Boulder, CU- It takes all three playing well to dominate a game—offense, defense and special teams—and Colorado also utilized their third string quarterback, sophomore Ryan Staub, in a game where all three-quarterback played.
It was a game of threes.
The first drive was helmed by senior Kaidon Salter, who drove down the field from their own thirteen-yard line. The drive featured a 21-yard run by the quarterback and a couple completions for first downs and ended with a 9-yard touchdown run by the quarterback.
Salter helmed the next drive, which ended with a field goal. This is Salter’s second start this season for Colorado, the first ending in a loss to Georgia Tech. He previously played for the Liberty Flames and Tennessee Volunteers.
On Colorado’s next drive, they gave the keys to freshman Julian Lewis for the next two drives. However, both ended with punts and the quarterback went 2-4 in completions.
Up to this point, the defense held Delaware on their first four drives—three ending in punts and one ending on downs as they struggled to get past their 50-yard line. Their next drive they drove down the field 80-yards in under 3-minutes and scored with 45-seconds left in the half.
With 75-yards to go and Colorado up 10-7, Staub was named the quarterback. The last time he had played was last year in late November against the Oklahoma State Cowboys where he threw one incomplete pass.
After two straight incompletions, Staub threw a 31-yard pass complete to senior Joseph Williams. He then ended the drive with a quick slant to senior DeKalon Taylor for a 21-yard touchdown with 9-seconds left in the half.
Colorado’s next drive at the start of the half and only took three plays ending with a Staub passing touchdown to graduate student Sincere Brown in stride for 71-yards.
With two touchdowns in under two-minutes Colorado increased their lead from 10-7 to 24-7.
A blocked punt by Colorado’s freshman Alexander McPherson gave Colorado a short field for their final touchdown score early in the fourth with Staub at the helm, ending in a 10-yard run from Micah Welch.
That was also Staub’s final drive. Overall, he ended with two touchdown passes, 7-10 for completions and 3/4 drives ended in touchdowns.
Colorado’s defense turned the ball over two times in the fourth. The first drive ended with a fumble after two plays, recovered by Colorado’s graduate student Jeremiah Brown. After Colorado failed to turn the turnover into points, RJ Johnson intercepted the pass to give Colorado the ball again.
With Salter at the helm, the team punted again. No team scored for the rest of the game and Colorado won 31-7.
Colorado is now 1-1 as they head to Houston next week.
After a well-played game Staub, the possibilities are open to see who will helm at quarterback next week. Again, next week there may be three quarterbacks playing.
