Boulder, CU – Penalties and a scoreless fourth quarter cost the game for CU in their 31-35 loss against the USC Trojans. This game is the fourth straight loss for the team as their record falls to 3-5.
Overall, Colorado played a decent game on all sides of the ball, including 520 yards of total offense, one defensive turnover, and flawless red-zone performance.
The game came down to a couple of lost opportunities and penalties according to some players and coaches.
“You know when you get 13 penalties for 100 yards it’s just really hard to win like that,” said Head Coach Mel Tucker, “I mean every 100 yards is a touchdown.”
Just like previous home performances, the game was close throughout. The third quarter began with a 17-14 CU lead, and right out of the gates they scored on a two-play 45-second drive that ended with a 71 yards touchdown pass from Steven Montez to Laviska Shenault Jr.
USC responded with a 75-yard, five-play drive that resulted in a 21-yard touchdown pass from Kedon Slovis to Tyler Vaughns.
The games offensive excitement continued with Montez rushing 17 yards in for a touchdown to put his team ahead by 31-21. CU held on to it’s lead at the start of the fourth quarter but failed to score again on three different drives.
The Trojans offense responded with two touchdowns.
Down by four points, and with over two minutes left; CU had one more opportunity to win the game, but the last pass from Montez to Alex Fontenot was a couple of yards shy of the first down.
The Trojans ran out the clock accepted the victory on their last drive.
Montez played almost a flawless game with three touchdowns, 324 yards, and one rushing touchdowns.
A lot criticism was directed towards Montez’s play in previous weeks, but despite that, Tucker has stayed loyal with his quarterback.
And Montez just shrugs it off.
“It comes with the position. If you don’t want to be criticized then don’t play Quarterback, it’s that simple,” said Montez, “So take those criticisms—get better from them—ignore them—whatever you want to do with them, but just got to come out and play clean football.”
