Buffs Notes: Bobo Joins Lindsay In Buffs' Big-Day Circle

CORVALLIS, Ore. — For the second week in a row, Colorado running back Phillip Lindsay delivered a difference-making performance on the ground.

But this week, Lindsay was joined by a fellow Buffs senior in producing big plays at clutch moments of CU's 36-33 win over Oregon State. Along with Lindsay's 185 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, the Buffs also received a nine-catch, 126-yard, two-touchdown receiving effort from Bryce Bobo — who also chipped in with an 11-yard touchdown pass to quarterback Steven Montez.

Lindsay's effort came on the heels of a 41-carry, 281-yard, three touchdown effort last week against Arizona. In the last two games, Lindsay has carried 69 times for 466 yards and five touchdowns, and he has been stopped for a loss on only two of those 69 carries (both for minus-1 yard).

Already CU's all-time leader in all-purpose yards, Lindsay's effort behind his offensive line on Saturday moved him up the ladder on several other CU all-time charts.

His 74-yard scoring run in in the first quarter is CU's longest play this year and it also moved him into third place on CU's all-time rushing yards list with 3,228. He moved past the late Rashaan Salaam on Saturday, who finished his career with 3,057 from 1992-94. Lindsay now trails only Eric Bieniemy (3,940, 1987-90) and Rodney Stewart (3,598, 2008-11).

"I don't compare to him," Lindsay said of moving past CU's 1994 Heisman Trophy winner on the rushing list. "I know that, so I don't really pay attention (to the records). … I just want to keep doing what I can to help us get wins."

Lindsay also went past the 5,000-yard mark in all-purpose yards, boosting his total to 5,174, and his two touchdowns gave him 210 points for his career, making him just the seventh player in CU history to surpass 200 points scoring. He also had his 10th career 100-yard game Saturday (fourth this season) and now has 995 yards rushing this season with 11 touchdowns (10 rushing). If he surpasses the 1,000-yard mark, he will be the first running back in CU history to hit that number in back-to-back seasons. Eric Bieniemy also had two 1,000-yard seasons, but they came in 1988 and 1990.

"I know it's a great honor for him to pass Rashaan," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "But the great thing about Phil is when he says he's only concerned about winning, he truly, truly means that."

For Bobo, it was a breakout game he had been waiting for. His 126 yards receiving was a career high (his second 100-yard game). His nine receptions were the second-most in his career and Saturday was his second two-touchdown game.

Both of Bobo's touchdown receptions came in the fourth quarter. The first, a 9-yard pass from Steven Montez midway through the quarter, followed by a pass from Montez on the two-point conversion, gave Colorado a 29-26 lead. It was his second two-point conversion catch in his career — and the first also came from Montez in CU's 41-38 win over Oregon in Eugene last season.

Bobo's second touchdown, a 13-yard bullet from Montez on the same route, provided the winning score with just 1:34 remaining in the game.

"It was very important for us to come up here and get a win," Bobo said. "We just felt like we had to step up. We knew we had the ability to make plays when we needed them; but it helps your confidence when you go out and do it."

Bobo's touchdown pass to Montez in the second quarter was the second of his career. Combined with his 67-yard scoring pass to Lindsay last year at USC, he is now 2-for-2 passing as a Buff for 78 yards and two touchdowns — a passer rating of 757.6.

"When they called the play, I knew I was going to throw it," Bobo said. "I saw some (defenders) coming and thought I was going to have to run it, but I saw (Montez) open and I just floated it up to him."

BRILLIANT FOURTH QUARTER: While Steven Montez finished the day with an "average" 14-for-24, 168-yard day, his fourth quarter was outstanding. The CU sophomore was 8-for-10 for 68 yards and two touchdowns in the final period, leading CU on two long touchdown drives.

WINNING TURNOVER BATTLE: Evan Worthington's third-quarter interception, which led to a CU touchdown, gave the Buffs at least one defensive takeaway in every game this year. It was Worthington's third career interception, all coming this year.

On the offensive side, CU did not turn the ball over, stretching its streak to a school-record 13 quarters without a turnover, while quarterback Steven Montez has thrown 95 straight passes without an interception. The Buffs have gone three straight games without a turnover, also a school record. It was also the Buffs' fourth turnover-free game this year, tying the school record set in 1989 and matched in 1993, 2006 and 2011.

Under MacIntyre, CU is 8-5 in miscue-free contests (2-2 this season). CU has not turned the ball over in 13 of 58 games under MacIntyre, the best percentage (22.4) of any coach in CU history.

RED ZONE DEFENSE: While the Buffs did give up 500-plus yards offense for the second straight week (569 to the Beavers), they minimized the damage to a degree with solid red zone defense. While OSU reached inside Colorado's red zone seven times, they came away with just three touchdowns while the Buffs scored four touchdowns in four trips inside Oregon State's 20-yard line.

BUFFS BITS: While cornerback Trey Udoffia did return after missing last week's game with a knee injury, Dante Wigley started for the second straight week in Udoffia's place. … Buffs tight end Chris Bounds had a huge block on Lindsay's 74-yard run, opening the hole that allowed Lindsay to race to the end zone untouched. ...While he didn't start, CU nose tackle Lyle Tuiloma saw perhaps his most extensive playing time of the season, and finished with three tackles. … Worthington was credited with a team-high 12 tackles while OLB Derek McCartney and ILB Drew Lewis were credited with 10 apiece. … Colorado's quarterbacks have now caught a pass at least once in each of the last seven seasons. … The Buffs are now one win away from becoming just the 25th school in the nation to win 700 games, owning an all-time record of 699-497-36.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu