Colorado University Athletics
Colorado-Texas Tech Notes
October 23, 2010 | Football
Quickly The series for the time being concludes at 5-5; the home team won the first eight games, with the road team breaking through for the final two (each is 4-1 at home and 1-4 on the road) ... The first quarter took all of 32 minutes to play (and that included 5½ of commercial breaks) ... Travon Patterson's 43-yard punt return in the first quarter was the longest CU punt return since Josh Smith had a 51-yarder vs. Eastern Washington on Sept. 6, 2008 ... CU has now outscored the opponent 60-28 in the third quarter (14-7 today) ... P Zach Grossnickle had his first collegiate punt for 50 or more yards (51-yarder in fourth quarter) ... Tech rushed for 144 yards after CU had held it under 100 the last four games in the series (91, 91, 31, 39) ... Ten different Buffs had a hand in earning the team's 20 first downs ... QB Tyler Hansen piloted the offense for 26 plays (for 80 yards) prior to leaving the game with a rib injury in the second quarter; QB Cody Hawkins directed 59 plays for 284 yards ... Tech averaged 6.9 yards on first down, well below the 10-plus both Georgia and Baylor had averaged in CU's last two home games; three plays accounted for 107 of its 233 first down yards ... The Buffs are 0-3 in Big 12 Conference play for the first time in the 15 year history of the league, and dropped their first three league games since opening 0-4 in the Big Eight in 1983 ... TTU scored one touchdown rushing, just the fourth allowed on the ground this season; the Buffs are among the national leaders in fewest rushing TDs allowed (tied for fifth coming into today) ... The Buffs final game against Big 12 South teams is next Saturday at Oklahoma; as of now, CU is an even 22-22 in regular season play against the South, plus another 1-3 in league championship games.
BALL HOGS Colorado came in ranked fourth in the nation in time of possession (33:59), and promptly came out and held the ball for 20:03 in the first half (10:21 in the first quarter). The Buffs have held the time advantage in all seven games this season, though Tech made it closer today than in any of the seven, as TTU had it for 19:26 in the second half.
TRIO MAKES FIRST STARTS Mainly due to injuries, three players started for the first time, all on defense: DE Nick Kasa, SS Terrel Smith and CB Jonathan Hawkins (at the nickel position). Smith is the second true freshman to start a game this year, joining Jered Bell, who started last week (vs. Baylor) at strong safety. OT Bryce Givens also made his first start of the season at right tackle.
TB RODNEY STEWART (20-34, 0 TD) He was held to a season-low 34 yards (previous low was 67 against CSU), but he did covert on two 3rd-&-1s and a 4th-&-1 to improve to 12-of-13 in those situations this fall (23-of-26 for his career). He is also 18-for-22 in third/fourth down rushing this season from all distances.
CB JALIL BROWN (1 INT) He made his third interception of the year, giving him six for his career; that ties him for 28th all-time at CU, the 43rd player to make six career picks.
QB CODY HAWKINS (43-22-0, 274, 2 TD) He became only the third player in CU history to pass for 6,000 yards in a career, finishing the day with 6,269; he joins Joel Klatt (7,375) and Kordell Stewart (6,481) as the three who have done it. He added to his all-time CU mark of TD passes, as he now has 48, and also became the third player in Buff history to eclipse 6,000 yards in total offense (6,124).
WR SCOTTY McKNIGHT (5-50, 0 TD) He extended his NCAA-active best regular season streak to 43 games with at least one reception (every game of his career, 44 including postseason). He is inching closer to 200 career receptions (196), adding to his all-time CU mark with every catch, and he has 2,238 career receiving yards, 209 shy of third place (Charles E. Johnson, 2,447).
WR PAUL RICHARDSON (4-79, 2 TD) He became the first true freshman in CU history to have two touchdown receptions in the same game, and just the third frosh (true/redshirt) to do it, joining WR Michael Westbrook (1991 vs. Missouri) and Brody Heffner (1996 vs. Iowa State ... before he tacked on Liddiard to his last name). The four catches and 79 yards are career highs for Richardson. Scotty McKnight was the last player to have two TD catches in a game (vs. Nebraska in Boulder last year and vs. Iowa State at Folsom in 2008).
TODAY'S PUNCH vs. PUNCH WINNER: COLORADO. Texas Tech came in converting just under 45 percent on third down, but the Buffs held the Red Raiders to 5-of-15 (33%, just a shade above CU's average allowed of 32.4). The Buffs also had two quarterback sacks and an interception on third down plays.
COLORADO INJURIES QB Tyler Hansen (left rib), ILB Jon Major (sprained knee), OT Bryce Givens (ankle). Status on all to be better known Sunday and/or Monday.
