Colorado-Arizona State Notes
October 11, 2015 | Football
Tonight's Captains: McCartney, Murphy, Powell, Spruce
Players who carried out CU's symbolic instruments tonight:
Sledgehammer: Phillip Lindsay             Â
Toolbox: John Lisella
Special Teams Belt: Ryan Severson     Â
Buffalo Head: Eddy Lopez
United States Flag Christian Shaver    Â
Colorado Flag: Aaron Howard
QUICKLY Arizona State now leads the series by a 7-0 count (4-0 in Tempe), with only USC reeling off more wins at the start of a series against Colorado … CU's 24-10 halftime deficit was much different than its last two trips to Tempe, when CU trailed by a combined 76-13 (31-7 in 2011, 45-6 in 2013) …
Colorado has made at least one field goal in all six games this season, the longest streak since ending 2010 with six games and starting 2011 with two for eight overall.
Ahkello Witherspoon's second career interception (second this season) gave CU an interception for all six games this season; the last time the Buffs picked off a pass in six straight games were the final six games of the 2004 season.
CU's first down defense in the first half limited ASU to 52 yards on 14 plays … the longest two plays being 9 yards; that was 3.7 per play. For the game, ASU ran 27 plays for 107 yards (3.96 per), earning a first down just once (an 11-yard run by Bercovici).
Colorado is now 10-of-10 on 3rd-&-1 this season.
Arizona State had the most sacks (eight) since Missouri and Texas A&M both had eight against the in back-to-back games against Buffs during the 2009 season.
INDIVIDUAL LINER NOTES
TE Sean Irwin (1-42, 0 TD). His 42-yard reception in the first quarter almost doubled his previous long (22); he had 11 career catches for 100 yards prior to the catch, which thus represented 42 percent of his yards at that point (he's primarily a blocking end).
WR Devin Ross (2-90, 1 TD). He scored his second career TD on the longest play of his career (68 yards); his previous long was a 24-yard TD against Colorado State (he had 14 catches for 103 yards in his career prior to tonight).
WR Shay Fields (5-103, 0 TD). He had his first career 100-yard game and now has three career plays over 65 yards with his 67-yard catch, elude and run play that set up a CU touchdown in the fourth quarter.
QB Sefo Liufau (40-25-1, 389, 1 TD). He threw for the second most yards in his career (topped only by 455 last year against Cal in the 2OT game).  The 389 yards were the most by a Buff against an Arizona State team, topping the 285 Tyler Hansen had in the 2011 game.  He had 50 plays tonight to give him 1,109 for his career, moving him into third all-time as he passed Kordell Stewart (1,087, 1991-94).
Spruce-to-Liufau. For the fourth time in their careers, they connected in reverse; Liufau has caught all four of his career receptions from Spruce for 68 yards and one TD. Spruce also had a throwback pass to Jordan Webb in 2012; he is now 5-of-6 for 83 yards as a passer in his CU career.
WR Nelson Spruce (6-77, 0 TD).  He continued to add to his school marks in career receptions (242) and yards (2,724). He is with 18 of becoming the Pac-12's all-time leader in catches. He still is chasing the career TD mark (he has 20, two shy of McKnight's record), and he has caught at least one pass in 31 straight games (multiple in 26 straight).
