Buffs Get Big Road Win Over No. 24 Arizona State

TEMPE, Ariz. — Colorado's James Stefanou broke a 31-31 tie with a 44-yard field goal with 2:03 left in the game and CU's defense then came up with a final defensive stand Saturday to give the Buffs a 34-31 win over No. 24 Arizona State at Sun Devil Stadium.

Colorado scored 24 points in the first half and added another touchdown in the third quarter, but it took Stefanou's field goal to make the difference in the Pac-12 opener for both teams. ASU had not given up a point in the first three quarters of a game this year.

Colorado improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play while ASU fell to 3-1, 0-1. The victory ended an 0-5 CU skid against the Sun Devils on their home turf and also gave the Buffs their first road win against a ranked team since 2002, a stretch of 30 games. It was also CU's second win over a ranked team this season, as the Buffs two weeks ago knocked off No. 25 Nebraska in overtime by the same 34-31 score.

CU quarterback Steven Montez completed 23 of 30 attempts for 337 yards and three touchdowns — all to senior wide receiver Tony Brown, who hauled in a career high nine catches for 150 yards. Their final TD connection gave CU a 31-24 lead late in the third quarter, but the Sun Devils rallied to tie the game, setting the stage for Stefanou's game-winning kick.

Colorado's offensive line did not give up a sack in the game, and also paved the way for 138 yards rushing, including 89 yards and one touchdown from sophomore running back Alex Fontenot.

The Buffs also won without the services of two of their best players for much of the game. Star receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. and defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson both went out early with injuries and did not return. CU also lost several other players at different junctures, but overcame each of the injuries to produce the win.

"Since December when I got here, they have wanted to have success," said CU head coach Mel Tucker, who became just the second coach in Buffs history to win his first two games against ranked opponents. "And we're going to do everything we can to put him in a position to have success. Credit to our players. The guys out there doing it, they're the ones that get it done. They step up and continue to make plays."

HOW IT HAPPENED: The Buffs had an outstanding offensive first half and took a 24-21 lead into the locker room at intermission.

But the Sun Devils tied it up again at 24-24 with a field goal late in the third quarter before Colorado regained the lead again. Montez hooked up with Brown for a 20-yard touchdown pass, their third scoring connection of the game to cap a five play, 65-yard drive.

"Tony Brown just keeps making plays," Tucker said. "He's been making plays in fall camp. Every time his number is called he comes through in the clutch. That's the story of our team, guys stepping up when their number is called to get the job done."

That gave CU a 31-24 lead with just 1:10 left in the third quarter, but the Sun Devils quickly answered, getting a 39-yard touchdown pass from Jayden Daniels to Frank Darby, tying the game at 31-31 with 13:51 left in regulation.

The two teams then traded a pair of empty possessions, with CU ending one ASU drive on an interception by Derrion Rakestraw. Then, after punts by both teams, Colorado finally put together the game-winning drive. CU drove 57 yards in 11 plays before settling for Stefanou's field goal.

That gave ASU one more chance, but the CU defense rose to the occasion. Colorado forced two Sun Devil incompletions before Terrance Lang came up with a huge sack on third down. That left ASU with a fourth-and-16 and CU again got pressure on fourth down to force an incompletion and give Colorado the ball at the ASU 19.

The Buffs then ran out the clock for the win.

"I think my teammates around me made my job a lot easier tonight," Montez said. " No sacks. That has nothing to do with me, it has everything to do with our offensive linemen up front. They played a great game and so I'm super proud of them. They played phenomenal, and some of the catches that were also made today — the receivers just make things happen. And that's also not me. So I can't take the credit for this game. I'm just so proud of our team as a whole and our offense as a whole. It was just an overall team win. Everybody chipped in, everybody did their job, everybody executed. And that's why we got positive results."

In the first half, it took Colorado just five minutes to do what no one else had done against Arizona State in three games this year — score a first quarter touchdown. The Buffs took the opening kick and marched 75 yards to paydirt for a 7-0 lead. Montez completed passes of 17 yards to Dimitri Stanley, 10 to Brown and 23 to Shenault before Alex Fontenot crashed over the left side from 1-yard out.

The Buffs then made it 14-0 on their next possession following a missed ASU field goal. Montez was again on target, completing throws of 15 yards to Fontenot and 6 to Brown before connecting with Brown again on a 29-yard score. Brown ran a crossing pattern, then extended his route toward the sideline when Montez scrambled to his right and the CU quarterback floated the ball perfectly to his receiver, who took it to the end zone.

That gave CU a 14-0 lead and the Buffs appeared on the verge of blowing the Sun Devils out early.

But ASU finally answered, going 76 yards for a score, with the big chunk a 53-yard scoring toss from Jayden Daniels to Brandon Aiyuk. ASU then recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and went 44 yards for another touchdown to tie the game at 14-14.

Colorado, however, quickly answered. The Buffs needed just 1:47 to go 61 yards and regain the lead, with Montez connecting with Brown again, this time from 31 yards out for a 21-14 CU lead.

The Sun Devils, though, carved out a response. ASU converted two third downs on its next possession, with Daniels completing passes of 12 yards and 18 to keep the drive alive. Eno Benjamin capped the drive with a 3-yard scoring dive and the PAT tied the game again, 21-21 with 5:23 to go in the half.

That was plenty of time for CU to march downfield inside the ASU 10 before finally settling for a 25-yard Stefanou field goal with 28 seconds left in the half. That sent the Buffs into the locker room with a 24-21 lead.

Montez was outstanding in the first half, completing 13 of 16 attempts for 196 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Buffs convert 7 of their 9 third-down tries. Brown had four catches for 76 yards and two scores.

TURNING POINT: With the score tied at 31-31 in the fourth quarter, the Sun Devils threatened to take their first lead of the game when they drove to the CU 33-yard line. But a Rakestraw interception ended the drive, and although CU had to punt on the ensuing possession, the Buffs then forced an ASU punt and proceeded to drive for the game-winning field goal.

KEY STATISTICS: Colorado was 10-for-17 on third down conversions … The Buffs did not give up a quarterback sack … Colorado had just one turnover (fumble) but also had an interception ... ASU had not given up a point in the first three quarters of any game this year, but the Buffs scored 14 in the first quarter, 10 in the second and seven in the third.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs opened Pac-12 play with a road win against a ranked team — and now have a bye week that should help some of their injured players get healthy.

NEXT UP: The Buffs have next weekend off, then return to action Oct. 5 with a home game against Arizona at Folsom Field (time still to be determined).

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

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Team Stats

Steven Montez

Players Mentioned

Tony Brown

Alex Fontenot

Mustafa Johnson

Terrance Lang

Steven Montez

Derrion Rakestraw

Laviska Shenault Jr.

Dimitri Stanley

James Stefanou

Players Mentioned

Tony Brown

Alex Fontenot

Mustafa Johnson

Terrance Lang

Steven Montez

Derrion Rakestraw

Laviska Shenault Jr.

Dimitri Stanley

James Stefanou