The University of Colorado Buffaloes (3-1) stunned the Oregon Ducks (2-2) in Saturday’s game in Eugene, Oregon, winning 41-38 on a one-handed fourth-quarter touchdown catch from junior wide receiver Bryce Bobo and an interception from senior defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon with less than a minute on the clock.
It was Colorado’s first win in Eugene since 1967 and its first victory against Oregon since 1998. In winning their Pac-12 opener, the Buffs have already matched their conference win total of one game from last season.
When analysts talk about Colorado’s defense, they talk about the team’s secondary. This game proved why. In its fleeting moments, Oregon was driving down the field. It was third-and-17, and Oregon’s quarterback, Dakota Prukop, had just been sacked.
CU senior defensive back Tedric Thompson made sure that the long pass by Prukop was incomplete. But Thompson was flagged for pass interference, and Oregon was handed a new set of downs.
The Ducks continued to drive, making a first-and-goal, but in just a few plays, CU senior defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon came down with an interception with just 48 seconds on the clock.
If you had only watched the first quarter of the game, you’d probably be confused at how the game was this close. The Buffs came out scorching-hot. On their first drive, junior tailback Phillip Lindsay pushed into the end zone to cap off an 80-yard push.
Players often have a hard time adapting to the college level, but freshmen quarterback Steven Montez probably hasn’t heard. Montez made his first start and looked more than capable — he finished the night with 333 passing yards and three touchdowns in the air. Montez also led the team in rushing with 135 yards and a ground touchdown. That’s good for 468 yards of total offense.
The freshman’s first start wasn’t perfect, though. Montez often didn’t slide at the end of his runs. This meant that the defense was able to get a few hits in — he was slower to get up after runs as the game went on. He also threw two interceptions, which both resulted in Oregon scores. This was a part of the rapid uptick in points for the Ducks.
Once he had thrown his second pick, the momentum of the game, which had been in Colorado’s favor through the first half and most of the third quarter, tilted in Oregon’s favor. CU’s offense had trouble picking up first downs as a result.
Junior wide receiver Bryce Bobo was not about to lay down and die so easily. On a streak route to the end zone, Bobo came down with a spectacular one-handed catch. The play was at first ruled incomplete, but a review deemed he had possession and a foot in. The touchdown went to the Buffs.
Instead of the standard kick, Colorado went for a 2-point conversion. Once again, Montez found Bobo on a diving play to put the Buffs up 41-38.
Bobo put on a clinic today. While his final stats don’t jump out, with five catches for 72 yards and the aforementioned score, Bobo showed a great amount of hustle and an ability to make clutch catches.
The wide receiver had another tough grab in the corner of the end zone that didn’t go his way with the officials, and was called out-of-bounds. Still, this isn’t the first time Bobo has shown his freakish ability to haul in a pass.
If Colorado hopes to continue its winning ways, it has a few areas for improvement. Its defense gave up over 500 yards. Oregon defenders broke Colorado’s first tackle on several occasions, leading to easily preventable extra yards.
Lindsay also saw a lack of touches in the second half. Over the course of a football game, rotating in new running backs could be beneficial. But, outside of Montez, the running game stagnated.
Colorado will take on Oregon State in Boulder. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 1 at 12:30 p.m. (MST).
Contact CU Independent Copy Editor Jake Mauff at jacob.mauff@colorado.edu.
