Buffs Make Statement, Top Stanford To Improve To 2-0 – University of Colorado Athletics

STANFORD, Calif. — Karl Dorrell‘s Colorado Buffaloes sent a message Saturday afternoon: the Buffs deserve to be in the conversation of Pac-12 South contenders.

Certainly, Stanford won’t disagree. The Buffs hit on all cylinders offensively and the defense consistently came up with big plays in a 35-32 win over Stanford that improved CU to 2-0 under Dorrell’s direction.

Just like in their opening win over UCLA, the Buffs had some tense moments down the stretch. But in the end, Colorado prevailed for its fifth consecutive 2-0 start to the season. 

The Buffs’ offense rang up 432 yards in the win, led by another excellent performance from senior quarterback Sam Noyer, another 100-yard rushing effort from Jarek Broussard and a six-catch, 126-yard effort from wide receiver Dimitri Stanley. Colorado’s defense, meanwhile, throttled the Cardinal’s run game while also coming up with key third- and fourth-down stops, with big plays from linebackers Nate Landman and Carson Wells and defensive lineman Terrance Lang.

The Buffs led 14-9 at the half, then turned up the heat a notch with two quick touchdowns in the third quarter and another to open the fourth. Noyer threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as the Buffs maintained at least a tie for the Pac-12 South lead.

 HOW IT HAPPENED: After taking a 14-9 lead into the locker room at halftime, the Buffs seized control early in the third quarter.

CU opened the half with a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Noyer capped the march with a 10-yard keeper to the end zone with 11:32 still to go in the third quarter, his second rushing touchdown of the game.

Colorado’s defense then delivered a Stanford three-and-out, and the Buffs needed just three plays and 1:09 to score again. After a 22-yard pass to Dimitri Stanley and a 5-yard Jarek Broussard run, Noyer found a wide-open Brenden Rice for a 34-yard touchdown pass. It was the CU true freshmen’s first score in a Buffs uniform.

Stanford then managed to cut the Colorado lead to 12 by going 82 yards on the ensuing possession for its first touchdown of the game. Quarterback Davis Mills carried in from 2 yards out to narrow CU’s margin to 28-16.

But the Buffs again had an answer. Colorado went 80 yards in 10 plays, getting a 22-yard Noyer completion to La’Vontae Shenault and a 17-yard Broussard run before Jaren Mangham capped the march with a 2-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Evan Price’s fifth PAT of the game gave CU a 35-16 lead.

Stanford, though, did manage to make it close down the stretch. The sliced into CU’s lead, driving 73 yards for a touchdown with 8:45 to play and  successful two-point conversion pulled Stanford to within 35-24.

Following a CU punt, the Cardinal drove for another score and two-point conversion to cut the Buffs’ lead to 35-32.

But the Buffs ate up clock on the next possession and Stanford had just 10 seconds with the ball deep in their own territory on their final possession. The  Cardinal’s last-gasp play went nowhere and the Buffs walked off the field with their third straight win over Stanford.

Stanford drew first blood, collecting a 48-yard field goal on the game’s opening drive.

But after struggling to find its rhythm early, the Colorado offense finally found its rhythm. The Buffs got on the board on their fourth possession, getting a 55-yard touchdown pass from Noyer to Stanley, who ran a slant pattern across the middle, gathered in the pass on the run and raced untouched to the end zone. Evan Price’s PAT gave CU a 7-0 lead with 3:20 to go in the first quarter.

Stanford cut the margin to one point, 7-6, with a 33-yard field goal on the ensuing possession, but the Buffs answered again with another touchdown. Noyer directed a 10-play, 75-yard scoring march that he finished with a 7-yard touchdown run for a 14-6 lead.

The Buffs converted three third-down tries on the drive, including a 29-yard Noyer completion to La’Vontae Shenault and a 3-yard Noyer run.

Stanford then answered with one more field goal to pull within 14-9, as CU’s red zone defense held again inside the 20.

The two teams then traded punts, with Colorado defensive lineman Terrance Lang coming up with a big stop for minus-4 yards on a Stanford third-and-2.

CU had one more chance with the ball, but the Buffs’ last drive ended at the Stanford 39 when a Hail Mary try to the end zone fell incomplete as the half ended with the Buffs holding a 14-9 lead.

Colorado held a 194-164 yardage edge after one half, and CU’s defense was excellent on third down, holding Stanford to 1-for-8 on third-down tries.

TURNING POINT: After Stanford had cut CU’s lead to 14-9 in the second quarter, the Buffs regained momentum with a nine-play, 75-yard scoring drive to open the second half.

WHAT IT MEANS: The Buffs proved they are legitimate contenders for the Pac-12 South.

NEXT UP: The Buffs are scheduled to play host to Arizona State next Saturday in an 8 p.m. game at Folsom Field.