Colorado
4-9 , 1-8
Utah
9-3 , 6-3
Buffaloes Fall Just Short Of Utah, 20-14, In Season Finale
November 28, 2015 | Football, Neill Woelk
SALT LAKE CITY — The Colorado Buffaloes' season ended Saturday just as it began some 13 long weeks ago: a lengthy list of missed opportunities that turned a possible win into another loss.
Down to their third-string quarterback for more than half the game — and finally their fourth-stringer — the Buffs dropped a 20-14 decision to Utah to finish the season 4-9. Once again, the Buffs left empty red-zone possessions on the field, yielded key third-down conversions to the Utes and failed to take advantage of three Utah turnovers.
But now, instead of having another week to attempt to correct their errors, the Buffs must spend an entire offseason contemplating and addressing the miscues that led to another season of "What if ..."
"I don't know if 'frustrating' is even a word we can use anymore," CU head coach Mike MacIntyre said.
Indeed, it might have been the most-used word to describe the Buffs season — and Saturday's first quarter was a microcosm of the season. The Buffs reached inside the Utes' 10-yard line twice in the first 15 minutes, and came away empty both times. The first trip resulted in a blocked field goal; the second produced a Cade Apsay interception.
Apsay, making his second start in place of injured Sefo Liufau, suffered a concussion late in the second quarter and was replaced by Jordan Gehrke.
"It seemed like every game was a recurring theme," senior wide receiver Nelson Spruce said. "Not being able to finish. ... I really thought this last game with our seniors going off might be something special, but it just wasn't meant to be."
There were a few highlights Saturday, but they were more of the career variety. Spruce caught his 23rd career touchdown, putting him atop the all-time CU list. Spruce also recorded the ninth 100-yard receiving game of his career and passed the 1,000-yard mark for a season for the second time in his career.
Despite their missed opportunities in the first half, the Buffs trailed just 10-7 at intermission. But the Utes took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 68 yards in 13 plays for their second touchdown of the game and a 17-7 lead, then added a field goal on their next possession for a 20-7 lead.
CU's offense, meanwhile, struggled with Gehrke at the helm. He threw an interception on CU's first possession of the half, leading to the Utes' field goal, and could never get the offense untracked for a sustained drive.
The Buffs finally put together a long scoring drive late in the fourth quarter — with their fourth-string quarterback playing a major role.
The drive started with quarterback-turned linebacker-turned quarterback Jaleel Awini at the helm. With Awini and Gehrke alternating snaps, the Buffs drove 80 yards for a score. Awini converted a fourth-and-2 with an 8-yard run before Gehrke came in to finish the drive, throwing a 15-yard scoring pass to Phillip Lindsay with 4:13 left.
The Buffs then held the Utes on their next possession to force a punt and take possession at the Colorado 19 with 2:28 left in the game. The Buffs put a scare into the Rice-Eccles Stadium crowd by driving into Utah territory, but Gehrke fumbled after being sacked from behind and Utah recovered to end the game.
Utah held a scant 1-yard edge in total yardage, 326-325. The Buffs had 258 yards in the air; Utah had 218 on the ground. Utah finished with six quarterback sacks and converted 7 of 17 third-down tries while the Buffs were 5-for-16 on third down.
Phillip Lindsay led CU in rushing with 48 yards on nine carries while Joe Williams had 187 yards on 34 carries for Utah.
CU's defense, a much-improved unit from a year ago, did its part to keep the Buffs in the game. After giving up a long touchdown drive on Utah's first possession, the Buffs stiffened. The Buffs recorded three takeaways in the game — an interception and two fumble recoveries — but converted only one of those into a score.
"The defense played well," MacIntyre said. "We kept getting better and better on defense all year. Next year we should be a very, very good defense."
Colorado took the opening drive and moved deep into Utah territory for a first-and-goal at the Utes' 8-yard line. Apsay completed passes of 9 and 13 yards to Spruce and 16 yards to Sean Irwin. But when the Buffs hit the 8-yard line, Lindsay was stopped for no gain, Apsay threw incomplete on second down and was sacked on third down.
That led to a 31-yard field goal try from Diego Gonzalez, and the attempt was blocked. It was the seventh-straight game the Buffs missed at least one field goal.
The Utes took advantage of the stop and methodically moved 80 yards in 13 plays for a touchdown. Joe Williams carried five times for 32 yards on the drive before quarterback Travis Wilson capped the march with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Kenneth Scott with 4:45 left in the first quarter and Utah took a 7-0 lead.
Then came another CU trip to the red zone — and another empty possession. Apsay completed a 17-yard pass to Irwin on third-and-9, then threw 50 yards to Spruce, his longest reception of the season. The Buffs then reached the Utah 6 on an Apsay run and penalty on Utah, only to see Apsay throw an interception on third down to end the drive.
The Buffs had more chances in the half. Jordan Carrell forced a fumble that CU linebacker Kenneth Olugbode recovered on Utah's next possession, but the Buffs couldn't move the ball and lost it on downs when Apsay mishandled a snap on fourth-and-1.
Utah pushed the lead to 10-0 two possessions later, getting a 37-yard field goal from Andy Phillips, but Colorado finally converted an opportunity into points on the next possession.
The Buffs were forced to punt from their own 15, but Utah returner Boobie Hobbs muffed the kick and CU's Jered Bell recovered. Three plays later, Apsay hit Spruce with a 28-yard touchdown on a crossing pattern and the ensuing PAT cut Utah's lead 10-7.
The touchdown was the 23rd of Spruce's career, putting him into the all-time CU lead in that category. Spruce now holds the CU records for receptions, yardage and touchdown catches. Spruce also recorded the ninth 100-yard game of his career.
The rest of the half produced a wild shifting of momentum that saw neither team score. After a Utah punt, Apsay was intercepted again, but the Utes couldn't move and were then forced to punt the ball back.
Gehrke replaced an injured Apsay on CU's next possession and drove the Buffs from their own 11 into Utah territory before the drive stalled and CU punted. Utah then got a 64-yard run from Williams to reach deep into CU territory, but after offsetting penalties put the ball at the CU 18, CU's Tedric Thompson intercepted Wilson to end the drive. CU then ran just one play before heading to the locker room for halftime, trailing 10-7.
"We're so close ... so close," Thompson said. "Everyone says that, and I hate it — but I'm saying it, too. But this team made a lot of strides and we have to have everyone buying it for next year. I'm mad the season is over — but everyone has to have that same attitude for next year."
Team Stats
COLO 0, UTAH 7
UTAH - Scott, Kenneth 16 yd pass from Wilson, Travis (Phillips, Andy kick) 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:58
COLO 0, UTAH 10
UTAH - Phillips, Andy 37 yd field goal 8 plays, 40 yards, TOP 2:52
COLO 7, UTAH 10
COLO - Spruce, Nelson 28 yd pass from Apsay, Cade (Gonzalez, Diego kick) 3 plays, 33 yards, TOP 1:11
COLO 7, UTAH 17
UTAH - Williams, Joe 5 yd run (Phillips, Andy kick), 13 plays, 68 yards, TOP 5:16
COLO 7, UTAH 20
UTAH - Phillips, Andy 27 yd field goal 7 plays, 19 yards, TOP 2:37
COLO 14, UTAH 20
COLO - Lindsay,Phillip 16 yd pass from Gehrke, Jordan (Gonzalez, Diego kick) 13 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:23
