Colorado-Nicholls Notes
September 26, 2015 | Football
Today's Captains: Bell, Kelley, Olugbode, Powell
Players who carried out CU's symbolic instruments today:
Sledgehammer: George Frazier            Â
Toolbox: John Finch
Special Teams Belt: Tedric Thompson Â
Buffalo Head: Hunter Shaw
United States Flag: Jonathan HuckinsÂ
Colorado Flag: John Lisella
QUICKLY CU has won three straight games for the first time since the first three games of the 2008 season (will go for four in a row for the first time since winning five straight in 2002 against Oregon next week) … CU recorded its first shutout since a 24-0 blanking of Wyoming in Boulder on Sept. 19, 2009; it was also CU's largest margin of victory since a 66-14 win over NE Louisiana on Sept. 16, 1995 (52 points) … The 48-point margin of victory is the most in the MacIntyre Era (topping a 48-14 win over UMass two weeks ago) … CU has 143 points in four games, its most after four games since 1999 (152; 20-plus in all, last time accomplished in 2002 to open a season); The Buffs are now 8-2 in non-conference games under MacIntyre, along with 6-7 when scoring first, and 8-7 with 400-plus yards of total offense (3-0 when holding the opponent to 17 or fewer points) …
Colorado did not have a negative play on offense until its 92nd and 93rd plays—the two kneel-downs at the end of the game … Note that CU ran 71 plays in plus territory (Nicholls ran 3); the only drive CU did not run a play on the Nicholls side of the field out of 14 drives was the one where Donovan Lee scored on a 59-yard run … CU had 33 first downs, earned by 13 different players … Nicholls' average field position was its own 15, starting 10 of 14 drives at its 20 or worse (eight inside-the-20); it's other four were at its 25 after touchbacks on kickoffs … CU's was its own 47.
The 636 yards are the most in the Mac Era to the 630 at Cal last year (in 2 OT); the regulation high was 558 against UMass two weeks ago … With 358 yards rushing and 278 passing, it marked the 56th time at CU the Buffs had over 200 yards in each (48-8 in those games) … This is the second shutout in MacIntyre's career; at San Jose State, the Spartans shutout Navy, 12-0, in 2012 … CU played 70 of 78 players who dressed for the game.
TODAY'S FIRSTSÂ Quite a few this afternoon:
First Career TDs: TB Kyle Evans, WR Jay MacIntyre
First Career Passing Numbers: QB Cade Apsay
First Career Receptions:Â TB Kyle Evans, TE Chris Hill, WR Jay MacIntyre
First Career Start: DE Michael Mathewes.
First Career Action: Five Buffaloes hit the field for the first time today: QB Cade Apsay, TE Brian Boatman, FB John Finch, DE Garrett Gregory, DL Blake Robbins.
TB/WR DONOVAN LEE (10-103, 1 TD RUSHING) Pressed into service at tailback due to injuries, he responded with his first 100-yard game and first rushing TD; he had a score last year at Oregon). His 59-yard TD run was the longest play of his career, topping a 45-yard gain on a reverse last year vs. Arizona State.
TB PHILLIP LINDSAY (17-113, 2 TD) He had his second career 100-yard game and his first multi-TD game; he was one yard shy of his career high (114 at Arizona last year).
 WR JAY MacINTYRE (3-53, 1 TD) His first career catch went for a touchdown. He also had two punt returns for 35 yards, more than doubling CU's total on its previous other nine (14 yards). His 31-yard was the longest by a Buff since Travon Patterson returned one 45 yards against Texas Tech on Oct. 23, 2010.
WR NELSON SPRUCE (5-80, 0 TD) He set the CU career mark for career receiving yards with 2,570 after starting the day in fourth place; he passed Scotty McKnight (2,521), Rae Carruth (2,540) and Michael Westbrook (2,548, who set the record back in 1994). 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 29 straight games (multiple in 24 straight, the latter also a record as are his 230 career receptions.Â
INDIVIDUAL LINER NOTES
S Jered Bell (2 INT). In picking off his fifth and sixth career passes, he is the first Buff to have two in a game since Greg Henderson against Oregon on Oct. 5, 2013; it was the 75th time in CU history a player had two or more in a game.
QB Sefo Liufau (21-13-0, 227, 1 TD). He moved into fourth place in all-time passing yards with 5,750, passing Tyler Hansen (5,705, 2008-11).  He is now tied for second in career TD passes with 44 (matching Joel Klatt, 2002-05), trailing only Cody Hawkins (60; 2007-10). And he became the fifth Buff to eclipse 6,000 yards of total offense (6,072) as well as the fifth CU player to record 1,000 plays from scrimmage (1,004; 862 pass, 142 rush).
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