Colorado University Athletics
Buff Bowl No. 7: 1990 Orange
January 1, 1990
MIAMI, Fla. - Fullback Anthony Johnson's second touchdown run of the game late in the fourth quarter put an end to Colorado's undefeated season and national championship hopes as Notre Dame defeated the Buffaloes, 21-6, before a record 81,191 in the 56th annual Orange Bowl Classic.
Colorado came into the game with an 11-0 record and its first-ever No. 1 national ranking. The Buffs appeared headed to the national championship in the first half, as CU dominated the line of scrimmage in gaining 186 yards, but couldn't convert on three golden scoring opportunities. Instead of leading 17-0 or 21-0 at halftime, the Buffs found themselves in a scoreless deadlock and that thanks to Gary Howe's block of a Notre Dame field goal attempt at the intermission gun.
The Irish took control of the game in the third quarter, using a two-yard scoring run by Johnson and a 35-yard touchdown run on a reverse by Raghib Ismail to take a 14-0 lead midway through the period. Colorado sliced the lead to 14-6 on a spectacular 39-yard run by Darian Hagan to close the quarter, but the PAT kick sailed wide by Ken Culbertson, leaving the Buffs eight points back.
The CU defense held Notre Dame on its next possession, and then the Buffs drove to the Irish 44 where its own stalled. With 10:27 remaining, there was still plenty of time remaining for the Buffs. But Johnson's second touchdown, a seven-yard effort, culminated a mammoth 17-play, 82-yard drive that ate up almost nine minutes on the clock. The Buffs got the ball back with 1:32 left in the game, and after Mike Pritchard returned the Irish kickoff 28 yards to the CU 41, could not get anything going prior to time running out and Hagan was intercepted on the game's final play.
The win enabled Notre Dame to end the year with a 12-1 record and a No. 2 ranking, while CU ended up No. 4 in the polls, as the 11-1 Buffs were inexplicably jumped by a 10-2 Florida State that finished No. 3. Miami, Fla., was selected the national champion.
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