CU Buffs Notes: Shenault Produces Key Play On Winning Drive

BOULDER — Early in the second half, the Folsom Field press box announcer told the media that Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. had suffered a knee injury and his return was "questionable."

Just a few seconds later, Shenault answered that question rather emphatically with a first-down reception, one of his eight catches for 91 yards in CU's 16-13 win over Stanford.

Then, in the fourth quarter, the CU junior — who has been battling injury all season — delivered his biggest play of the day. On fourth-and-one from the Stanford 34, Shenault took a handoff from Steven Montez and produced a bruising 5-yard gain.

Montez then threw 12 yards to K.D. Nixon on the next play, and two plays later Evan Price booted the game-winning 37-yard field goal for the Buffaloes.

"It's the game of football," Shenault said of his return. "I'll be alright. I can't quit now. There's no point in quitting so I'm getting through any way possible."

The fourth-down play was actually an option for Montez, who could also have given it to running back Jaren Mangham.

"I was thinking give me the ball," Shenault said. "I guess Steven trusted me. I live for moments like this."

Stanford coach David Shaw, however, is wishing the Buffs would have given it to anyone else.

"That doggone No. 2," Shaw said. "He is a special player. We had a chance to tackle him a couple times, but we just couldn't get him on the ground. If we stop him on that fourth down, we have a chance to win the game. He made more plays than we did."

Shenault had nine touches and produced five first downs in the game. This season he has 38 first-down plays, with 99 first downs in 173 touches in his career. He is also 9-for-9 earning a first down when rushing on third or fourth down.

"He's a tough kid who cares about this team," CU coach Mel Tucker said. "He's going to give us what he's got and he's going to show up for us. Big-time players make big-time plays in crunch time, and that's what that was."

MONTEZ NUMBERS: While Colorado's Montez stayed on 60 touchdown passes — still tied for the all-time CU lead — he did surpass the 10,000-yard mark in total offense. Montez finished with 186 yards passing and 40 yards rushing, giving him 10,194 for his career. With two games left, he is within reach of Sefo Liufau's career mark of 10,509.

Montez is also inching closer to Liufau's career passing mark of 9,568, as he now has 9,269.

BUFFS BITS: Terrance Lang had his fourth sack of the year, with three coming on third down. Thirteen of the Buffs' 17 sacks have come on third down … The Buffs had the ball for 12:31 in the fourth quarter, with two drives of at least six minutes, both of which produced field goals … Davion Taylor led CU with eight tackles, including two for loss … True freshmen Tarik Luckett and K.J. Trujillo started and played the entire game at corner, as starter Delrick Abrams Jr. was hampered by an injury … Evan Price's game-winning field goal on the game's last play was CU's first walkoff field goal since Kevin Eberhart hit a 45-yarder in 2007 to give CU a 27-24 win over No. 3 Oklahoma … CU had its sixth game this year without a fumble … CU mascot Ralphie did not run for the second straight game, as her handlers chose not to run her "based on her temperament" at Friday night's practice runs … CU had allowed at least 30 points in 14 straight games, a streak that finally ended against Stanford … The Buffs have scored a total of 26 points in their last two games — and won both. CU won the last game against Stanford in 2016, 10-5

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu