Four takeaways from the Buffs' 35-31 loss to USC

BOULDER — The Colorado Buffaloes lost 35-31 to the University of Southern California Trojans Friday night in Boulder. It was Colorado’s third loss in a row but there are more silver linings to this one than the previous two.

The Buffs hung with one of the most talented squads in the Pac-12 until the final minute of the game, and actually led most of the way. Beating the spread by a touchdown doesn’t count toward bowl eligibility, but it’s something.

Here’s what we learned on Friday:

There were too many missed opportunities

Let’s get the dissapointment out of the way early.

Colorado stuck with a more talented opponent for 59 minutes because it took advantage of its opportunities. When the defense knocked the USC offense backward, it found a way to get off the field. When the Trojans only placed one defensive back on Laviska Shenault, the Colorado offense took advantage.

There were sacks, pass breakups, tackles for loss, broken tackles and plenty of other plays made when the proper situation presented itself. But against a team like USC, you can’t let a single one go to waste.

Colorado wasted a few.

Mikial Onu knocked the ball out of USC quarterback Kedon Slovis’ arms a yard away from the end zone. None of the Buffs could fall on the ball and USC scored a touchdown a few plays later. Jamar Montgomery also forced a fumble with a strip-sack, but again, Colorado couldn’t recover.

Nu’umotu Falo Jr. had a potential interception bounce off his hands.

The Buffs’ offense couldn’t score a touchdown on its first drive of the game in a goal-to-go situation.

Laviska Shenault lined up twice in the wildcat formation just a few yards from the goal line, but both times the offense was pushed back by a false start and had to go back to a traditional play-call. Those were just two of the 13 penalties called on the Buffs, which totaled 109 yards.

Clean up just one of these situations and Colorado probably comes away with a win.

“Every 100 yards is a TD,” head coach Mel Tucker said after the game. “When we don’t turn the ball over and get takeaways, we always have a chance to win. That was the case. We have to be more disciplined. We have to take less penalties and do our jobs a lot better.

Steven Montez was good enough

The Buffs’ senior quarterback is back in his rhythm.

“I thought (quarterback Steven Montez) had a strong performance tonight,” Buffs head coach Mel Tucker said after the game. “It is not the first time he has played like that this year. He has played a lot of good football for us. We had a tough stretch but, like I’ve said before, I feel like he is a good player.”

For most of three quarters, Montez played about as well as he could have. But, just before the end of the third quarter, Montez took a late hit on the sideline that wasn’t called and left the game. He only missed one offensive snap but things got ugly when he returned.

“I don’t really remember the play too much,” Montez said. “I went and kind of rolled and then I remember kind of just being tackled going down. And then I just kind of remember people standing around me, but I went to go get checked out in the training room. And I like passed the concussion protocol test and they’re just like, alright, you’re good, if it gets any worse let us know and we’ll check you again but I was just like, I have to get back out there. This is crunch time right here. I can’t be sitting in the training room. So I tried to finish the game.”

Through three quarters, Montez completed 23 of 32 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns. After returning from the locker room for the fourth quarter, he completed 4 of 11 for 40 yards.

Despite the disappointing finish, it’s hard not to see Montez’s day as a massive step in the right direction. He kept the offense on schedule for most of the game and made a few beautiful throws including a back-shoulder dime to Tony Brown for 19 yards.

At the very least, it’s positive momentum to build off of moving forward.

Laviska Shenault is back

Laviska Shenault put together his best game of the season on Friday.

Pitted against one of the best receiving corps in the country, Shenault made it clear he was the most talented pass-catcher on the field. Shenault’s highlight was a 71-yard catch-and-run touchdown on a slant route to beat single coverage, but there was plenty more to like.

He caught nine passes for 172 yards and also ran the ball once out of the wildcat, picking up 17 yards.

“He is an outstanding player,” Mel Tucker said after the game. “He can make some plays. We worked to get him the ball the best we could. He will continue to make plays for us.”

The primary reasons for Shenault’s slow start to the season have been injuries. At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, there isn’t much defenders can do to stop him other than try to beat him up. On the same play quarterback Steven Montez was hurt, Shenault was virtually tackled by an opposing cornerback.

“I have to give him credit,” Tucker said. “He has fought through some injuries. He has done a really good job trying to get back. He is getting healthier and healthier as we go.”

Wide receiver KD Nixon also played well on Friday, catching two touchdown passes on drag routes. He caught three balls for 30 yards.

KJ Trujillo was incredible

KJ Trujillo wasn’t supposed to play this season.

The true freshman cornerback is listed at 6-foot, 165 pounds and either of those numbers could be generous.

But following season-ending injuries to Mekhi Blackmon and Chris Miller, Trujillo was thrust into the starting lineup.

In his first game, he was picked on. Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon targeted the 18-year-old whenever possible and found success. Against USC, Trujillo broke out.

“I have to go against K.D. (Nixon), Laviska (Shenault), Tony Brown, all the receivers that we’ve got have been preparing as well,” Trujillo said. “So when we do get the chance, we’re prepared. We’re prepared and we’re ready to get in there.”

Not only did the freshman notch his first career interception and sack on Friday, neither of the plays was a fluke. Trujillo was consistently in the right position to make a play and took advantage often. He broke up two passes, more than any other player who took the field.

“The biggest thing with KJ is he is a very mature guy,” senior safety Mikial Onu said after the game. “He is one of the most mature 18-year-olds I have ever seen. He is much more mature than I was at his age.”

There were some flaws in Trujillo’s game; he got beat across the middle on a third-down pass and he got beat on a deep ball that resulted in a touchdown.

On both of those plays, though, Trujillo was in position to make a play but just couldn’t quite knock the ball away. Luckily, he still has three years to clean up the technique.

“For a young guy coming out like that, he had a really impressive game,” Onu said. “It is just the beginning for him. He has a really bright future. He knows that.”