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Hard Fought Game!


The Buffs lost a hard-fought game against Kansas State 31-28. Though the result was not what the people of Boulder wanted, it’s hard not to be proud of this team's fight.


Kansas State was the better between when it came to controlling the line of scrimmage. Kansas rushed for 185 yards while Boulder had -29 yards. As a result, Kansas won the time of possession 35 minutes to 25 minutes. DJ Giddens gashed CU’s run defense all game as he ran for 182 yards on 25 carries. It seemed like he picked up 6-7 yards in every run and kept the offense in manageable second and third-down situations. This game reminded me that, though CU has had a good season, they still lack the personnel and execution to consistently go back and forth with a good team like Kansas State. But even though they lack the tangibles to compete with the upper teams, the intangibles are evident, and the fight in this team is admirable.


The game started with CU scoring on the second drive as they took a 7-0 lead. But then Kansas started running the ball consistently and took a 14-7 lead to end the first half. They then started the second half with the ball and scored to make it 21-7, and CU quickly needed a response. They did just that as Sanders found Sheppard in the endzone to make it 21-14. Kansas went down and made it 24-14. Then came the 4th quarter, as it was Colorado ball facing a 3rd and 13. The Buffs converted and, a few plays later, found themselves deep in Kansas territory. Unfortunately, Sanders then threw an interception that seemed like a game-ender as Colorado was poised to make the game a one-possession game. But to our defense's credit, they forced Kansas State into a three-and-out, which was extremely crucial at that point in the game. CU would take advantage and score in their next possession, making it 21-24. Then came the biggest drive of the game at the time for the Boulder defense. With 4 min to go, the defense needed to hold them to at most a field goal.



Kansas State moved the ball with decent success and found themselves at CU’s 31-yard line, facing a 4th and 6. Then came the play that had the stadium in pandemonium. Kansas decided to go for it instead of kicking the field goal to go up six, and it proved to be a costly decision as Colton Hood for the Buffs made a great play on the ball and intercepted and took it back deep into Kansas territory. Boulder, after a few plays, would punch it in, took the lead 28-24, and had come back from their 21-7 deficit. Unfortunately, Kansas State quickly responded and took the lead the very next drive, going up 31-28. CU was unable to answer with 2 minutes left, and that was a ball game.



It was tough to see the team lose after making such a great effort coming back, but when you step back and look at the game as a whole, you have to be happy with the fact that CU was able to stay competitive with the 18th ranked team in the nation and that was done without Travis Hunter as he was out after the first quarter.



Some takeaways:

  • Shedeur played a great game, throwing for 388 yards for 34/40 and 3 TDs, but he takes very dumb sacks that are absolute drive-killers. He did a good job digging them out of those holes, but he needs to understand when the play is dead and throw the incompletion

  • CU still needs more upgrades on the offensive and defensive lines, as they are unable to dictate the tempo of a game. The last two home games have been Boulder falling behind and relying on the heroics of the offense to get them back in the game

  • Every time this team plays, it feels like a movie



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