Buffs Lose Early Lead, Fall At No. 4 Michigan

Saturday, September 17

Ann Arbor, Mich.

1:30 PM

Colorado

2-1

Michigan

3-0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Colorado

Michigan

September 17, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Colorado twice held a 14-point lead in the first quarter, but special teams miscues and injuries took their toll, as fourth-ranked Michigan rallied for a 45-28 win at Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines turned one blocked punt into a touchdown and forced another bad punt that put Michigan in position for a second touchdown in the first half, and took a 24-21 lead into the locker room at intermission.

Colorado regained the lead on the first possession of the third quarter when Sefo Liufau tossed a 70-yard touchdown pass to Shay Fields, but Liufau (16-for-25, 245 yards, 3 touchdowns) left the game with an ankle injury after CU's next possession and the Buffs did not score again while Michigan answered with three more scores.

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Buffs jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead, scoring on their first offensive possession, then adding a defensive score less than a minute later.

After forcing Michigan to punt on its first possession, Colorado needed just three plays to go 49 yards for a touchdown. Liufau hit Jay MacIntyre with a 14-yard pass to start the drive, then connected with Devin Ross on a 37-yard scoring strike down the middle two plays later. Diego Gonzalez's extra point with 12:37 still to go in the first quarter gave the Buffs a 7-0 lead.

Colorado then extended the lead to 14-0 less than a minute later. With Michigan facing a third-and-7, CU defensive back Chidobe Awuzie came off the edge and sacked Michigan quarterback Wilton Speight, forcing a fumble. Colorado linebacker Derek McCartney scoopd up the loose ball and rumbled 18 yards for a touchdown and 14-0 lead.

Michigan, though, responded with a big play of its own. After stopping CU's offense in Colorado territory, UM's Michael Jocz blocked Alex Kinney's punt. Grant Perry then grabbed the ball at CU's 6-yard line and took it to the end zone as Michigan cut CU's lead to 14-7.

Colorado then bumped its edge back to 14 by driving 67 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown. Phillip Lindsay had a 10-yard run on the drive, Liufau hit Shay Fields for an 18-yard gain and Kabion Ento for 16 yards before finding Ross again on a fade route in the corner of the end zone. Gonzalez's PAT gave CU a 21-7 lead with 3:49 left in the first quarter.

The second period, however, was all Michigan. Gonzalez was wide right on a 36-yard field goal try and on CU's next possession, Kinney punted the ball into the backside of a CU player. It took Michigan just two plays to go 38 yards for the score, getting a 17-yard scoring run from Jehu Chesson to cut the Buffs' lead to 21-14.

Michigan then added a 39-yard field goal with 1:59 left in the half to pull within 21-17, but the Buffs failed to run out the clock after the ensuing kickoff. The Buffs had a first down nullified by a holding penalty and punted, and the Wolverines needed one play to take the lead when Amara Darboh ran 45 yards for a score, giving UM a 24-21 lead heading into the locker room at halftime.

The second half then produced more fireworks. The Buffs needed just three plays to score after the opening kickoff, getting a 70-yard touchdown throw from Liufau to Fields for a 28-24 lead. Liufau, though, was injured on the prior play and while he returned on CU's next series, it was his last series of the day.

The Wolverines quickly responded.. After a kick return by Jabrill Peppers past midfield, Michigan needed just two plays to reach the end zone, getting a 42-yard run from De'Veon Smith for a 31-28 lead, one the Wolverines never relinquished.

After one more series with Liufau at the helm, redshirt freshman quarterback Steven Montez took over for the Buffs at quarterback. The Buffs failed to move the ball and Michigan answered again, this time with an 80-yard drive, a march that included a third-and-14 conversion. Ty Isaac capped the drive with a 1-yard run and Michigan took a 38-28 lead with 3:06 to go in the third quarter.

TURNING POINT: After regaining momentum and a 21-7 lead, the Buffs' second special team miscue of the day cost them dearly in the second quarter, allowing Michigan to close the gap to a touchdown and swinging momentum back to the Michigan sidelines for virtually the rest of the game. CU did manage to briefly regain the lead in the third quarter, but lost Liufau on the drive. The Wolverines quickly regained the lead and CU never scored again.

CU STANDOUTS: Quarterback Sefo Liuau was 16-for-25 for 246 yards and three touchdowns before going out with an injury. … Wide receiver Fields recorded his seventh career play of 50 yards or longer. … Samson Kafovalu recorded his eighth career sack. … WR Devin Ross caught a touchdown pass for his third straight game this year.

NOTEWORTHY: Buffs kicker Diego Gonzalez suffered what was diagnoses as an Achilles injury, and head coach Mike MacIntyre said Gonzalez would be out for the season. ... OLB Derek McCartney left the game with a knee injury in the second quarter and did not return. ... Liufau surpassed the 8,000-yard mark in passing yards (8,165 yards) and has now thrown 89 straight passes without an interception (76 this season). Liufau has now caught a pass in every year of his career (5-82, 16.4 per, 1 TD). He left the game early in the third quarter with an ankle sprain and will be re-evaluated on Sunday. ... WR Shay Fields (4-99, 1 TD) moved into 12th place in all-time receiving yards (1,240), and became the 14th player in school history to record 100 career receptions (he ended the day with 101). He also had his seventh career play (all receptions) of 50 yards or longer. ... Saturday's crowd of 110,042 was the largest ever to watch a CU football game. ... Defensive back Chidobe Awuzie now has six career sacks, trailing only Michael Lewis (6.5) for most by a defensive back in CU history.

QUOTEWORTHY: "The message to our team was that we got a good football team. We have to correct a few things. When you are playing another good football team, you have to do some of those things better so we will go back and correct them and move forward to the next game." - Coach Mike MacIntyre

"Our goal is to win the Pac-12 championship, win the south and get into the Pac-12 Championship game. We definitely have all of that still in front of us for sure. It is definitely something we think we can do." - Coach Mike MacIntyre

"Honestly it was really cool seeing a bunch of people that aren't cheering for Colorado, cheering for my grandpa. It was just cool to kind of see the legacy he left." - Derek McCartney

WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs wanted to see how they matched up against one of the nation's best teams, and they found out at Michigan. The defense and offense both played well, but special teams miscues cost them a chance at a win. They'll have one week to correct their mistakes and prepare for another team that has been ranked in the top 25 this year.

NEXT UP: The Buffs hit the road again next week for their Pac-12 opener when they travel to Oregon on Saturday for a 3:30 p.m. game (Pac-12 Networks).

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu