Boulder, CO- Despite a rocky start from the #22 Colorado offense, the defense kept the Nebraska Cornhuskers out of the end zone for the first half and forced four turnovers overall to help spring the team to their first home win of the season, 36-14.
Entering the game, all eyes were on Deion Sanders and the Colorado Buffaloes after upsetting TCU last week. The team was voted into the top 25 of all NCAA teams this week, and this game was sold-out with the largest crowd at Folsom Field in 15 years with 53, 241.
Nebraska’s first drive ended with a fumble after driving down to Colorado’s 31. Colorado was unable to take advantage of the turnover and opted to punt after the drive was plagued by penalties. Both teams had four straight drives that ended in punts or missed field goals.
The first score for Colorado was with under five minutes left in the half with a field goal by Jace Feely, thanks to a Nebraska fumble that placed Colorado on the 22-yard line.
An interception on the next drive by Nebraska placed Colorado on the 30. Colorado took full advantage with a touchdown on 1st down. Quarterback Shedeur Sanders stood in the pocket, went through his reads, and tossed it to Tar’Varish Dawson on an out corner on the right side of the end-zone behind a sea of red.
Colorado ended the half with one more field goal, and a 13-0 lead. Despite the lead, Sanders was not happy with the offense’s performance in the first half.
“It was bad today,” he said. “It was a lot of mental errors. A lot of missed reads, missed throws. We just must be able to start faster, be able to just lock in quicker.”
The momentum shifted as Nebraska found success early in the second half on their first drive after quarterback Jeff Sims ran untouched for 57 yards, carrying the momentum after stopping Colorado.
However, the momentum swung back as Colorado completed a 10-play drive ending with Sanders second touchdown pass, this time to Xavier Weaver for 12-yards.
The third quarter ended with one more Colorado field goal, and a 23-7 score.
The fourth quarter an 8-yard run touchdown by Dawson off a reverse. Despite being ahead by 22 points, Colorado went for it and missed the opportunity since the passed ball from Sanders hit the ground before in front of a receiver.
Colorado scored one more touchdown before the game ended, and so did Nebraska in the last two-minutes for the final score to end the game 36-14.
Colorado will be at Folsom again next week to host state rival Colorado State University.
