Colorado University Athletics
Colorado
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Kansas
COLORADO RALLIES TO KNOCK OFF KANSAS 30-21
November 06, 2004 | Football
LAWRENCE, Kan. - Stephone Robinson scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 48-yard punt return and Lawrence Vickers added a late score to seal it, leading Colorado to a 30-21 victory over Kansas on Saturday.
The Buffaloes (5-4, 2-4 Big 12) trailed 14-0 before they ran their second play. But the Jayhawks (3-6, 1-5) were forced into playing their third-team quarterback when backup starter Jason Swanson was injured in the first quarter and couldn't hold the lead.
Cornerback Charles Gordon had two interceptions and a fumble recovery for the Jayhawks, who have lost to Colorado four years in a row and five of the last six.
Things looked good early for the Jayhawks. After John Randle capped an 8-play, 80-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run, Rodney Harris picked off Joel Klatt's first pass _ the first of three Colorado turnovers in the first half.
Set up on the Colorado 28, the Jayhawks needed just three plays to go ahead 14-0. Mark Simmons picked up 19 yards on a reverse, and one play later Randle darted in from the 1.
A few minutes later, Swanson left with an undisclosed injury and in came walk-on John Nielsen.
The little-used senior's first play from scrimmage ended horribly. Nielsen tossed a shovel pass to Randle, who ran 10 yards and fumbled. It bounced off the artificial turf right into the hands of safety Dominique Brooks, who ricocheted off a couple off tacklers, got a couple of good blocks and went 41 yards for Colorado's first touchdown.
Mason Crosby's 19-yard field goal early in the second quarter made it 14-10 at the break.
The Buffaloes, trying to stay alive in the wacky Big 12 North race, drove 80 yards with their first possession of the second half and took a 17-14 lead on Klatt's 4-yard touchdown pass to Joe Klopfenstein. Vickers got the drive going with a 34-yard reception.
The Jayhawks came right back, with Nielsen throwing the first touchdown pass of his career, a 19-yard catch-and-run to Brandon Rideau for a 21-17 lead.
After John Thorp's 61-yard punt pinned Kansas back at its own 1, the Jayhawks punted back to Colorado and Robinson took it on the Kansas 48.
He went right, dodged a tackler and tightroped down the East sideline for a touchdown that gave Colorado a 24-21 lead with 12 seconds left in the third.
Vickers' 4-yard run put the Buffs on top 30-21 with 3:27 left.
Kansas drove back down the field but Terrence Wheatley intercepted Nielsen's pass in the end zone and Colorado took possession with 57 seconds to go.
Nielsen finished 21-of-31 for 183 yards, while Klatt was 18-for-31 for 153 yards.
