Utah

22

Folsom Field • November 26, 2016 • 5:30 p.m. MT

Links: Watch On FOX | Listen On News Radio 850 | Live Stats

Colorado

27

Pregame

With nine wins, the Buffs have their most victories since a 9-5 finish in 2002 and the 14th nine-win season in CU history. A win today vs. Utah would give Buffs a 10-2 record. It would be CU's seventh 10-win season in history and the first since 2001. Colorado still has a chance to record the first 12-win season in Buffs history.
Running back Phillip Lindsay enters the game with four 100-yard games in CU's last five contests (686 overall). Lindsay has scored 96 points this year and is aiming to become the seventh player in school history to score 100 points in a season.
Saturday marked the final football gae for CU's John Templeton, who will retire at the end of the year as CU's longtime audio-visual specialist. He has worked an estimated 1,800 CU athletic events, as well as a long list of concerts and other special events.
Tonight's game will re-air on FS1 Monday morning at 6:30 a.m. as well on Root Sports on Monday at 5 p.m. and Tuesday at 8 p.m.
Buffs won toss for 11th time in 12 games this year; deferred and kicked off to defend north goal

FIRST QUARTER
— The Buffs forced a quick three-and-out from the Utes, forcing an incompletion and getting a sack of Troy Williams by Chidobe Awuzie on third down. But after the ensuing punt, Buffs quarterback Sefo Liufau fumbled after CU gained one first down, handing the ball back to the Utes on the CU 40-yard line.
— After the fumble, Colorado's defense forced a second-straight three-and-out to force a Utah punt. The Utes downed the ball at the CU 5, where Colorado started its second possession of the night.

— Colorado once again was unable to move the ball and punted. Utah's Boobie Hobbs field a low Alex Kinney punt and returned it 55 yards to the end zone to give the Utes a 7-0 lead with 9:17 to go in the first quarter.

— Colorado took the ensuing kickoff but was again unable to move the ball and punted. Utah took over at its own 30 after a penalty on Utah on the kick. The Utes then drove to the CU 27 before the Buffs halted the drive, and Andy Phillips was wide right on a 45-yard field goal try to keep the score at 7-0 with 2:16 to go in the first quarter.

— The Buffs finally found some offense on their final possession of the first quarter. With Liufau completing two passes for 49 yards, including a 42-yard strike to Devin Ross, the Buffs moved 73 yards in seven plays for a touchdown. Liufau also ran three times for 19 yards on the drive, including the 2-yard touchdown run on the final play of the first quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

— Colorado's defense continued to hold the Utes in check, forcing Utah's third three-and-out of the night. The Utes punted and Colorado took possession at its own 24 with 13:58 to go in the second quarter.

— The Buffs then drove inside the Utah 10 before settling for a 25-yard Chris Graham field goal. CU converted three third downs on the drive, including a pair of Liufau passes, one to Shay Fields and another to Kabion Ento. But Liufau threw incomplete on third-and-goal from the 7, leading to Graham's field goal as CU took a 10-7 lead with 9:20 to go in the second quarter.

— The Buffs then came up with their biggest defensive stop of the night. After gaining nine yards on three plays, the Utes went for it on fourth-and-1 and the Buffs defense rose up to stuff Joe Williams for no gain. Colorado then took possession at the Utah 34-yard line.

— Colorado then drove inside the Utah 5, but again had to settle for a field goal after George Frazier dropped a pass in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 2. Graham's 19-yard field goal gave CU a 13-7 lead with 5:21 to go in the half. Liufau had 115 yards passing and 43 yards rushing at this point.

— Utah took the kickoff and drove into Colorado territory before a Jordan Carrell sack of Troy Williams set the Utes back on their own side of the field. Utah punted two plays later, but Colorado failed to move from its own 9-yard line and punted back to the Utes with just more than a minute on the clock.

— Utah gained just 6 yards on its next three plays, then attempted a Hail Mary to the end zone. CU's Tedric Thompson intercepted and returned it past midfield to end the half.

THIRD QUARTER

— Colorado took the opening kickoff but went nowhere in three plays and punted. The Utes then drove to Colorado's 2-yard line, getting a 30-yard completion to drive inside the 10. The Buffs' defense then held, however, and the Utes settled for a 22-yard Phillips field goal and Colorado's lead was cut in half, 13-10.

— Colorado then failed to move with the ensuing kickoff and punted. Utah then drove to CU's 14-yard line before a Ryan Moeller hit on Joe Williams forced a fumble and CU's Chidobe Awuzie recovered. Colorado then drove to the CU 40 before a Liufau fumble gave the ball back to the Utes.

— Utah then drove 46 yards before settling for another field goal, a 22-yarder to tie the game. The big play was a 41-yard run by Cory Butler Byrd as Utah tied the game at 13-13 with 2:58 to go in the third quarter.

— Colorado took the ensuing kickoff and regained the lead. Liufau led the Buffs on an eight-play, 75-yard scoring march, capping the drive with a 6-yard scoring toss to Shay Fields. The drive was kept alive by a pass interference penalty on Utah. On the next play after the penalty, Liufau threw for 37 yards to Jay MacIntyre. Two plays later, Liufau connected with Fields to give CU a 20-13 lead on the last play of the third quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER
— The Utes wasted no time in scoring, but had to settle for a field goal. Kyle Fulks returned the ensuing kickoff 93 yards before being pushed out of bounds by Awuzie. CU then held and forced Utah to settle for a 23-yard field goal and CU held on to a 20-16 lead.

—Both teams then traded punts, with Colorado getting possession on Utah's kick at its own 39. Colorado once again couldn't advance and punted back to the Utes, with Utah getting the ball at its own 13.

— Colorado's defense then delivered another huge play. On Utah's first play from scrimmage following the punt, Rick Gamboa hit Joe Williams to force a fumble. CU's Kenneth Olugbode picked it up and returned it 10 yards for a touchdown. Price's PAT gave CU a 27-16 lead with 10:56 to go in the game.

— On Utah's next possession, CU's Tedric Thompson intercepted Troy Williams to give the Buffs the ball. CU couldn't move, however, and punted back to the Utes. Utah took the ball at its own 25 with 8:36 to go and the Buffs still leading, 27-16.

— Utah failed to move the ball and punted to Colorado. The Buffs moved to their own 47 before stalling and punted back to the Utes, who took possession at their own 20 with 3:53 to go in the game and the Buffs still leading by 11, 27-16.

— Utah then drove into CU territory in the final minutes and scored on a Troy Williams to Demari Simpkins 7-yard pass. The Utes went for a 2-point conversion, but Williams threw incomplete to make the score 27-22 with 1:34 to go in the game.

Live Updates: Colorado vs. Utah

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Players Mentioned

Chidobe Awuzie

Jordan Carrell

Kabion Ento

Shay Fields

George Frazier

Rick Gamboa

Chris Graham

Alex Kinney

Phillip Lindsay

Sefo Liufau

Jay MacIntyre

Ryan Moeller

Kenneth Olugbode

Devin Ross

Tedric Thompson

Colorado University Athletics