QB Gale Weidner hit Ken Blair twice in the fourth quarter in one of the best comebacks in Folsom Field history.
Folsom500 - A Look Back - October 7, 1961
November 15, 2018 | Football
BOULDER - Colorado faced a fierce Big Eight opponent in Kansas in Week 2 of the 1961 season. These two teams were the front runners for taking the Big Eight title, so regardless of it being early in the season there was a lot on the line. The city of Boulder knew the significance of this game and packed Folsom field with 42,700 fans.
Even though Kansas was the favorite to win, the Buffaloes were expected to keep it a very competitive game. Little did anyone know they were about to be part of one of the greatest comebacks in Colorado history.
Colorado scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun the Jayhawks 20-19.
Neither team could produce much of anything in their first drives of the game. The first scoring threat came during Kansas' second drive, where the Jayhawks would move the ball to Colorado's 1-yard line. However, the Buffaloes' defense was able to halt the threat with a fourth-down stop.
Colorado still couldn't get their offense clicking, and was forced to punt from its own end zone. To make matters worse, Chuck McBride's punt traveled just six yards, setting the Jayhawks up at the CU 13. Four plays later, Kansas was on the board after a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Rodger McFarland, put the Jayhawks up 6-0. Kansas was unable to convert on two PAT opportunities. After a missed kick, the Buffaloes were called for holding. Deciding to now go for two from the 1-yard line, Jayhawk back Curtis McClinton was stopped by the CU defense on a run attempt.
At the time, that missed conversion didn't seem like it would be much of an issue. Late in the second quarter, Kansas added an 11-yard touchdown pass from John Hadl to McClinton to take a 13-0 lead.
The Jayhawks halted Colorado's final drive of the first half by intercepting a Gale Weidner pass at their own 45-yard line.
Colorado would only have two offensive possessions in the third quarter. Both possessions traveled deep into Kansas territory, but two unsuccessful fourth down conversions would leave the Buffaloes scoreless.
After taking over on Colorado's second failed fourth down attempt, the Jayhawks looked to put the game away with a 14-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard McClinton run off left end. Kansas went back to McClinton for the two-point conversion but that was no good. Still the Jayhawks lead improved to 19-0 with just over 13 minutes left.
As Colorado fans started to leave the stadium, Colorado's offense finally clicked. Loren Schweninger took advantage of a short KU kickoff, returning the ball to the Buffs' 42-yard line.
On the next play, Weidner threw a 58-yard shot to Ken Blair for Colorado's first touchdown.
This spark on offense gave new life to the Buffaloes. Kansas was forced to a three and out the following drive. With the ball again, Colorado's newly invigorated offense struck four plays later. A 52-yard scoring play, again from Weidner to Blair, put the Buffaloes to within five at 19-14. Â Â
The Buffaloes forced Kansas to punt. A hot Colorado offense was then poised to make one last run late in the fourth quarter. Colorado was able to storm down the field on the ensuing drive and Weidner connected with Jerry Hillebrand on a 17-yard strike for his third touchdown toss of the quarter. This would give the Buffaloes their first lead of the game at 20-19 with only 2:56 left in the game. Â
Colorado wasted little time in making sure that score stood. The Buffaloes allowed one first down on the next Kansas drive, but then forced three straight Hadl incompletions and flushed out one final pass on fourth-and-10 behind the line of scrimmage to clinch the game.
Postgame, Colorado head coach Sonny Grandelius said, "This is the greatest comeback I've ever seen anywhere, anytime during my association with football."
Colorado would go on to sweep the Big Eight at 7-0, claiming its first conference title since 1942 when it shared the Mountain States crown. The Buffaloes, ranked No. 7 in the final AP and coaches polls, would go on to play LSU in the Orange Bowl and finish the season at 9-2 overall.
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Even though Kansas was the favorite to win, the Buffaloes were expected to keep it a very competitive game. Little did anyone know they were about to be part of one of the greatest comebacks in Colorado history.
Colorado scored 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to stun the Jayhawks 20-19.
Neither team could produce much of anything in their first drives of the game. The first scoring threat came during Kansas' second drive, where the Jayhawks would move the ball to Colorado's 1-yard line. However, the Buffaloes' defense was able to halt the threat with a fourth-down stop.
Colorado still couldn't get their offense clicking, and was forced to punt from its own end zone. To make matters worse, Chuck McBride's punt traveled just six yards, setting the Jayhawks up at the CU 13. Four plays later, Kansas was on the board after a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Rodger McFarland, put the Jayhawks up 6-0. Kansas was unable to convert on two PAT opportunities. After a missed kick, the Buffaloes were called for holding. Deciding to now go for two from the 1-yard line, Jayhawk back Curtis McClinton was stopped by the CU defense on a run attempt.
At the time, that missed conversion didn't seem like it would be much of an issue. Late in the second quarter, Kansas added an 11-yard touchdown pass from John Hadl to McClinton to take a 13-0 lead.
The Jayhawks halted Colorado's final drive of the first half by intercepting a Gale Weidner pass at their own 45-yard line.
Colorado would only have two offensive possessions in the third quarter. Both possessions traveled deep into Kansas territory, but two unsuccessful fourth down conversions would leave the Buffaloes scoreless.
After taking over on Colorado's second failed fourth down attempt, the Jayhawks looked to put the game away with a 14-play, 74-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard McClinton run off left end. Kansas went back to McClinton for the two-point conversion but that was no good. Still the Jayhawks lead improved to 19-0 with just over 13 minutes left.
As Colorado fans started to leave the stadium, Colorado's offense finally clicked. Loren Schweninger took advantage of a short KU kickoff, returning the ball to the Buffs' 42-yard line.
On the next play, Weidner threw a 58-yard shot to Ken Blair for Colorado's first touchdown.
This spark on offense gave new life to the Buffaloes. Kansas was forced to a three and out the following drive. With the ball again, Colorado's newly invigorated offense struck four plays later. A 52-yard scoring play, again from Weidner to Blair, put the Buffaloes to within five at 19-14. Â Â
The Buffaloes forced Kansas to punt. A hot Colorado offense was then poised to make one last run late in the fourth quarter. Colorado was able to storm down the field on the ensuing drive and Weidner connected with Jerry Hillebrand on a 17-yard strike for his third touchdown toss of the quarter. This would give the Buffaloes their first lead of the game at 20-19 with only 2:56 left in the game. Â
Colorado wasted little time in making sure that score stood. The Buffaloes allowed one first down on the next Kansas drive, but then forced three straight Hadl incompletions and flushed out one final pass on fourth-and-10 behind the line of scrimmage to clinch the game.
Postgame, Colorado head coach Sonny Grandelius said, "This is the greatest comeback I've ever seen anywhere, anytime during my association with football."
Colorado would go on to sweep the Big Eight at 7-0, claiming its first conference title since 1942 when it shared the Mountain States crown. The Buffaloes, ranked No. 7 in the final AP and coaches polls, would go on to play LSU in the Orange Bowl and finish the season at 9-2 overall.
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