Buffs Defrost Huskers On Montez TD Pass To Shenault

LINCOLN, Neb. — With just one game under their belt — and that one an easy win — nobody was sure how the Colorado Buffaloes would react under adversity.

The Buffs answered the question in a big way Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, rallying from a touchdown deficit to collect a heart-stopping 33-28 win over Nebraska in the renewal of their long-time rivalry.

It was a 40-yard touchdown pass from Steven Montez to wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. with 1:06 left on the clock that gave the Buffs the win. CU came back from deficits of 21-14 and 28-20 to collect the victory, and overcame a pair of missed field goals in the fourth quarter that would have given the Buffs the lead each time, along with a fourth-down stop by Nebraska.

After the final score, CU's defense came up with a defensive stop on Nebraska's last possession to seal the victory, forcing three straight incompletions from backup quarterback Andrew Bunch on NU's last three plays. The Colorado defense produced five consecutive defensive stops down the stretch, giving the Buffs' offense the opportunity to win the game

CU improved to 2-0 with the victory — their first in Lincoln since 2004 — while Nebraska fell to 0-1 to open the Scott Frost era.

Montez finished 33-for-50 for 351 yards and three touchdowns while Shenault had 10 catches for 177 yards and a score and Jay MacIntyre recorded a career-high eight catches for 45 yards and two scores. Defensively, CU's Nate Landman was credited with 13 tackles, including two for loss, and he recorded his second interception in as many games. Fellow inside linebacker Rick Gamboa had 10 tackles while defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson had seven tackles, including two sacks and another tackle for loss, as well as a forced fumble and fumble recovery early in the game that led to a pair of CU scores.

"This team has that camaraderie, that brotherhood that is special," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "They've got an it-factor, a never-say-die attitude. When we missed that second field goal in the fourth quarter, nobody blinked. The defense huddled up and said, 'We're going to stop 'em. We'll get the ball back.' The offense said, 'We'll go down and win it.' I didn't have to say a word. Those guys were in it together the entire game."

HOW IT HAPPENED: The winning touchdown came after the CU defense had produced its fourth straight stop in the fourth quarter to force a punt.

Trailing 28-27, Colorado took over at its own 23 with 2:23 left in the game and methodically moved downfield. CU converted one third down on a 17-yard Montez pass to Tony Brown, then got a break on third-and-24 when Nebraska safety Antonio Reed was called for a personal foul on Jay MacIntyre.

That gave the Buffs a first-and-10 at the Nebraska 40-yard line and offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini called "Deuce Vegas glance."

"I told Coach (Kurt) Roper to tell Steven if they go closed middle, look that free safety off and throw that ball for a touchdown," Chiaverini said.

Montez then dropped back, looked the deep safety off in coverage and threw a perfect strike to Shenault, who went high in the air for the catch in the end zone. When the official signaled touchdown, the Memorial Stadium crowd of 89,853 went silent.

"They closed the middle of the field," Montez said. "I knew they were pressed on Laviska and I knew he was going to go beat his man. All I had to do was look the safety off for a split second. I looked him off for the first step of my drop and that got him out of the way just long enough. I gave him a ball with air and Laviska made a helluva play."

Colorado struck first with two quick touchdowns, both after Nebraska fumbles, to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

Following a Davion Taylor fumble recovery — forced by Johnson — the Buffs went 86 yards in eight plays for the score. Montez was 6-for-6 in the air on the drive, including a 3-yard touchdown pass to MacIntyre. James Stefanou's PAT gave CU a 7-0 lead with nine minutes to go in the first quarter.

The Johnson-Taylor tandem struck again on NU's next possession, forcing a fumble from NU quarterback Adrian Martinez. Johnson got the recovery on the second one at the NU 24-yard line and four plays later, the Buffs had their second touchdown. Shenault carried in from 3 yards out on fourth-and-1 on a direct snap. With 6:47 still to go in the first period, Colorado led 14-0 and had silenced the sold-out Memorial Stadium crowd.

But Huskers fans soon had something to cheer for. NU went 75 yards in eight plays for a score on its next possession, with Martinez covering the last 41 on a run around the left end to cut CU's lead to 14-7. NU kept the drive alive by converting a third-and-16 when Martinez connected with Mike Williams for a 19-yard gain.

Colorado then went 3-and-out on its next two chances, sandwiched around a Nebraska punt. The Huskers took CU's second punt and drove 52 yards in seven plays for the tying touchdown, with Devine Ozigbo scoring from 1 yard out.

At the same time, the Buffs' offense continued to struggle. Following CU's fourth straight 3-and-out, Nebraska drove for the go-ahead touchdown, marching 79 yards in eight plays. Martinez, who had 172 yards total offense in the first half, carried in from 3 yards out to give NU a 21-14 lead with 3:07 to go in the half.

Colorado finally moved the ball again on its last possession of the half, driving 52 yards to the NU 23 before finally settling for a 40-yard James Stefanou field goal with 28 seconds to go to pull within 21-17 at the half.

The Buffs opened the second half with another field goal, driving 55 yards for a 35-yard Stefanou kick to pull within one, 21-20. CU then forced a Nebraska punt to regain possession, but couldn't move and the Huskers answered with a six-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Martinez finished the drive with a 57-yard scoring toss to wide receiver JD Spielman for a 28-20 NU lead.

Colorado, however, refused to go away. The Buffs took the ensuing kickoff and went 75 yards in 11 plays for a touchdown. The Buffs converted three third downs on the drive — including a third-and-19 and a third-and-16 — before scoring on third-and-7 on a Montez 8-yard toss to MacIntyre to close within 28-27 with 1:24 to go in the third quarter.

Both teams then missed opportunities to extend their lead. The Huskers' Barrett Pickering missed a 43-yard field goal try on NU's next possession before Colorado's Stefanou was wide left on a 37-yard try later in the fourth period.

After CU's missed field goal, both teams tried to extend drives at midfield on fourth down — and both came up short.

But Colorado got another chance when linebacker Nate Landman picked off Martinez at midfield and returned the ball to the Nebraska 32. The Buffs couldn't manage a first down, but were within field goal range — only to have Stefanou hook another kick wide left to keep Nebraska in the lead, 28-27, with 4:49 to go.

Martinez was injured on Nebraska's next drive and Colorado then forced one more Nebraska punt to set up the final CU possession and Montez's winning toss to Shenault.

TURNING POINT: This one wasn't over until the last play of the game. Nebraska drove deep into CU territory, but the Buffs forced three straight incompletions — including a fourth-down throw when defensive coordinator D.J. Eliot called a blitz — to seal the win.

CU STANDOUTS: Buffs quarterback Montez finished 33-for-50 for 351 yards and three touchdowns, his straight game with at least 300 yards and three touchdowns passing. … Laviska Shenault Jr. had 10 catches for 177 yards and a score. … Jay MacIntyre caught eight passes for 45 yards and a pair of touchdowns. … Inside linebacker Nate Landman was credited with 13 tackles, including two for loss, and he added his second interception in as many games as well as two fourth-down stops … Fellow inside linebacker Rick Gamboa had 10 tackles. … Sophomore defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson had seven tackles, including two sacks and another tackle for loss, as well as a forced fumble and fumble recovery early in the game that led to a pair of CU scores.

KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs defense produced three takeaways (two fumbles and an interception) and turned two of them into touchdowns while the offense did not turn the ball over. … Colorado also converted five of 11 third-down tries in the second half while going just 1-for-7 before halftime.

WHAT IT MEANS: A big win for the Buffs in many ways. Not only did it come against a Power 5 opponent, it came on the road against an old rival in a hostile environment — and they had to come from behind to do it. That should be a big confidence boost in similar situations down the road.

NEXT UP: The Buffs play their first game of the season at Folsom Field next Saturday when they host New Hampshire in a 3 p.m. game (Pac-12 Mountain).

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

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Team Stats

Steven Montez

Players Mentioned

Tony Brown

Rick Gamboa

Mustafa Johnson

Nate Landman

Jay MacIntyre

Steven Montez

Laviska Shenault Jr.

James Stefanou

Davion Taylor

Players Mentioned

Tony Brown

Rick Gamboa

Mustafa Johnson

Nate Landman

Jay MacIntyre

Steven Montez

Laviska Shenault Jr.

James Stefanou

Davion Taylor