Colorado University Athletics
Colorado-Arizona Notes
November 12, 2011 | Football
QUICKLY Colorado ends a seven-game losing streak in recording its first win in the Pac-12; the victory avoided CU's first-ever year without a win at Folsom Field (CU was last winless at home in 1920 at Gamble Field, 0-1-2) ... It was CU's 297th win at Folsom all-time ... The wind, averaging 32 miles per hour gusting to 59 at kickoff, peaked at around 3:15 (just after halftime) at 45, gusting to 71 ... This was the first game CU did not trail in this year and the Buffs led for 55:56 ... CU now leads the series with Arizona 13-1 (5-1 in Boulder) ... Colorado's 500 yards were the second most in the series (to the 625 it had in a 65-12 win in Tucson in 1958); ASU's 412 were its second most (434 in 1986) ... CU's 48 points were its most since a 65-51 win over Nebraska on Nov. 23, 2007 ... The Buffs are now 24-8 in games in its history when they have a 100-yard rusher and receiver (Stewart 181 rush, Clemens 115 receiving) ... When Colorado took a 27-10 lead in the third quarter, it marked its largest lead at any point in any game 2011 ... On that 11 play drive, CU actually just gained 2 yards on four first down plays but converted all three third downs tries ... Colorado came into the game with four interceptions on the year, but made three today; the last time the Buffs had three pick in a game was in the 2010 season opener ... After allowing 200-plus rushing yards the last four games, CU limited Arizona to just 60 overall, an opponent season low and the fewest since Iowa State had minus-6 a year ago tomorrow ... CU's streaks came to and end of allowing over 30 points (seven straight games) and 40-plus (five) ... Also stopped was an opponent run of five straight games with 500 plus yards ... CU had 500 yards for the second time in 2011 (season-high was 582 versus California) ... Colorado now has at least one quarterback sack in 41 of the last 43 games ... In the NCAA Mountain Regional in cross country, CU's women's team tied for first with New Mexico and the men took second to automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships on Monday, Nov. 21.
RED ZONE BUFFS Colorado entered the game last in the nation in red zone offense (13 TDs/18 scores in 26 penetrations of the 20), but scored touchdowns all seven times today. In fact, the Buffs ran 16 red zone plays for 101 yards (6.3 per); coming in CU was averaging just 2.7 per for 72 red zone plays.
INDIVIDUAL LINER NOTES
CB Jason Espinoza made his second career interception, both coming in back-to-back games against future NFL quarterback (Matt Barkley, USC; Nick Foles; UA).
CB Greg Henderson made his first career interception.
DB Travis Sanderfeld made his third career interception.
PK Will Oliver (6-7 PAT, 6 points) set the school freshman record for the most points in a season with 57; he topped the previous mark of 52 by PK Mason Crosby in 2003. He made the first 22 PAT kicks of his career before the 50-plus mph winds helped push his second kick today wide left.
OG Blake Behrens, out for the season with shoulder and bicep injuries, did play in his first game since 2009: he appeared late on CU's last FG/PAT unit kick and also for the kneeldown for the game's final play.
DE Josh Hartigan recorded his 13th career quarterback sack, moving him into 17th all-time at Colorado.
TB RODNEY STEWART (24-181 RUSH, 2-23 RECEIVING) Those 204 yards from scrimmage propelled him into first all-time at Colorado with 4,409, shooting by his position coach, Eric Bieniemy (4,320, 1987-90) for CU's all-time record. He now has 3,486 rushing yards, second and still well behind EB's 3,940. He has 84 career receptions for 923 yards; he needs two catches to tie Lee Rouson for the most receptions by a running back and 77 yards to become the 27th player in NCAA history to record 3,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving. The 181 rushing yards today were the second most of his career (195 vs. Kansas State, 2010).
SPEEDY THE QB: Stewart is now 2-for-2 passing in his career; he had a 23-yard TD pass to Toney Clemons against Kansas State last year, and the 14-yard pass to Tyler Hansen today; that computes to a quarterback passer rating of 584.5.
WR TONEY CLEMONS (5-115-1 TD RECEIVING) He recorded his second career 100-yard game, both in succession (he had 5-112-2 TD vs. USC last week), and continued his hot run as in the last three games, he's caught 18 passes for 324 yards and four touchdowns.
QB TYLER HANSEN (26-16-1, 213, 2 TD; 10-50 RUSH) He inched closer to moving into fourth place in career passing yards (5,314; trails Koy Detmer, 5,390) and in total offense (5,789; trails Darian Hagan, 5,808). He is now third with 805 passing attempts and third with 467 completions, moving past Kordell Stewart in both today (786, 456); with 33 career TD passes, he tied Stewart and Mike Moschetti for fifth in CU annals.
COLORADO INJURIES Today's injury report: CB Parker Orms (hamstring, day-to-day); WR Paul Richardson (concussion, day-to-day); DE Chidera Uzo-Diribe (shoulder, probable). Older stuff: S Anthony Perkins (high ankle sprain, questionable for UCLA); S Kyle Washington (concussion, day-to-day); ILB Brady Daigh (wrist sprain, day-to-day); WR Logan Gray (ankle, day-to-day).