Colorado Reinforces Proverb: Defense wins championships

BOULDER – Mike MacIntyre, like many coaches, stresses ‘defense wins championships.’ On Saturday night, the Colorado Buffaloes defense did just that. In an effort that will be marked in annals of Colorado Football history, the team held Utah to 22 points in an effort that clinched the Pac-12 South.

The numbers that back how legendary this defense has been are ridiculous, what is more, impressive is how clutch they’ve been. All throughout the year they’ve embraced a mindset of “bend, don’t break.” Whether it was Ahkello Witherspoon making a timely interception or Jimmie Gilbert with an opportune sack the defense has gone from great to impenetrable when needed most.

They came into Saturday night with only 22 touchdowns allowed, six at home — They left with only 23 touchdowns allowed all year with seven coming at home. The Buffs defense which had already been historically good, grew to myth as CU won their division for the first time since 2005.

As the game played out, Colorado forced four turnovers, making their season total 24. This means Colorado’s defense finished the regular season forcing one more turnover than they allowed touchdowns. Words can’t do justice how clutch Colorado’s defense has been this year.

“They’re good,” MacIntyre said pointedly of his defensive play. “We’re a good defense.”

The foundation for the Buffs defense to be opportunistic and force turnovers is by first forcing the opposing offense into a tough spot. A key example of this was the play that ended the first half which led to a heave from Tory Willams resulting in Tedric Thompson’s first interception of the day.

“We did an excellent job of taking care of the run,” MacIntyre described after the game. “Which is what we knew we needed to do. We felt like our corners could lock up on their guys the majority of the game, which they did. We knew they’d make some plays. That was our plan. We had everybody up in there. The front line did an excellent job of being stout and our linebackers tackled well, our safeties tackled well. That was the key and that’s what helped us be able to keep them out of the end zone. I don’t know how many times Joe [Williams] ran the ball, but he didn’t really break out. He had one that was maybe a 15-yarder or so. He’s been breaking them and taking off. Our front seven was the key in the game along with the corners playing, because we had them on an island. So many plays out there they were one-on-one. That’s why corners are so precious.”

The Thompson pick set the table of what was to come in the second half. Already having keeping their turnover streak alive, now at 25 straight games, the Buffs were not satisfied.

Coming back after the break with a stagnant offense it was clear that the defense would not only have to defend but at least set the table for the offense.

Utah kicked a field goal to cut Colorado’s lead to start the second half. Colorado, who should have been up 14 at the half but offensive miscues cost them, now only led by three. The Utes began to drive again, going 64 yards in five plays. A big throw from Troy Willams to Tim Patrick finally stretched out Colorado’s secondary.

But just as it looked as though the Buffaloes secondary could be battered being backed up to their own two-yard line, they made a play. Joe Willams chugged his legs, picking up a first down but once he reached the marker with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter, Ryan Moeller knocked the ball out. Chidobe Awuzie landed on and the Buffs dogged a bullet.

“They’ve made a big difference in that. We’ve always done the same exact drills. Our kids are bigger, stronger, faster and more powerful,” MacIntyre told of the ability to force fumbles. “When you hit them a little harder, the ball bounces out. When you’re a little bit stronger, you can hold them up and pull the ball out. All those types of things have helped tremendously too. We play aggressively. They do an incredible job with that. Jim and Joe have done a really good job.”

But a blunder themselves while driving gifted the ball right back to the Utes in stellar field position. The defense held the Utes to a field goal.

With the score tied a 13, the offense finally awoke with an eight play, 75-yard drive. But Colorado’s kick coverage let the team down once again. Early in the contest, they surrender a touchdown to Boobie Hobbs. To start the fourth quarter, Kyle Fulks took a return 93 yards. Lucky the Buffs had Awuzie catch up to Fulks and take him down three yards shy of the goal line. Somehow, someway Colorado’s defense didn’t just hold Utah, they pushed them back two yards in forcing their field goal.

“They took the kickoff return and the guy hit it up in there,” MacIntyre entailed. “It looked like we got knocked out and a guy missed a tackle. Great job by Chido [Awuzie] running him down. They got three points. That was huge at the time. He could have not given that effort. I think that’s a prime example of a senior giving everything he’s got and barely knocked his foot out of bounds. I thought that was a big momentum play when we stopped them right there.”

The teams proceed to trade punts with Colorado coming out on top in the field position battle but the game remained in the balance with only four points separating the two Pac-12 foes. That’s when the Buffaloes defense decided they’d steal South themselves.

With Utah backed up on their own 13, they started their drive with 11:05 left on the game clock they handed the ball off to Willams. Rick Gamboa forced the ball out. Kenneth Olugbode scooped it, ran 10 yards and scored. The Buffs led by 11.

“They had some very key turnovers for us,” MacIntyre declared. “Ryan Moeller had one forced a fumble and Kenneth Olugbode took the other forced fumble in. The front seven did a helluva job keeping that running back in check who’s been doing well all season. The secondary, those DBs back there, I’ve been going against them for four years now and to see how tight it is back there, you have to make some good throws and having great timing with your receivers. They’ve been working hard all year. It’s a testament to how they’re working. They deserve a lot of the credit tonight because they played very well.”

Utah needed points quick, two plays into their next drive they faced a 3rd-and-long. Williams tried to find Patrick in one on one coverage but the safety over the top Thompson came from nowhere and snatched it in mid-air. 11 points and a mountain range separated the two teams.
“I think you have to give a lot of credit to our coaching staff,” Thompson touted. “Coach Leavitt and Coach Tumpkin came here and pretty much turned it around. We weren’t getting that many turnovers before. Coach Leavitt has been stressing that since he’s gotten here. It’s hard to create turnovers but if we do create them we give the ball back to Sefo and the offense and they’ll make something happen. Each and every game we try to go in there and create as many turnovers as we can.”

Utah eventually scored a touchdown late but Colorado’s defense made sure the Utes would waste a lot of time while driving.

“Our defense is all about senior leadership – and we are a tight brotherhood,” Jordan Carrell said. “We all have each other’s backs on and off the field. We trust each other. We know that defense wins championships and that this was going to be a defensive battle. The best defense was going to win today and that is what we did.”

Three wins would separate Colorado and Utah in the standings. Three wins garnered by the defense. Those generated wins, resulted in a Pac-12 South title, won on the back of the Buffaloes defense.