Buffs Get A Signature Win At Oregon, 41-38

Saturday, September 24

Eugene, Ore.

3:30 PM

Colorado

3-1 , 1-0

Oregon

2-2 , 0-1

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Colorado

Oregon

Steven Montez threw for 333 yards and ran for another 135 in his starting debut, one of the best in CU history.

Photo by: Gary Breedlove

September 24, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk

EUGENE, Ore. — Ahkello Witherspoon's interception in the end zone ended a last-ditch Oregon drive Saturday, clinching a 41-38 Colorado win over the Ducks at Autzen Stadium in the Pac-12 opener for both teams.

Witherspoon's interception came with 48 seconds remaining in the game and Oregon with a first-and-goal from the 7-yard line, giving the Buffs the signature win they've been seeking to signal that CU's program has indeed turned around.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Steven Montez had a record-setting starting debut for the 3-1 Buffs at quarterback, completing 23 of 32 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns and two interceptions, along with running for 135 yards and a score. He turned in the first-ever 300-yard passing/100-yard rushing game in school history and just the second 200/100 game (Kordell Stewart had 205/143 against Notre Dame in the 1995 Fiesta Bowl).

After jumping out to a double-digit lead for the second week in a row only to see the lead disappear, the Buffs rallied to win this one.

Colorado scored on its first possession of the game for the fourth straight week, then jumped out to a 23-7 edge before the Ducks rallied to take a 38-33 lead late in the third quarter, turning a pair of Montez interceptions into touchdown drives.

But the Buffs showed some moxie in crunch time, regaining the lead midway through the fourth quarter when Montez threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Bobo. The pass was originally ruled incomplete, but after instant replay review, the officials signaled touchdown — the second touchdown via instant replay in the game for Colorado. A 2-point conversion pass from Montez to Bobo gave the Buffs a 41-38 lead with 8:43 to go in the game, and the Buffs defense took over and made the lead stand, coming up with three straight defensive stops, including the goal-to-go stand in the final minute.

After Colorado took a 33-17 lead on the opening drive of the third quarter, CU forced an Oregon punt, but the Buffs gave the ball back when Montez threw the first interception of his career. The Ducks quickly drove 51 yards in just five plays, a drive that included a 48-yard Dakota Prukop completion to Charles Nelson on third-and-13. Tony Brooks-James scored from 1 out to cut CU's lead to 33-24.

The Ducks then forced Colorado's first punt of the game and the Ducks answered with another touchdown drive, going 74 yards in 10 plays. Kani Benoit carried the load, including a 3-yard touchdown run that closed CU's lead to 33-31. Montez then threw his second interception, this one to Troy Dye, and Oregon needed just two plays to take the lead, getting an 18-yard Prukop scoring pass to Darren Carrington Jr. to go up 38-33.

But just when momentum seemed to have found a permanent home on the Oregon sidelines, the Buffs responded with their go-ahead touchdown before turning it over to the defense to close out the game. Witherspoon's interception of Dakota Prukop in the end zone sent the Buffs into a wild celebration and silenced an Autzen Stadium crowd of nearly 54,000.

Colorado built its early lead with another strong start. After Oregon punted following a three-and-out on its opening possession of the game, the Buffs drove 80 yards in eight plays for their first touchdown, getting a 1-yard scoring run from Phillip Lindsay to cap the drive. Montez completed three passes on the drive and Lindsay had a 33-yard run.

Colorado's defense then forced another three-and-out and the Buffs put together a seven-play, 44-yard drive that produced a 24-yard Chris Graham field goal and 10-0 lead.

Oregon then answered with its first score of the game to cut the lead to 10-7 when Taj Griffin scored from 1 yard out on a drive that was sparked by a 50-yard Tony Brooks-James run.

The Buffs, though, quickly responded, putting together back-to-back scoring drives to take a 23-7 lead. The first was a 12-play, 87-yard march, capped by a 7-yard Montez toss to Shay Fields, but a blocked PAT left CU with a 16-7 lead. Following an Oregon punt, CU struck quickly, going 63 yards in just four plays. A 61-yard Montez pass to Devin Ross put the Buffs at the Oregon 5, and two plays later, Montez dove over from the 3-yard line and Graham's PAT gave CU a 23-7 lead.

Oregon answered with a touchdown and field goal, sandwiched around a CU drive that stalled in Ducks territory after a failed fourth-down try, to cut CU's lead to 23-17. The Ducks kept their touchdown drive alive with a 29-yard run on a fake punt, then scored on a 25-yard pass from Prukop to Carrington.

Colorado closed the half with a field goal to take a 26-17 lead into the locker room at intermission, then opened the third quarter with a 75-yard scoring drive. Montez hit Ross with a 48-yard scoring pass that was initially ruled incomplete but ruled a touchdown by replay and CU led 33-17 just two minutes into the third quarter.

Oregon then scored three unanswered touchdowns, but the Buffs provided the final fireworks with their go-ahead touchdown and defensive stops.

TURNING POINT: This one had no turning point until the end. Montez's touchdown to Bobo and Witherspoon's interception were both plays that made the win possible.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs got their signature win — on the road, no less — and in the process proved they can close the deal. It was a statement that coming close will no longer be the norm, and this is indeed a different breed of Buffaloes.

NEXT UP: The Buffs return home to host Oregon State on Saturday in a 12:30 p.m. game at Folsom Field.