Colorado
5-6 , 2-6
Utah
8-3 , 6-3
Buffs Fall To Utah As Skid Continues
November 17, 2018 | Football, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Futility once again found a seat on the Colorado sidelines Saturday, as the Buffaloes dropped their sixth straight decision, a 30-7 loss to Utah in CU's home finale in cold, snowy conditions at Folsom Field.
Colorado fell to 5-6 overall and 2-6 in Pac-12 play with the loss — the 500th CU game at Folsom — while No. 21 Utah improved to 8-3, 6-3. With one game left, next week's game against Cal, the Buffs have one more chance to become bowl eligible. The Buffs have had nine opportunities in the last two years — three last year and six this year — to hit that goal, but have come up short each time.
More than anything, Saturday proved to be a refrain of CU's previous five games. The Buffs scored first for the sixth straight time, but as has been the case throughout their losing streak, could not maintain that momentum. The Utes quickly tied the game to send it into halftime knotted up at 7-7, then wore down Colorado's defense after halftime, adding 23 points to their total after intermission.
CU is 2-0 in Pac-12 play when the opponent scores first and 0-6 in conference play when scoring first.
"We're just inept on offense right now," Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "That's the best way to put it. We've got to find a way to move the ball better and get some points."
The Buffs couldn't find that magic bullet against the Utes, one of the Pac-12's best defensive teams. CU's offense crossed midfield just three times in 15 possessions, and only once in the second half, long after the game had been decided. The Buffs finished with 196 yards total offense (162 passing, 34 rushing), their lowest total since managing 174 against Washington State in a 28-0 loss last year.
CU's defense managed to keep the Buffs in the game well into the third quarter, but finally wore down under steady pressure from Utah's big front line. Utah finished with 390 yards total offense while also recording six sacks and 10 tackles for loss on defense.
HOW IT HAPPENED: After both teams managed a touchdown in the first half, the Utes methodically put the game away in the third quarter, putting 17 points on the board before adding six more in the final period.
Utah put together a drive for a field goal on its first possession of the half, using up 5:29 to go 63 yards for a 33-yard field goal and 10-7 lead. On their next possession, the Utes needed just two plays to travel 59 yards to the end zone, getting a 47-yard touchdown pass from Jason Shelley to Jaylen Dixon for the score and 17-7 edge.
Colorado's offense, meanwhile, couldn't muster a threat. Colorado quarterback Steven Montez, who limped off the field late in the third quarter with a leg injury, was 13-for-22 for a season-low 84 yards and one interception. Backups Sam Noyer and Tyler Lytle completed eight of 11 attempts for 78 yards, with Lytle throwing an interception.
CU sophomore Laviska Shenault Jr. had nine catches for 64 yards and senior Juwann Winfree added three catches for 54 yards. Travon had 41 yards rushing on 13 attempts, putting him at 951 for the season.
"We have to find a way to get the playmakers involved and get everybody the ball," Winfree said. "That's the only way we're going to win. We've got to spread the ball. We have too much talent to be losing all these games. … There's no reason we should be losing like this."
Following Utah's first touchdown in the third quarter, the Buffs went three and out and Utah responded with another touchdown to put the game away. Shelley directed a seven-play, 53-yard scoring drive that included two 19-yard completions to set up a 1-yard Armand Shyne touchdown run and a 24-7 lead with 50 seconds left in the third quarter.
"I thought the defense played OK, they just got worn down," MacIntyre said.
The Utes then added two more field goals in the fourth quarter, taking advantage of a short field following a failed CU fake punt, then converting a CU fumble into another score.
Both teams struggled to find their footing early in the difficult conditions before Colorado finally put together a scoring drive for a 7-0 lead — the sixth straight game in which the Buffs scored first.
Quarterback Steven Montez had a 14-yard pass to Juwann Winfree on the drive, along with a 14-yard completion to Laviska Shenault Jr. The Buffs were also aided by a 10-yard pass interference penalty and a 15-yard roughing the passer call on the drive. Travon McMillian capped the march with a 13-yard scoring run and James Stefanou's PAT gave Colorado a 7-0 lead with 2:04 left in the first quarter.
The Utes finally answered in the second quarter, going 80 yards in four plays. Shelley threw 61 yards to Dixon on the first play, and three plays Shelley found Samson Nacua with a 10-yard scoring pass to tie the game.
Neither team mounted another serious threat the rest of the half to leave the scored tied at 7-7 at intermission.
TURNING POINT: Colorado trailed just 10-7 midway through the third quarter before Utah took full command with a two-play, 59-yard scoring drive for a 17-7 lead.
WHAT IT MEANS: After starting the season 5-0, Colorado now has one last chance to become bowl eligible next week.
NEXT UP: The Buffs are scheduled to play at Cal next Saturday in their regular season finale at 5:10 p.m. (Pac-12 Networks). However, fires in the area that have affected air quality forced the postponement of this weekend's Cal-Stanford game, and could have an effect on next week's contest. Officials from both schools are having preliminary discussions about the possibility of moving the game to another site.
Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu
Team Stats
UTAH 0, COLO 7
COLO - McMillian, Trav 13 yd run (Stefanou, James kick), 7 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:43
UTAH 7, COLO 7
UTAH - Nacua, Samson 10 yd pass from Shelley, Jason (Gay, Matt kick) 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:09
UTAH 10, COLO 7
UTAH - Gay, Matt 33 yd field goal 13 plays, 63 yards, TOP 5:29
UTAH 17, COLO 7
UTAH - Dixon, Jaylen 47 yd pass from Shelley, Jason (Gay, Matt kick) 2 plays, 59 yards, TOP 0:36
UTAH 24, COLO 7
UTAH - Shyne, Armand 1 yd run (Gay, Matt kick), 7 plays, 53 yards, TOP 2:27
UTAH 27, COLO 7
UTAH - Gay, Matt 31 yd field goal 6 plays, 15 yards, TOP 2:24
UTAH 30, COLO 7
UTAH - Gay, Matt 51 yd field goal 4 plays, 2 yards, TOP 1:39
