Colorado University Athletics
Buffs' Montez has first '300-100' Day In CU history
September 24, 2016 | Football, Neill Woelk
CU quarterback has memorable starting debut
EUGENE, Ore. — In terms of quarterback starting debuts at the University of Colorado, Steven Montez's effort Saturday in Oregon was — well, simply the best in CU history.
Better than Darian Hagan's, better than Koy Detmer's, better than Kordell Stewart's. Better than any quarterback who ever wore a CU uniform.
Yes, that good.
One week after an 0-for-7 effort in relief of an injured Sefo Liufau in Michigan, Montez showed Saturday why CU coaches have been so high on his potential. The gunslinger from El Paso completed 23 of 32 attempts for 333 yards and three touchdowns while also adding 135 yards and one touchdown on the ground in a wild 41-38 win over Oregon at Autzen Stadium.
It was the first '300-100' day by any CU player ever.
"I think it's something we all thought he was capable of doing at some point in his career," said CU offensive co-coordinator/quarterbacks coach Brian Lindgren. "But to see him do that in his first start … yeah, you could say he exceeded expectations just a little bit."
Lindgren's co-coordinator partner, Darrin Chiaverini, had privately said all week he was ready to see what Montez could do in a starting role. When it became apparent early in the week that Liufau playing would be a long shot, Buffs coaches gave Montez as many snaps as possible in practice.
Those repetitions paid off.
"He's got that X-factor," Chiaverini said. "He creates when something starts to break down. He makes plays. He just has that gunslinger mentality. When something goes wrong, like one of those interceptions (Montez had two Saturday), he doesn't let it bother him. He just comes back and keeps throwing."
Indeed, the Ducks had no answer for Montez all day. He passed for one touchdown and ran for another in the first half, then threw a beautiful 48-yard touchdown pass to Devin Ross early in the third quarter. He kept CU drives alive all day with his legs, but no run may have been as important as a 32-yard scamper on second-and-15 on the fourth-quarter touchdown drive that proved to be the game winner. Montez capped the drive with a 31-yard scoring strike to Bryce Bobo, who made a terrific one-handed grab.
The drive came in the wake of a pair of interceptions that had helped the Ducks score three unanswered touchdowns and take a 38-33 lead.
"After I threw those two picks, I knew I couldn't do that again," Montez said. "But I talked to Sefo on the sidelines and he said he believed in me and the coaches believed in me. I just wanted to show my teammates and our fans that they could depend on me."
WITHERSPOON DELIVERS: Throughout fall camp and through the first three games, CU cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon has been one of Colorado's best cover corners.
Saturday, he cemented that reputation with a spectacular interception in the end zone with 48 seconds remaining in the game. On an Oregon first-and-goal from the 7-yard line, Witherspoon made a perfect read on a Dakota Prukop fade route throw to Darren Carrington Jr. Just as Prukop released the ball, Witherspoon turned and went high in the air in front of Carrington to come down with the interception and clinch the CU win.
"Coach (Charles) Clark always talks about high-pointing the ball," Witherspoon said "He always says, 'Become the receiver.' That's what I did. I saw him throw it and I just had to go up and get it."
It was Witherspoon's second interception in the end zone in as many games against the Ducks. It also extended CU's nation-leading streak of games with at least one defensive takeaway to 17.
"He's like 'Stretcho Man," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "He made those plays all through camp and when I saw them throw that fade route, I said on the sidelines, 'He's going to intercept that.' I just wanted him to make sure he came down with the ball."
Witherspoon did exactly that, silencing an announced crowd of 53,974 in the process.
"It's a big win, but we're not done," Witherspoon said. "We've got a lot more work to do. This is just the beginning."
BOBO ONE FOR TWO: Late in the second quarter Saturday, a Montez pass to Bobo in the corner of the end zone was initially ruled incomplete after Bobo made a terrific one-handed catch. The play was reviewed and while it appeared to be very close, officials upheld the original ruling.
But on what proved to be CU's winning touchdown, an initial incomplete call was overruled by the officials and Bobo had a 31-yard touchdown catch — again with one hand.
"One of the best catches I've ever seen," Chiaverini said. "Both of them — and at least one of them counted."
Bobo said he thought both catches were touchdowns, but he was particularly happy the second was ruled a score.
"Right after I caught it, I looked up and saw the ref say I was out of bounds," Bobo said. "I thought, 'Oh man, they're going to take another one from me.' Even when I went to the sidelines and everyone was saying it was a touchdown, I was waiting for them to make the call. I wasn't sure of anything until they overruled it."
Bobo has made one-handed grabs a regular occurrence this year. He had a long one-hander to set up a score against Colorado State in the opener, and has made them on a regular basis in practice.
It's not by accident. Each day, he works with the JUGS gun (the artificial throwing machine) and makes sure he catches at least three passes one-handed, both left and right.
"It's something I've always worked on," he said. "You just never know when it might come in handy."
As for the replay decision, Montez had the best retort. Asked what he was thinking when the replays were studying the second catch, Montez simply smiled and hummed the ESPN top-10 play theme song.
"Top 10," he said with a grin.
TIDBITS: Sophomore Kyle Evans had 10 carries for 61 yards for the Buffs, career highs in both categories. "I kind of like being the secret weapon," Evans said with a grin. "I'm pretty sure they weren't expecting me out there too much." Evans also had a 21-yard reception. … Chris Graham was good on two field goal tries, his first successful attempt as a Buff. … Freshman Davis Price handled kickoff duties. … Kenneth Olugbode led the Buffs with nine tackles. … Samson Kafovalu had seven tackles and a sack. … Tedric Thompson had three pass breakups.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
