Colorado University Athletics
Olugbode Celebrates Birthday With Interception, TD
September 19, 2015 | Football
DENVER — Kenneth Olugbode got the best present of his 20th birthday with 8:50 left in the fourth quarter of Colorado's 27-24 win over Colorado State on Saturday.
It was a football, gift-wrapped and knocked airborne by fellow linebacker Rick Gamboa, and it hung endlessly in the air before it tumbled into Olugbode's arms and he returned the first interception of his career 60 yards for a touchdown.
Olugbode's pick six was a gamebreaker, a tidal shift, a defensive validation. It snuffed out a promising CSU drive and gave the Buffs their biggest lead of the game, 24-17. It showed Colorado's ability to adjust defensively and to correct mistakes on the fly. It also made him the 15th player since 1992 to return their first interception for six.
"Me and Rick had been talking prior to the snap," Olugbode said. "They kept getting us on screens, so we figured, see the screen, and right when he broke, Rick took off, hit him, and the ball went up in the air and I said, 'I gotta have it.'"
The play was a happy confluence of scheme and chance. Scheme, because Colorado changed its coverage on screen passes after CSU running back Dalyn Dawkins burned the Buffs' man defense in the first half.
"Our kids had seen it a couple times and now they were able to react to it," Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre said. "They had been throwing screens on that down and distance so we held up a screen card over there and our defensive linemen saw it and I think that really helped them too."
Chance came in the form of Gamboa, who probably wouldn't have been on the field if not for an injury to usual starter Addison Gillam. Gamboa saw the screen from the snap. He tracked Dawkins and broke on him when CSU quarterback Nick Stevens made his throw. He pummeled Dawkins as soon as the ball got there, and it popped off of Dawkins' chest and into Olugbode's arms.
Dawkins thought Gamboa hit him early, but there was no flag, and once Olugbode caught the ball, there was no doubt. He streaked down the sideline with defensive back Chidobe Awuzie on his hip to fend off would-be tacklers.
"I was blocking for my brother," Awuzie said. "It's a perfect birthday present, getting a pick six. I just laid out. He ended up scoring. It was a beautiful play and a beautiful moment and a beautiful day."
Olugbode's day ended in celebration with his mom, brother and sister. He left the postgame press conference smiling ear-to-ear — he was jubilant, victorious, and most importantly, 20.
Yes, Kenneth Olugbode can run this fast. And yes, it is his birthday. #GoBuffs https://t.co/bTUCzPerSY
— Colorado Buffaloes (@cubuffs) September 20, 2015
Happy Birthday, @KOlugbode Go ahead, jump around a little bit! #GoBuffs pic.twitter.com/mmVgSEU8tl
— Colorado Football (@RunRalphieRun) September 20, 2015
