Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
Kansas State
BOWL ELIGIBLE BUFFS KEEP BIG 12 TITLE HOPES ALIVE WITH 38-31 THRILLER
November 13, 2004 | Football
BOULDER - Joel Klatt threw a 64-yard touchdown to Ron Monteilh with 5 seconds left Saturday to make Colorado bowl eligible with a crazy 38-31 victory over Kansas State.
In yet another unusual chapter to a most unusual season, Monteilh found himself inexplicably wide open against Kansas State's prevent defense. The senior made the catch, ran the final 20 yards for the score _ the first of his career _ and Colorado (6-4, 3-4 Big 12) had the winning points.
After Kansas State's last desperation play failed, fans rushed the field and toppled the goalposts: No, it wasn't an upset and nobody won a title on this day, but given what Colorado has been through this year, this was more than reason to celebrate.
The Buffaloes are almost surely bowl bound, and just as incredibly, CU still has a chance at the Big 12 title. The win kept the Buffs alive in the watered-down Big 12 North; with a win over Nebraska in two weeks and help, they would make the improbable trip to Kansas City on Dec. 4.
Big as Monteilh's catch was, it was only the second biggest 64-yard game-winner in CU's history. Ten years ago this season, Michael Westbrook made "The Catch' on the last play at Michigan for a 27-26 victory in September that catapulted the Buffs to an 11-1 season and a win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.
While the Buffaloes celebrated their big win, many of the Wildcats (4-6, 2-5) fell to the ground in despair. The loss ended Kansas State's postseason hopes and Bill Snyder's team will stay home during bowl season for the first time in 12 years.
The loss was even more crushing for the Wildcats because they rallied twice in the fourth quarter _ tying it after trailing 24-10, then again after falling behind 31-24. The game looked headed for overtime when Dylan Meier drove K-State 80 yards for a score with 36 seconds left.
A few moments later, however, Monteilh made the catch and the Buffaloes dogpiled him in the end zone.
The late score obscured a big game from Buffs tailback Bobby Purify, who finished with 155 yards and two scores. It could have been three: He was running in the open field for what looked like an 80-yard touchdown that would have put CU up 31-10. But he got tripped up by receiver Mike Duren, and the Buffs were forced to punt shortly after _ indeed, nothing has come easy for them this year.
Klatt finished with 184 yards and two touchdown passes.
Kansas State's Allen Webb had 140 yards passing and 103 rushing before giving way to Meier at the end.
The Wildcats will close the season next week at Iowa State, which is one of several games the Buffaloes will have an eye on. Iowa State and Nebraska came into the week with 3-3 conference records, leaders in the Big 12 North. Colorado and Missouri are also still alive for the title.
