Buffs Fall At Washington State, 27-3

PULLMAN, Wash. — Facing the No. 24 team in the country on the road with a backup quarterback at the helm, the Colorado Buffaloes needed a near-perfect effort to knock off Washington State on Saturday night.

They didn't get it. Instead, it was Washington State quarterback Luke Falk who was near perfect for the better part of three quarters while the Buffs once again made too many mistakes to keep themselves in the game.

The result was the Buffs' seventh Pac-12 loss of the season, a 27-3 decision that officially eliminated any hope of a postseason berth. Colorado dropped to 4-8 on the year and will finish the season next Saturday with a 12:30 game at Utah (Pac-12 Networks).

After the game, frustrations were evident in the CU locker room, where player after player expressed disappointment with what they called a "flat" effort.

"It's frustrating because we've worked so hard in getting over the hump," said running back Phillip Lindsay, who led the Buffs in rushing with 78 yards. "You've got to have some dog in you, and we didn't go out there with that mentality. People need to make their minds up that they're going to have that fight in them."

Said safety Tedric Thompson, who saw another interception yield nothing when the Buffs came up empty on fourth-and-goal:
"The fact that we didn't come out ready to play — that's our frustration."

The Buffs had their chances in the first half, but couldn't take advantage when opportunity knocked, as missed field goals, dropped passes and penalties took their toll. WSU took a 14-0 lead into the locker room at intermission, then added to the lead early in the third quarter with a field goal following an interception thrown by CU quarterback Cade Apsay.

Apsay, making his first start as a Buff, played relatively well, especially given his inexperience. He completed 26 of his 40 pass attempts for 238 yards, but did not have a touchdown pass and threw two interceptions. He did lead the Buffs on two potential scoring drives in the first half — but both ended on missed field goals by CU kicker Diego Gonzalez.

"We had our opportunities to win this game and we didn't," head coach Mike MacIntyre said. "Somehow, we've got to fix it. We've got to do a better job coaching and getting them ready."

There was no area immune from mistakes. The offense once again managed to drive inside an opponent's territory several times only to come up empty. The defense came up with some key stops — but also gave up a 29-yard completion on fourth and 6 that led to WSU's first touchdown. And special teams pitched in to the misery with the two missed field goals.

Falk, who left the game with a head injury after a sack in the third quarter, was 21-for-23 for 156 yards and a touchdown in the first half. But while he did guide two long scoring drives in the first half, the Buffs also forced two punts and stopped WSU on a fourth-and-6.

Colorado, though, could never muster any consistent offense. CU finally got on the board late in the third quarter when Apsay led a 10-play, 66-yard drive that finished with a 24-yard Gonzalez field goal to cut WSU's lead to 17-3, but that proved to be CU's only score of the night.

Falk was injured late in the third quarter when his head slammed to the turf on a sack by Colorado defensive lineman Samson Kafovalu. Falk was motionless on the turf for several minutes, but did give a thumbs up to the crowd as he was being taken from the field on a stretcher.

Backup Peyton Bender, however, finished the drive by putting the Cougars in field position for a field goal, then put the game away for all intents and purposes by taking the WSU 76 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown early in the fourth period. Bender tossed a 16-yard touchdown to Gabe Marks to cap the drive and give WSU a 24-3 lead with 14:25 left in the game.

Colorado had one more chance to score late in the game following a Thompson interception, but a bad snap led to an Apsay fumble on fourth-and-2, and the Buffs turned it over on downs.

Washington State then drove 72 yards for a field goal and the game's final points.

"We just couldn't piece a drive together," Apsay said. "All the flags, false starts … we got to the red zone four or five times but couldn't punch it in."

Lindsay led the Buffs in rushing with 78 yards on 16 carries. Spruce had 10 catches for 120 yards, the eighth 100-yard game of his career.

The Buffs kept the 8-3 Cougars in check on WSU's first two possessions, forcing a punt on their opening drive, then stopping a Washington State fourth-down try.

But the Buffs couldn't take advantage either time. CU's first possession ended on a missed Gonzalez field try from 47 yards out after CU drove to the Washington State 30. Apsay completed passes of 11 and 16 yards to Spruce on the drive, and an 11-yarder to Shay Fields.

CU's second possession ended on its own 42 when the Buffs couldn't convert a fourth-and-1. Colorado tried a quarterback sneak on the play, but Apsay was stopped for no gain and Washington State took over.

"That was a big turn right there," MacIntyre said. "Fourth and inches and we didn't get it."

The Cougars didn't let that opportunity slip away. Falk completed a 29-yard pass on fourth-and-6 to keep the march alive and Keith Harrington capped a seven-play, 42-yard march with a 1-yard touchdown run. Erik Powell's PAT gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead with 1:17 left in the first period.

CU's next possession ended after just four plays, two of which were dropped passes. An Alex Kinney punt pinned Washington State at its own 4, but 10 plays later, the Cougars were back in the end zone. Falk completed nine straight passes on the drive, with the score coming on an 11-yard toss to Dom Williams for a 14-0 Cougar lead.

Colorado then had one more chance to get on the board before the half ended. Starting from their own 15, the Buffs drove to the WSU 16. Apsay hit Spruce for a 29-yard gain, then connected with him again on fourth-and-7 following a CU penalty. But, another penalty on third-and-3 was followed by an incompletion — and Gonzalez missed again, this time from 33 yards out, and the half ended with WSU holding a 14-0 lead.

"It's insanely frustrating," Apsay said. "It's been a trend all season. We have to find a way to finish those drives."

Now, the Buffs have just one more chance to solve that puzzle.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu

Next Event

Team Stats

Cade Apsay

Nelson Spruce

Players Mentioned

Cade Apsay

Shay Fields

Diego Gonzalez

Samson Kafovalu

Alex Kinney

Phillip Lindsay

Tedric Thompson

Players Mentioned

Cade Apsay

Shay Fields

Diego Gonzalez

Samson Kafovalu

Alex Kinney

Phillip Lindsay

Tedric Thompson