Woelk: Tucker's Message Hits Home As Buffs Produce Win

BOULDER — If there has been one overarching message from Colorado Buffaloes coach Mel Tucker to his team for the last few weeks, it has been, "Play for each other."

The Buffaloes did exactly that Saturday afternoon at a sun-splashed Folsom Field.

Everyone contributed in the 16-13 win over Stanford.

CU's defense was outstanding, putting forth by far its best effort of the year. The offense was efficient, moving the ball when absolutely necessary and producing a game-winning drive. And special teams were terrific, right down to redshirt freshman Evan Price's game-winning field goal as time ran out.

It was, quite simply, what the Buffs desperately needed. An end to a five-game losing streak, a November win against a solid opponent, and most importantly, confirmation of what their coach has been telling them:

Keep working and the results will come.

"We got what we wanted today," Tucker said. "When you play for each other, are unselfish and have the discipline to do your job, good things will happen when you play hard and physical."

The Buffs did all of those things against the Cardinal.

They were disciplined. CU finished with just five penalties, and none of the gut-wrenching, drive-killing variety that changed the game.

They were physical. Against a team known for its toughness in the trenches, the Buffs matched the Cardinal blow for blow — and when it came down to crunch time, Colorado threw the last punch.

Most of all, the Buffs played hard from beginning to end.

Three times the defense came up with critical stops with their backs to the wall, limiting the Cardinal to a pair of field goals and a very critical missed attempt. Then, when the offense needed the ball one more time in a tie game late in the fourth quarter, the defense delivered a three-and-out.

That's all the offense needed. After a touchdown on their first possession of the game, a field goal drive to end the first half and a game-tying field goal drive midway through the fourth period, the Buffs went into throwback mode with 6:00 remaining. Colorado pounded out a 13-play, 61-yard drive that took every remaining second off the clock and put Price into position to deliver the game-winning kick.

It was old-school. The Buffs needed everything they had on the final march and they got it. Freshman running back Jaren Mangham pounded out tough yards inside. Quarterback Steven Montez avoided a sack and scrambled for positive yards to start the drive, then delivered a 12-yard strike at the end to put the Buffs well within Price's range.

But the biggest play of the drive, the play that told the story of the day, came on fourth-and-1.

That's when the Buffs turned to wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., who already had eight catches for 91 yards. The player who has been battling injury for much of the season — the player who actually left the game with a knee injury and was announced as "questionable" to return — delivered a bone-crunching 5-yard run for a first down.

Three plays later, CU's redshirt freshman kicker calmly booted the game winner.

"That doggone No. 2," Stanford coach David 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."

Tucker simply reiterated what he has said about Shenault all season.

"He's a tough kid who cares about this team," 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."

But Shenault wasn't the only Buff to deliver big plays in big moments.

Linebacker Davion Taylor had big plays all days, including two tackles and a pass breakup to help force a three-and-out on Stanford's final possession. Running back Alex Fontenot pounded out 95 tough yards on 18 carries. Tony Brown and Nixon each had three catches. Safety Derrion Rakestraw came up with a big interception, his third of the season. Terrance Lang and Mustafa Johnson had back-to-back sacks to turn back a Stanford drive in CU territory. Montez scored CU's only touchdown on a 13-yard, dive-to-the-pylong run.

And that's just a short list. Truth is, everyone contributed. It was exactly what Tucker stresses — complementary football — and this time, the defense set the tone.

"We played probably our best defense of the season," Tucker said. "Guys continue to chop wood, play hard, be physical and have relentless effort. It's a credit to (defensive coordinator) Tyson Summers and the entire defensive staff."

Today, it's worth remembering that this was a Colorado team that had endured five straight losses, a team that had every reason to lack confidence. Injuries, bad luck and missed opportunities had followed the Buffs like a shadow for the last five weeks.

But instead of checking it in for the season, instead of playing the "wait 'til next year" card, Colorado didn't quit.

The Buffs listened to their coaches and they believed in their coaches.

Then, when it came down to making critical plays in crucial moments, they delivered.

"It was good to see," Tucker said. "Everyone working together to do their job. Trust that if you do your job the man next to you is going to do his."

It's the same message Mel Tucker has been delivering since the day he arrived. He has never wavered, never strayed. Play hard, play for your teammates and good things will happen.

Saturday, the Buffs proved that the message is hitting home.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu