Colorado University Athletics
Buff Bowl No. 3 - 1957 Orange
Jan. 1, 1957
In what game did the Buffs hold a 20 point lead in the first half and have to stage a fourth-quarter comeback to win? It was the 1957 Orange Bowl, just the second bowl game in program history and the first win. CU took at 20-0 lead into the lockerroom before Clemson scored 21 unanswered points. Despite eight fumbles from the running game, CU scored four TD's on the ground, including the game's first and last from John Bayuk, who ended the day with 121 yards, as well. With under three minutes remaining in the game, CU's Bob Stransky got a key interception to preserve the victory.
MIAMI, Fla. - Big Seven runner-up Colorado stormed out of the chute and had Atlantic Coast champion Clemson down 20-0 at the half as 72,552 fans yawned and went for refreshments at the 23rd Orange Bowl Classic.
But a lot of those drinks were spilled in the second half as
Clemson rallied to take a 21-20 lead in the final period before the
resurgent Buffs buckled up and drove for the winning score to take
their first bowl triumph in history by a
27-21 score.
Fumbles, eight of them, three lost to Clemson, were a nemesis Colorado managed to overcome in the school's first national television appearance in history. One at the goal line at the end of the first half perhaps prevented CU being able to put the game away, and one on its own 27 with three minutes remaining in the game gave the Tigers one last shot to pull out the win.
Dal Ward's Buffaloes got first half touchdowns from John Bayuk, Howard Cook and Boyd Dowler to take the seemingly safe 20-point halftime lead. But Frank Howard's Tigers roared back to go ahead by 21-20 with 11:12 left in the game on a one-yard run by fullback Bob Spooner.
But the Buffs sucked it up and drove 53 yards for the winning score after a Clemson onside kick attempt following the score had failed. Eddie Dove carried four times and Bayuk three in the drive, with Bayuk getting the TD from the one-yard line with 7:13 left to play. Ellwin Indorf's kick gave CU what proved to be the winning margin.
With less than three minutes to go and facing a 2nd-and-9 on the Buff 26, Clemson's Charlie Bussey was intercepted at the 17 by Bob Stransky, nailing down the decision for the Buffs.
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