Woelk: Once Again, Buffs Can't Overcome Their Own Mistakes

BOULDER — Saturday afternoon at Folsom Field provided a microcosm of the Colorado Buffaloes' entire season in 60 minutes of football.

The Buffs played well in stretches — enough to keep fans' hopes up for the entire game. They made big plays on both sides of the ball, tempting fans with the possibilities.

But when the day was done, the bottom line still added up to a 38-24 loss to No. 15 USC, leaving Colorado with a 5-6 record and one final chance to become bowl eligible for a second straight year.

Head coach Mike MacIntyre's initial postgame assessment was short and to the point.

"We had some critical mistakes and we kind of gave them the game," MacIntyre said. "We had opportunities tonight and squandered it away."

Indeed.

To the Buffs' full credit, they did not fold up the tents on Senior Day — something that would have been quite easy after falling behind 27-0 early in the third quarter. Instead, they came back to make it a two-score game with two quick touchdowns, then gave themselves a chance — albeit a slim one — down the stretch, driving deep into USC territory while trailing 38-24.

But even then, a crucial mistake on their final possession handed the ball back to the Trojans on downs. Quarterback Steven Montez was thrown for a loss on fourth-and-short with the USC goal line just 3 yards away, a play Montez later said he thought was first down after a 9-yard completion to Jay MacIntyre on the previous play.

It was, somehow, a fitting end — but as MacIntyre said, the Buffs had put themselves in that hole by squandering too many early opportunities.

There was a 38-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter from Montez to tight end Chris Bounds that was called back by an offensive pass interference call, a play that would have given the Buffs a 7-0 lead. There were a pair of USC blocked field goals.

All would have made a difference down the stretch.

But the crucial momentum switch, the play that put the Buffs in a hole from which they could never completely escape, came late in the first half.

After forcing a USC punt, Colorado took possession at its own 10-yard line with a minute remaining in the period. Five plays later, Montez threw to the sidelines for Devin Ross, only to see USC's Ajene Harris break on the ball, pluck it away from Ross and race 34 yards to the end zone. That sent the Trojans into the locker room with a 20-0 lead, one they quickly increased to 27-0 early in the third period after blocking their second CU field goal of the day.

"We shot ourselves in the foot two games in a row," MacIntyre said. "You can't do that."

That, however, has been the story for the Buffs too often this season. Missed opportunities at UCLA led to a 27-23 loss. Ditto for a 45-42 defeat at home to Arizona. Then came last weekend's 41-30 loss at Arizona State, a game the Buffs led by 10 heading into the fourth quarter.

In some ways, it makes Saturday's bright spots even more painful because the Buffs showed what they are capable of accomplishing.

After falling behind 27-0, the Buffs fought back to make it a game, getting two long touchdowns from Montez to Juwann Winfree, along with a blocked punt that led to another score. The defense came up with a couple of key stops, giving the ball back to the offense.

It was just enough to keep the Folsom Field crowd on edge — but in the end, the Buffs couldn't make plays that made the difference. Instead, it was their mistakes the made the difference, a story that has become a difficult refrain throughout 2017.

Now, the math is simple for MacIntyre's Buffs. Colorado must win its Nov. 25 game at Utah to become bowl eligible. It is a goal that is certainly worthwhile in attaining for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is a winning record for the second straight year. That's something that hasn't been done in Boulder since the 2004-05 seasons.

But it is not something that will come easy — especially with the possibility of Utah being in exactly the same boat. The Utes are 5-5 with a game at Washington next week; if they don't win in Seattle, they will also be playing for their bowl lives.

"They understand what's at stake," MacIntyre said of his players. "I think they showed that the way they came back out in the second half after the first half didn't go well. It was good to see them fight through that. … We could have just tanked and they didn't. I'll see great fight out of them and be ready to play Utah."

There has never been a question about this team's fight. Neither has there been a question about its potential. Both have been on display all season.

But more often than not, these Buffs have been their own worst enemy.

Two weeks from now, they will have one more chance to shed that reputation.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu