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The Colorado Buffaloes are coming back to Boulder with a win following their triumph in Tucson. Four years later and no wins, the Buffs finally beat the Arizona Wildcats as their offense came alive to thrash a bewildered Cats’ D 49-24.
The Buffs held the momentum throughout a few Wildcats missed field goals kept Arizona from really competing. A few consecutive touchdowns from the Buffs offense in the second half sealed what was to be expected — a big Buffs win.
The Buffaloes got off to a fast start in Tucson forcing a punt on Arizona’s first drive. On the Buffs first touch, their once-cold offense started off hot. Sefo Liufau and Phil Lindsay led the Buffs 81 yards down the field on a 15 play drive. Capped by a Lindsay plunge and Davis Price PAT, CU was up 7-0 off the top.
Arizona would attempt to answer on the next drive getting deep into Buffs territory but missing a kick on the leg of Josh Pollack. On their next drive, however, they would answer the Buffs. Going 85 yards on eight plays, Arizona tied it at seven.
It wouldn’t last for long as Liufau found Shay Fields on a 50-yard connection and Lindsay punched a touchdown on the next play putting the Buffs back on top 14-7. And that really awoke the offense and that duo as next time down, following a Wildcats field goal, they found each other again.
Capping a seven play, 62-yard drive Sefo found Shay on beautiful end zone fade. The Buffs were up 21-10, right before half.
Arizona followed Colorado’s touchdown with a turnover but the Buffaloes were unable to take advantage, but their defense came through once more. Giving Colorado the ball with seconds left in the half Liufau tossed another pretty pass this one to Jay MacIntyre which went for 40 yards and more importantly six. The Buffs took an 18 point lead into the break.
Colorado’s first drive of the second half stalled but Arizona’s didn’t reach field goal range. Unfortunately for them, Pollack was having a rough night, as he missed his third field goal keeping Colorado ahead by three scores.
The Buffs all but iced on the next drive and it was guess who? Sefo to Shay for six. That one finished a seven play 73-yard drive and the highlight play was the two’s connection of 27 yards. The Buffs were then ahead 35-10 and they didn’t look back.
Colorado kept Arizona to a punt and the Buffaloes stayed hot. Roaming 52 yards on seven plays on the back of Lindsay the Buffs went ahead 42-10.
Even though it was late, Arizona woke up. Scoring back-to-back touchdowns with a pick of Liufau between the Cats cut it to 42-24. But it was to no avail as the Buffs would seal once again on the back of Lindsay, who notched third rushing touchdown of the night.
The Buffs improved to 2-0 in Gold Games and although their was much to be desired in their overall game Mike MacIntyre didn’t fret.
“I’ll never complain about a win, ever,” MacIntyre told KOA. “We do have to correct some things, though.”
If you’re looking for that improvement you’re probably in luck as the Buffs corrected a bunch of offensive issues coming into this week.
“The past couple of weeks teams were throwing a lot at us,” Alex Kelly said to KOA. “This week was no different. But we are more comfortable now, we’ve seen it we’re confident.”
“We practice hard,” Fields added to KOA. “Fast tempo but our mindset was different this week. We wanted to improve from our two bad games.”
And that improvement is what the team is still seeking.
“We’re nowhere near where we want to be, Lindsay touted to KOA. we got two big games coming up.”
Basically, the Buffs covered as 17 point road favorites in conniving fashion against a Pac-12 South rival, and nobody was satisfied. This team, the one that just killed the Cats in Tucson, they’re the odds-on favorite to be visiting Santa in December, Santa Clara that is.
