Julian Lewis had a career day and set a Colorado football record on Saturday.
After a rough Week 1 throwing the football, the Buffs‘ young quarterback played his best game in the black and gold. It wasn’t perfect, but it was the kind of home opener Colorado football fans were looking for.
Here are three takeaways from the Buffs’ (2-0) 52-21 win over Weber State (1-2).
Julian Lewis sets career high
On Colorado’s first offensive play of the game, Julian Lewis delivered a 66-yard TD to DeAndre Moore Jr. Less than three minutes of game time later, the second-year QB found Joseph Williams for a 63-yard score.
The Buffs’ game plan was clearly to work out some of the kinks in their passing game. The plan worked.
Lewis threw a 48-yard TD to Ernest Campbell later in the first quarter and set a Colorado football record in the process.
Julian Lewis’ 211 passing yards in the first quarter are the most in a quarter in program history. He ended the first half completing 83% of his passes (15-of-18) for 331 yards (a career high) and four passing TDs. His first career rushing TD also came just before halftime to give the Buffs a 42-14 lead.
Halfway through the third quarter, backup QB Kaneal Sweetwyne entered the game in relief of Julian Lewis.
Julian Lewis finished the game completing 74% of his passes (17-of-23) for 366 yards (career high) and five total TDs (four passing, one rushing). For just his fourth career start, Colorado’s QB1 looked like one of the Big 12’s best.
Micah Welch makes history of his own
Something happened on Saturday that hasn’t happened during any other game of the Coach Prime era at Colorado.
Micah Welch is the first Buff to rush for 100-plus yards in a game since Deion Sanders arrived in Boulder. The junior RB rushed for a 55-yard TD on the first play of the second quarter and finished the game with 106 yards on just 11 carries (9.6 yards per attempt).
Welch has now looked impressive in back-to-back games and appears to be Colorado’s RB1 through two weeks.
Weakness of Colorado defense emerges
Colorado’s pass defense wasn’t tested much in Week 1. It was on Saturday and some concerning trends popped up.
Weber State freshman QB Nate Dahle had 177 passing yards and two TDs in the first half.
Makari Vickers got the nod at nickel/slot cornerback and for the second consecutive week, he struggled. Weber State targeted him early and often in the passing game, causing the Buffs to make personnel adjustments.
After Vickers gave up another chunk completion, Colorado moved Boo Carter to slot/nickel and put Jason Stokes Jr. in at cornerback opposite of Cree Thomas.
Stokes Jr. (Utah transfer) played just three snaps in the season opener but had three PBUs and looked comfortable on Saturday. He could be a consistent part of the Buffs’ defense moving forward.
Colorado safety Randon Fontenette got his first interception as a Buff and the team’s first of the season. Jah Jah Boyd had a team-high eight tackles and Naeten Mitchell led Colorado with five solo tackles.
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