado.edu
Follow him on twitter at @jaredfunkbreay
