Quickly Colorado's 339 yards at halftime topped the number the Buffs had in seven games in 2006; it was the most yards in a half since the Buffs had 388 at halftime in a 41-20 win over Texas A&M in Boulder on Oct. 8, 2005. The Buffs had 481 after three quarters... This was the first five-plus touchdown game by the Buffs in the Dan Hawkins Era, and just the second 4-TD game (CU scored four against Baylor last season)... Colorado had 359 rushing yards in the game, the first time it topped 300 yards on the ground since going for 331 against Iowa State in Boulder on Nov. 16, 2002 (a 41-27 win) and its most since 372 at Missouri the week before (Nov. 9, 2002, a 42-35 overtime win)... Colorado's 634 yards on offense tied for its 11th most in its history, the highest team total since setting the school record with 767 against San Jose State in 1999... CU has played only one other Mid-American Conference team, that being 30 years ago almost to the day (Sept. 17, 1977 against Kent State in Boulder)?both games ended with the same final score (42-0)... Colorado ran 83 plays in the game, 15 for zero yardage (11 incompletions) and four for negative yards (including the last two plays of the game on kneeldowns)... CU's 33 first downs tied for the eighth most in its history, the most since 34 against NMSU in 2005 (its 40:24 in possession time was the first 40-plus minute effort since 40:14 in that same game against the Aggies); 12 different Buffs earned first downs... Colorado scored in its 226th consecutive game, adding to the fifth longest active streak in the nation; CU extended it in the first quarter for the 158th time in the run, as opposed to last week, when the streak was extended with just 3:39 to play in the 16-6 loss to Florida State... This was the second shutout in Dan Hawkins' I-A career, going with a 62-0 win over Idaho State in his 2003 season opener while at Boise State; he is now 57-8 when his teams score 20 or more points.
LONG MARCH Colorado's first scoring drive took 16 plays and consumed 7:48; both season highs for plays and time in a scoring drive. It's the longest time-wise since a 15-play, 75-yard drive that took 7:51 against Iowa State last year; it's the most plays since a 17-play drive (55 yards, 7:55) against Kansas in 2004.
FIRST ACTION Three true freshmen saw action in the first half, two when a pair of offensive line starters were sidelined with mild injuries: OL Kai Maiava and OG Ryan Miller. Maiava subbed for RG Devin Head, but played right guard, while Miller came in for RT Edwin Harrison. OLB Nate Vaiomounga later appeared on special teams (kickoff coverage), as did sophomore S Bret Smith. DE Chris Perri also saw his first action (playing in both halves). C Keenan Stevens and WR Steve Melton got their first CU snaps in the fourth quarter.
200/200 Colorado topped 200 yards in both rushing (359) and passing (275) for the first time since the Iowa State game last season. CU is now 33-2 since 1989 when hitting 200 in both: Colorado has accomplished the 200 double 33 times in its last 175 games, after doing so just 19 times in the first 929 games in its history.
139/360 Colorado's defense posted its first shutout since a 34-0 win at Oklahoma State on Oct. 1, 2005; the Buffs (the real Blackshirts in this conference, mind you) limited Miami to 139 yards of total offense, the first opponent not to attain 200 since New Mexico State on Sept. 10, 2005 (181) and the lowest by an opponent since Baylor mustered just 114 yards on Nov. 13, 1999 (a 37-0 CU win in Waco). The Buff defense has now allowed just 360 yards the last two games, it lowest 2-game count since 1999 (311; Kansas State 197, Baylor 114).
Third Down Defense. Miami was 3-of-14 on third down tries, thus when combined with Florida State's 1-of-13 last week means the CU defense has held the foe to just 4-of-27 over the last two games. That's a far cry from the 11-of-19 by Colorado State in the opener.
TB HUGH CHARLES. CU's senior tailback had the sixth 100-yard rushing game of his career (17-123- 1 TD), his first since going for 119 against Texas Tech last year. He has 1,802 career yards, still 21st all-time at CU but sneaking up to Byron White's 1,864 figure.
TE PATRICK DEVENNY. Playing in his first game of the season while CU decided to rest TE Riar Geer (knee), Devenny, a sophomore who also has seen time as a backup and scout team quarterback, had quite the first career reception, as it went for a touchdown.
OTHER FIRSTS. QB Cody Hawkins scored his first career touchdown... TE Nate Solder had his first career receptions (finished 3-50)... WR Kendrick Celestine had his first career catch, setting up a touchdown.
MIAMI POSTGAME NOTES
September 22, 2007
Junior linebacker Joey Hudson intercepted a Colorado pass at the 2:25 mark of the second quarter and returned it 13 yards to the Miami 33. It is Hudson's first interception this season and the sixth of his career. Sophomore cornerback Jeff Thompson intercepted a ball at the 21-yeardline of the Buffaloes at 5:50 in the third quarter. It was Thompson's second interception of the season and his career with the first coming at Minnesota. The interceptions were just Miami's second and third this season.
Senior cornerback Jerrid Gaines recovered a fumble on the Miami four-yard line and returned it two yards before fumbling it out of bounds with 9:55 left in the third quarter. It is just the second fumble recovery for the RedHawks this season and Gaines' second of his career. His previous fumble recovery was on special teams against Marshall during his freshman season in 2003.
On back-to-back plays junior tight end Pat Shepard caught his first pass of the season and senior running back Cory Jones caught the first pass of his career.
The last time Miami was shutout was on Nov. 6, 1993 at Ball State, 21-0. The last time Miami surrendered over 600 yards of total offense was at Cincinnati on Sept. 13, 1986 (647 yards).
Redshirt freshman wide receiver Eugene Harris and redshirt freshman nose tackle Alex Stewart made their first career starts, while junior guard Josh Satterthwait made his first start of the season.
True freshmen linebacker Ryan Kennedy, linebacker David Davis and running back Thomas Merriweather saw the first game action of their careers.
In addition to captains Brandon Murphy, Mike Kokal and Joey Hudson, senior center Steve Meister served as game captain for the RedHawks.
