2008 Spring Game Live Reports

Final Score: Black 28, Gold 17. Check back shortly for a complete game wrap up.

END OF GAME: Black 28, Gold 17
Colorado wrapped up the 2008 Spring Game on a good note as quarterback Matt Ballenger led the 2-minute offense down the field setting up a 44-yard field goal by Aric Goodman that split the uprights.

3:00 Fourth Quarter: Black 28, Gold 14
Cody Hawkins hooked up with Cody Crawford on a 2-yard touchdown pass to give the Black a two score lead late in the fourth.

Record Attendance: CU officials reported the spring game attendance at 17,800 breaking the old spring game attendance record of 13,642 set in 1989.

End of Third Quarter
The third quarter was dominated by defense and special teams. Hawkins led the Gold down the field in the final drive of the third quarter for the only significant movement by either offense during that period. Hawkins connected with Patrick Devenny on a 32-yard pass play down to the Black 22 and a defensive pass interference penalty on the next play put the ball at the 4-yard line. However, defense held its ground, limiting the Black to two short runs and B.J. Beatty recorded his second sack of the game. A 38-yard field goal attempt by Jameson Davis was no good.

6:00 Third Quarter: Black 21, Gold 14
The Gold special teams returned the favor to the Black. After holding the Black to just three plays, Tom Suazo's punt was blocked by Cody Crawford and returned 11 yards by Anthony Wright for a touchdown.

7:44 Third Quarter: Black 21, Gold 7
The Black defense held Gold to just three plays, including a sack by Jason Brace on Matt Ballenger. With Matt DiLallo back to punt, Jimmy Smith came free and blocked the kick. The ball was picked up by Markques Simas who sprinted 36 yards for the special teams touchdown.

Halftime Statistics:
Passing
Cody Hawkins -- 9-of-13, 115 yards, 1 TD
Nick Nelson -- 7-of-8, 91 yards, 1 TD
Matt Ballenger -- 2-of-2, 34 yards, 1 TD

Rushing
Demetrius Sumler -- 6 carries, 22 yards
Arthur Jaffee -- 2-11
Nick Nelson -- 1-11
Josh Smith -- 1-11

Receiving
Patrick Williams -- 2 catches, 38 yards, TD
Patrick Devenny -- 2-28
Demetrius Sumler -- 2-23

Tackles (total)
Marcus Burton -- 6
B.J. Beatty -- 4 (sack, QB hurry)
Michael Sipili -- 3
Anthony Perkins -- 3
Eric Lawson -- 3
Brad Jones -- 3 (sack, 3rd down stop)

1:06 2nd Quarter
The Hawkins-led Gold offense was able to pick up one first down but an incompletion and a Brad Jones sack forced the game's second punt.

3:49 2nd Quarter: Black 14, Gold 7
Nelson moved the Black offense well, embarking on a 9-play, 80 yard drive that ended with a 19-yard touchdown strike to Patrick Williams. The offense showed its diversity this drive which included a pair of screen passes to Demetrius Sumler and a Josh Smith reverse that covered 11 yards. On the defensive side, B.J. Beatty had a quarterback hurry, forcing Nelson's lone incomplete pass of the drive (5-of-6).

8:02 2nd Quarter: Black 7, Gold 7
Matt Ballenger taking the reins for the Gold team and ushers a solid scoring drive. Arthur Jaffee's 10-yard run gave the Gold a 1st-and-10 at the Black 18. After an illegal motion penalty, Ballenger ducked several defenders and scrambled for a 4-yard gain. On the next play he passed the ball to Jason Espinoza who turned around at the last second to catch the ball for a 19-yard touchdown. Aric Goodman on the PAT.

End of 1st Quarter
Cody Hawkins once again drove the ball well, but the drive stalled just shy of the redzone when Hawkins was sacked by B.J. Beatty on a 3rd-and-8 play. Jameson Davis's 49-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Patrick Williams and recovered by Marcus Burton.

4:32 1st Quarter
Nick Nelson takes control of the Gold offense, but the "Golden" Buffaloes were held to a 3-and-out. The Buffs had 3rd-and-short but were called for the games first penalty -- a 5-yard false start. Nelson's 3rd-and-7 pass fell incomplete, inteded for Josh Smith

7:02 1st Quarter Black 7, Gold 0
Cody Hawkins finishes off the first drive of the game with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Moyd. Aric Goodman was good on the PAT.

8:08 1st Quarter
Cody Hawkins is leading the first team offense down the field.After a battend pass and short run on the first two plays, Hawkins converted on 3rd-and-8 with a strike to Patrick Williams to the 49 and completed another first down throw to Kendrick Celestine.

We're underway! The coaches arenGÇÖt yet comfortable splitting the team into two squads, so the format will again be basically the standard offense versus defensescrimmage. The GÇ£BLACKGÇ¥ team will be the No. 1 offense against the No. 2 defense, while the GÇ£GOLDGÇ¥ team will be the No. 2 offense versus the No. 1 defense. There will be 10 minute quarters with the new 40-second play clock, and standard three time outs per team per half.

Just a reminder, you can watch the 2008 Spring Game live through BuffsTV. Click here for the BuffsTV live events page.

1 p.m. - We're just moments away from kickoff and the debut of the newest Buffalo, literally. latest live mascot, Ralphie V, is scheduled to make her first runs with the team today. As with Ralphie IV, she was donated to CU from a Ted Turner ranch, Vermejo Park Ranch in Northern New Mexico. She was born in October 2006 and was named GÇ£BlackoutGÇ¥ by CUGÇÖs Ralphie Handlers as she was the darkest calf in the herd. Now a year-and-a-half old, she weighs in the 700-750 pound range and is lightning fast (she should grow to 1,300). Ralphie program directors Ben Frei and Kevin Priola worked with Barney Coppedge the Bison Manager at Vermejo to bring Ralphie V to Colorado. They continue to supervise the housing and training of both Ralphie IV and Ralphie V. Gail Pedersen, assistant to athletic director Mike Bohn, coordinates the entire Ralphie program for the athletic department. Ralphie IV is not officially retired by any means; she will make some special appearances which could include returning to lead the team on the field for a special game or two.

12:45 p.m. - Today marks the third and final major scrimmage of the spring, as CU scrimmaged the last two Saturdays (April 5 & 12)... The Buffs have also scrimmaged regularly at times during most of the practices, especially dealing with the red zone and situational scrimmages... Spring ball was again divided around spring break for the third straight year, with three practices before break (March 17-20) and the remaining 11 afterwards (April 2-17); the only other time CU had done that were the five years between 1999 and 2003... CU coach Dan Hawkins will likely consider having all of spring ball done before break in 2009, as was the plan in 2008 until the Gridiron Bash was awarded to Colorado along with 14 other schools; it would be possible as CU now has an indoorbubble for practice... There are about 200 football alumni in town rekindling friendships and taking part in the annual favorite events (Friday golf and GÇ£chicken/catfishGÇ¥ feed, Saturday breakfast and postgame barbecue). Eric Bieniemy was the featured alumni speaker at this morningGÇÖs breakfast.

12 p.m. - Welcome to the 2008 Colorado Spring Game. It's a beautiful day in Boulder with partly cloudy skies and temperatures expected to reach the mid 70's. Led by head coach Dan Hawkins, the Buffaloes are coming off a 6-7 season in 2007 including an appearance in the Independence Bowl.

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