Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Colorado State
Buffaloes Blow By Rams, 41-14
September 01, 2001 | Football
DENVER - Defensive backs Donald Strickland and Michael Lewis returned interceptions for touchdowns, and Colorado avenged two straight losses to Colorado State with a 41-14 victory over the 24th-ranked Rams on Saturday.
In a dominating performance, the Buffaloes (1-1) outgained the Rams (0-1) 410-294.
Bobby Purify ran for 191 yards and Chris Brown added 121 for Colorado, which finished with 315 yards rushing. Brown scored twice on 1-yard runs, and Purify had an 18-yard TD run. Craig Ochs completed 15 of 18 passes for 95 yards.
Colorado overcame a trying week during which the players and coaches were widely criticized for their performances in a season-opening 24-22 loss to Fresno State and running back Marcus Houston complained of disparaging remarks made by an athletic department official.
The developments proved not to be a distraction, as Strickland returned his interception less than a minute into the game and Purify added a scoring run for a 14-0 lead.
Sophomore D.J. Busch, starting his first game for Colorado State, threw a 3-yard scoring pass to freshman tight end Joel Dreessen later in the quarter to make it 14-7, but the Rams got no closer, being outscored 27-7 the remainder of the game.
Ochs completed 10-of-12 passes in the first half as Colorado took a 17-7 lead.
Strickland intercepted Busch's underthrown pass and returned it 31 yards with 14:04 left in the opening period.
The Buffaloes went up 14-0 midway through the period with a 75-yard drive, capped by Purify's 18-yard run when he darted up the middle and then cut to the left sideline.
The Buffs were penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration on the extra point, but Jeremy Flores kicked the long PAT.
Later in the quarter, a Colorado gamble failed. On a fake punt from the Colorado 34, Scott Nemeth took the short snap and threw incomplete. The Rams capitalized, scoring four plays later.
Henri Childs broke off a 16-yard run, and Busch hit Dreessen with 3:13 left in the quarter.
Colorado marched 79 yards for Flores' 21-yard field goal, accounting for the only scoring in the second quarter. Ochs completed third-down passes of 11 yards to Cedric Cormier and Daniel Graham, and Purify had runs of 13 and 15 yards.
CSU crossed midfield on both of its possessions in the period, but a sack and a false-start penalty stymied both drives.
Midway through the third period, Busch, being dragged down by linebacker Sean Tufts, threw another interception, and Lewis returned it 41 yards for a 24-7 lead. Flores kicked another long PAT after a second excessive-celebration penalty.
Brown ran for 35 yards and Purify for 28 to set up Brown's 1-yard scoring run late in the quarter.
Bradlee Van Pelt, replacing Busch, drove the Rams for their only other score, throwing a 7-yard TD pass to Childs early in the final period.
After a Colorado field goal, Lewis' second interception set up Brown's second TD.
