Saturday, November 19
Boulder, Colo.
1:30 PM
Colorado
9-2 , 7-1
38
vs
24
Washington State
8-3 , 7-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Washington State
14
3
7
0
24
Colorado
7
7
14
10
38
Photo by: Tony Harman
Buffs’ Ground Game Steps To Forefront In Crucial 38-24 Pac-12 Win
November 19, 2016 | Football, B.G. Brooks
Box ScoreWATCH HIGHLIGHTSWATCH PAC-12 HIGHLIGHTSWATCH PRESSER AWUZIEWATCH PRESSER LIUFAU & FISHERQuotesNotesFinal Game BookLIUFAU EPITOMIZES BUFFS RESURGENCEBG: BUFFS MAN UPFISHER STEPS INNOTES: RUNNING GAME DOMINATESWATCH KOA RECAPWATCH COACH MAC ON SEFOWATCH SEFO ON THE WINWATCH AWUZIE ON THE WINWATCH MAC POSTGAME SPEECH
Lindsay, Liufau combine for 252 yards rushing, 5 touchdowns
BOULDER – Behind a dominant running game and an opportunistic, take-charge defense, the No. 12 Colorado Buffaloes dispatched No. 20 Washington State 38-24 Saturday afternoon at Folsom Field and remained in control of the Pac-12 Conference's South Division.
Tailback Phillip Lindsay and quarterback Sefo Liufau accounted for 252 of CU's 258 yards rushing and scored five touchdowns between them. Lindsay ran for 144 yards, going over 1,000 for the season and 2,000 for his career, and scored twice. Liufau ran for a career-best 108 yards, scored three TDs and completed 27-of-41 passes for 345 yards. With his 100-yard rushing, 300-yard passing game, Liufau became only the second player in CU history to accomplish that feat. The first was his backup, Steven Montez, this season at Oregon.
.
WSU entered the game with the Pac-12's top-ranked rushing defense, allowing only 116.9 yards a game. Cougars quarterback Luke Falk, the league leader in passing (361.0 yards a game) and total offense (356.2), completed 26-of-53 passes for 325 yards, with three TDs and one interception.
CU (9-2, 7-1) scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to finally put away WSU (8-3, 7-1), which had won eight straight games after opening the season 0-2. It was the Buffs' first win against a ranked opponent since 2009.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Buffs stopped the Cougars on their first possession, took over and promptly marched 81 yards in 12 plays – mixing four pass completions with eight runs and scoring on a 9-yard carry by Lindsay. Davis Price's PAT put CU up 7-0 with 10:34 left in the first quarter.
But WSU retaliated quickly, and at the culmination of a 78-yard scoring drive CU lost safety Afolabi Laguda for the remainder of the game on a targeting call. He was whistled for hitting receiver Robert Lewis in the end zone during the completion of a 14-yard scoring pass from Falk.
The drive's critical play was a 32-yard run by Jamal Morrow, who pulled free of a tackle in the backfield and carried to the CU 14. With the score tied at 7-7, the Buffs dodged a mortar shell.
A Lindsay fumble was recovered by WSU linebacker Frank Luvu at the CU 38. But the Buffs held, and on fourth down Erik Powell was wide left on a 51-yard field goal attempt.
CU quickly moved to the WSU 28, where on fourth-and-two Liufau was hounded into an incompletion. The march's big play was a 29-yard completion to receiver Bryce Bobo, but it also was costly: Bobo left the field with what appeared to be a leg injury.
From their own 28, Falk and the Cougars needed just three plays to travel 72 yards and break the tie, the score coming on an immaculately thrown 46-yard pass to Morrow. Powell's extra point made the score 14-7 and the first quarter ended that way.
The Buffs failed to convert on a third-and-10 to open the second quarter and punted. Starting at his own 7-yard line, Falk quickly moved the Cougars to the Buffs 26, where on fourth-and-7 Akhello Witherspoon deflected Falk's pass and put CU in possession.
A 14-14 tie was looming, and it was Liufau who loaded up and took the Buffs 74 yards to create it. He completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards, got a 10-yard run from Lindsay, then gained the last 14 yards of the drive himself. His final of three carries was for 3 yards and the score, and Price's point after pulled CU into the 14-14 deadlock with 7:35 left before the half.
It lasted a little over 3 minutes, or until Powell's 28-yard field goal on the 13th play of a 65-yard march gave the Cougars a 17-14 advantage. The Buffs had 4:23 before intermission to respond but they turned the ball over on downs -- and the Cougars turned it right back.
But CU temporarily got the best of these two turns. WSU's Kyle Sweet popped up his punt; it traveled 1 yard, giving the Buffs possession at the Cougars' 48-yard line. A third-down completion from Liufau to Jay MacIntyre moved the Buffs 23 yards to the 21, and a first down pass from Liufau for Kabion Ento slipped through Ento's hands as he crossed the goal line.
Three plays later, Price's attempt at a 38-yard field goal and a 17-17 halftime tie fluttered wide right and far short of the uprights. CU trailed by three at the break but could look forward to receiving the second-half kickoff.
The Cougars outgained the Buffs 314-286 in the first half, with Falk completing 16 of his 34 pass attempts for 248 yards and the two TDs. Liufau was 14-of-25 for 183 yards and rushed for 40 of CU's 103. The Buffs outrushed the Cougars 103-66 in the opening half.
With Liufau again supplying most of the legwork and completing two of four passes, the Buffs took the second half kickoff and fashioned an 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive. CU converted three of three third-down attempts on the march, with Liufau keeping and converting on two of the three.
And he scored the TD on a 7-yard keeper, faking a handoff to tailback Kyle Evans and strolling around left end untouched. Price kicked the Buffs ahead 21-17 less than 4 minutes into the third quarter.
After CU's defense forced another WSU punt, Liufau and his offense put together what appeared to be a promising drive that began at the Buffs 17. It stalled at the Cougars' 38, where a fourth-down-and-seven Liufau to Devin Ross pass was two yards short.
Taking over at his own 33, Falk topped off a 67-yard drive with a 7-yard TD pass to receiver John Thompson. Powell's PAT put Wazzu on top 24-21, but a back-and-forth afternoon was underway and it was the Buffs' turn to come forth.
They did it in eight plays, with Liufau again capping the march (75 yards) with an 11-yard keeper run off right tackle. After Price's extra point made it 28-24, CU's defense got another shot at slowing Falk – and this time he had another short field after Chris Graham's kickoff trickled out of bounds at the WSU 1-yard line.
Starting at its own 35, Wazzu went as far as the CU 18, where on fourth-and-four a Falk-to-Sweet pass was stopped a yard short on a sure takedown by Buffs safety Nick Fisher.
It could have been a game-turning stop, but what happened on the ensuing drive could have been game-turning. On the ninth play of a 12-play drive, Liufau gained 4 yards on a keeper to the WSU 28 and stayed down after being tackled.
He was helped to the sidelines and replaced by Steven Montez. The march stalled at the Cougars 28 and Graham was summoned to kick a 46-yard field goal. He made it, and the Buffs took a 31-24 lead with 9:09 remaining.
After forcing another Wazzu punt, Liufau – of course – returned. And he engineered a game-sealing 63-yard trek to the end, replete with reverse double-lateral trickery that resulted in a 23-yard Liufau-to-Devin Ross completion to the WSU 26.
Four plays later, Lindsay scored his second TD of the afternoon on a 13-yard run. After Price's PAT, the Buffs could take a deep breath; they had a 38-24 lead with 4:18 to play.
But just to seal the deal, linebacker Jimmie Gilbert sacked Falk and forced a fumble that fellow 'backer Addison Gillam draped himself over. The Buffs turned it back to the Cougars on downs, but only 2:58 remained and Wazzu was two TDs back.
Even for Falk and his Air Raid offense, it was too much to ask. And CU safety Tedric Thompson made sure nothing miraculous happened, intercepting Falk with 26 seconds left.
Liufau took a knee, time expired and the Buffs' dream had never been more alive.
TURNING POINT: With CU leading 28-24 and WSU at the Buffs 18-yard line, sophomore safety Nick Fisher – subbing for ejected Afolabi Laguda – made a critical fourth-and-four stop. CU took advantage, driving for a 46-yard field goal by Chris Graham to open a 31-24 lead with 9:09 to play.
CU STANDOUTS: Lindsay rushed for 144 yards on 31 carries, scored two touchdowns and caught five passes for 50 yards; Liufau completed 27 of 41 passes for 345 yards and ran 23 times for 108 yards and three TDs; Ross made 8 receptions for 121 yards; MacIntyre made 7 for 90 yards; Chidobe Awuzie finished with 7 tackles (6 solo), while Fisher and tackle Samson Kafovalu had six tackles each (all unassisted).
KEY STATISTIC: The Buffs rushed for 258 yards against the Pac-12's No. 1 rushing defense (116.9). They also passed for 345, generating 603 yards of total offense to the Cougars' 462.
THE PLATI'-TUDE STAT: The Buffs converted 13-of-21 third downs and held the Cougars to only 4-of-15. WSU was 2-of-4 on fourth-down conversions, CU 0-for-3.
WHAT IT MEANS: Now at 7-1 in conference play, CU can win the Pac-12 South outright with a victory over Utah in next week's regular-season finale.
NOTEWORTHY: Saturday's attendance of 48,658 was the highest of the season at Folsom, surpassing the 48,588 present for Arizona State . . . CU won the coin toss, making the Buffs 10-1 in that category this season. Liufau calls the toss and traditionally goes with, "Tails never fails." . . . . The Buffs were outfitted in gray pants, black jerseys (white numerals), with silver helmets – maybe their fave uni combo . . . . With two turnovers -- a fumble recovery by Addison Gillam, an interception by Tedric Thompson -- the Buffs extended their streak of games with consecutive turnovers to a nation-leading 24 . . . . Lindsay entered Saturday's game needing 63 rushing yards to top 1,000 for the season and for the first time in his career. He also needed 19 yards to break 2,000 for his career. He hit the second plateau (2,000 yards) on a 22-yard run on CU's first scoring drive, and capped that march one play later with a 9-yard run. Lindsay reached 1,000 yards for the season on a 10-yard run early in the second quarter . . . . At 9-2 overall, the 2016 Buffs have recorded the program's 14th 9-win season. The most recent: 2002 (9-5) . . . . Wazzu was the Pac-12's only unbeaten team in conference play (7-0) . . . . CU now leads the series 6-4 with WSU and evened its record at 3-3 against the Cougars in Boulder.
QUOTEWORTHY: "At home it's definitely the 12th man – our fans. They give us so much energy and keep us in the last quarters and keep our motivation up." – CU receiver Devin Ross
"We've just been through hell and back so many times that now we're in this position we know we never want to go back to where we were before." – CU center Alex Kelley
"As a team we just want to do our best every week but we are going to make mistakes. I know I made a couple and I got ripped for it. But I feel like our maturity level has gotten us to the next point to where we can just take it and move on to the next play." – CU DT Jordan Carrell
"I have to think about that and look at the stats. Coming out of the half it was one of those scores where they ran right through us, where the quarterback ran right through us. I think that was the turning point where they got the upper hand." – WSU coach Mike Leach on the game's turning point
"I think they were a good group, they play pretty sound ball. We shot ourselves in the foot; we were moving the ball really good but we just couldn't convert on those key downs and key situations." – WSU QB Luke Falk
NEXT UP: The Buffs close out the regular season with Senior Day next Saturday against Utah (5:30 p.m. Folsom Field, Fox)
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
Tailback Phillip Lindsay and quarterback Sefo Liufau accounted for 252 of CU's 258 yards rushing and scored five touchdowns between them. Lindsay ran for 144 yards, going over 1,000 for the season and 2,000 for his career, and scored twice. Liufau ran for a career-best 108 yards, scored three TDs and completed 27-of-41 passes for 345 yards. With his 100-yard rushing, 300-yard passing game, Liufau became only the second player in CU history to accomplish that feat. The first was his backup, Steven Montez, this season at Oregon.
.
WSU entered the game with the Pac-12's top-ranked rushing defense, allowing only 116.9 yards a game. Cougars quarterback Luke Falk, the league leader in passing (361.0 yards a game) and total offense (356.2), completed 26-of-53 passes for 325 yards, with three TDs and one interception.
CU (9-2, 7-1) scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to finally put away WSU (8-3, 7-1), which had won eight straight games after opening the season 0-2. It was the Buffs' first win against a ranked opponent since 2009.
HOW IT HAPPENED: The Buffs stopped the Cougars on their first possession, took over and promptly marched 81 yards in 12 plays – mixing four pass completions with eight runs and scoring on a 9-yard carry by Lindsay. Davis Price's PAT put CU up 7-0 with 10:34 left in the first quarter.
But WSU retaliated quickly, and at the culmination of a 78-yard scoring drive CU lost safety Afolabi Laguda for the remainder of the game on a targeting call. He was whistled for hitting receiver Robert Lewis in the end zone during the completion of a 14-yard scoring pass from Falk.
The drive's critical play was a 32-yard run by Jamal Morrow, who pulled free of a tackle in the backfield and carried to the CU 14. With the score tied at 7-7, the Buffs dodged a mortar shell.
A Lindsay fumble was recovered by WSU linebacker Frank Luvu at the CU 38. But the Buffs held, and on fourth down Erik Powell was wide left on a 51-yard field goal attempt.
CU quickly moved to the WSU 28, where on fourth-and-two Liufau was hounded into an incompletion. The march's big play was a 29-yard completion to receiver Bryce Bobo, but it also was costly: Bobo left the field with what appeared to be a leg injury.
From their own 28, Falk and the Cougars needed just three plays to travel 72 yards and break the tie, the score coming on an immaculately thrown 46-yard pass to Morrow. Powell's extra point made the score 14-7 and the first quarter ended that way.
The Buffs failed to convert on a third-and-10 to open the second quarter and punted. Starting at his own 7-yard line, Falk quickly moved the Cougars to the Buffs 26, where on fourth-and-7 Akhello Witherspoon deflected Falk's pass and put CU in possession.
A 14-14 tie was looming, and it was Liufau who loaded up and took the Buffs 74 yards to create it. He completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards, got a 10-yard run from Lindsay, then gained the last 14 yards of the drive himself. His final of three carries was for 3 yards and the score, and Price's point after pulled CU into the 14-14 deadlock with 7:35 left before the half.
It lasted a little over 3 minutes, or until Powell's 28-yard field goal on the 13th play of a 65-yard march gave the Cougars a 17-14 advantage. The Buffs had 4:23 before intermission to respond but they turned the ball over on downs -- and the Cougars turned it right back.
But CU temporarily got the best of these two turns. WSU's Kyle Sweet popped up his punt; it traveled 1 yard, giving the Buffs possession at the Cougars' 48-yard line. A third-down completion from Liufau to Jay MacIntyre moved the Buffs 23 yards to the 21, and a first down pass from Liufau for Kabion Ento slipped through Ento's hands as he crossed the goal line.
Three plays later, Price's attempt at a 38-yard field goal and a 17-17 halftime tie fluttered wide right and far short of the uprights. CU trailed by three at the break but could look forward to receiving the second-half kickoff.
The Cougars outgained the Buffs 314-286 in the first half, with Falk completing 16 of his 34 pass attempts for 248 yards and the two TDs. Liufau was 14-of-25 for 183 yards and rushed for 40 of CU's 103. The Buffs outrushed the Cougars 103-66 in the opening half.
With Liufau again supplying most of the legwork and completing two of four passes, the Buffs took the second half kickoff and fashioned an 11-play, 71-yard scoring drive. CU converted three of three third-down attempts on the march, with Liufau keeping and converting on two of the three.
And he scored the TD on a 7-yard keeper, faking a handoff to tailback Kyle Evans and strolling around left end untouched. Price kicked the Buffs ahead 21-17 less than 4 minutes into the third quarter.
After CU's defense forced another WSU punt, Liufau and his offense put together what appeared to be a promising drive that began at the Buffs 17. It stalled at the Cougars' 38, where a fourth-down-and-seven Liufau to Devin Ross pass was two yards short.
Taking over at his own 33, Falk topped off a 67-yard drive with a 7-yard TD pass to receiver John Thompson. Powell's PAT put Wazzu on top 24-21, but a back-and-forth afternoon was underway and it was the Buffs' turn to come forth.
They did it in eight plays, with Liufau again capping the march (75 yards) with an 11-yard keeper run off right tackle. After Price's extra point made it 28-24, CU's defense got another shot at slowing Falk – and this time he had another short field after Chris Graham's kickoff trickled out of bounds at the WSU 1-yard line.
Starting at its own 35, Wazzu went as far as the CU 18, where on fourth-and-four a Falk-to-Sweet pass was stopped a yard short on a sure takedown by Buffs safety Nick Fisher.
It could have been a game-turning stop, but what happened on the ensuing drive could have been game-turning. On the ninth play of a 12-play drive, Liufau gained 4 yards on a keeper to the WSU 28 and stayed down after being tackled.
He was helped to the sidelines and replaced by Steven Montez. The march stalled at the Cougars 28 and Graham was summoned to kick a 46-yard field goal. He made it, and the Buffs took a 31-24 lead with 9:09 remaining.
After forcing another Wazzu punt, Liufau – of course – returned. And he engineered a game-sealing 63-yard trek to the end, replete with reverse double-lateral trickery that resulted in a 23-yard Liufau-to-Devin Ross completion to the WSU 26.
Four plays later, Lindsay scored his second TD of the afternoon on a 13-yard run. After Price's PAT, the Buffs could take a deep breath; they had a 38-24 lead with 4:18 to play.
But just to seal the deal, linebacker Jimmie Gilbert sacked Falk and forced a fumble that fellow 'backer Addison Gillam draped himself over. The Buffs turned it back to the Cougars on downs, but only 2:58 remained and Wazzu was two TDs back.
Even for Falk and his Air Raid offense, it was too much to ask. And CU safety Tedric Thompson made sure nothing miraculous happened, intercepting Falk with 26 seconds left.
Liufau took a knee, time expired and the Buffs' dream had never been more alive.
TURNING POINT: With CU leading 28-24 and WSU at the Buffs 18-yard line, sophomore safety Nick Fisher – subbing for ejected Afolabi Laguda – made a critical fourth-and-four stop. CU took advantage, driving for a 46-yard field goal by Chris Graham to open a 31-24 lead with 9:09 to play.
CU STANDOUTS: Lindsay rushed for 144 yards on 31 carries, scored two touchdowns and caught five passes for 50 yards; Liufau completed 27 of 41 passes for 345 yards and ran 23 times for 108 yards and three TDs; Ross made 8 receptions for 121 yards; MacIntyre made 7 for 90 yards; Chidobe Awuzie finished with 7 tackles (6 solo), while Fisher and tackle Samson Kafovalu had six tackles each (all unassisted).
KEY STATISTIC: The Buffs rushed for 258 yards against the Pac-12's No. 1 rushing defense (116.9). They also passed for 345, generating 603 yards of total offense to the Cougars' 462.
THE PLATI'-TUDE STAT: The Buffs converted 13-of-21 third downs and held the Cougars to only 4-of-15. WSU was 2-of-4 on fourth-down conversions, CU 0-for-3.
WHAT IT MEANS: Now at 7-1 in conference play, CU can win the Pac-12 South outright with a victory over Utah in next week's regular-season finale.
NOTEWORTHY: Saturday's attendance of 48,658 was the highest of the season at Folsom, surpassing the 48,588 present for Arizona State . . . CU won the coin toss, making the Buffs 10-1 in that category this season. Liufau calls the toss and traditionally goes with, "Tails never fails." . . . . The Buffs were outfitted in gray pants, black jerseys (white numerals), with silver helmets – maybe their fave uni combo . . . . With two turnovers -- a fumble recovery by Addison Gillam, an interception by Tedric Thompson -- the Buffs extended their streak of games with consecutive turnovers to a nation-leading 24 . . . . Lindsay entered Saturday's game needing 63 rushing yards to top 1,000 for the season and for the first time in his career. He also needed 19 yards to break 2,000 for his career. He hit the second plateau (2,000 yards) on a 22-yard run on CU's first scoring drive, and capped that march one play later with a 9-yard run. Lindsay reached 1,000 yards for the season on a 10-yard run early in the second quarter . . . . At 9-2 overall, the 2016 Buffs have recorded the program's 14th 9-win season. The most recent: 2002 (9-5) . . . . Wazzu was the Pac-12's only unbeaten team in conference play (7-0) . . . . CU now leads the series 6-4 with WSU and evened its record at 3-3 against the Cougars in Boulder.
QUOTEWORTHY: "At home it's definitely the 12th man – our fans. They give us so much energy and keep us in the last quarters and keep our motivation up." – CU receiver Devin Ross
"We've just been through hell and back so many times that now we're in this position we know we never want to go back to where we were before." – CU center Alex Kelley
"As a team we just want to do our best every week but we are going to make mistakes. I know I made a couple and I got ripped for it. But I feel like our maturity level has gotten us to the next point to where we can just take it and move on to the next play." – CU DT Jordan Carrell
"I have to think about that and look at the stats. Coming out of the half it was one of those scores where they ran right through us, where the quarterback ran right through us. I think that was the turning point where they got the upper hand." – WSU coach Mike Leach on the game's turning point
"I think they were a good group, they play pretty sound ball. We shot ourselves in the foot; we were moving the ball really good but we just couldn't convert on those key downs and key situations." – WSU QB Luke Falk
NEXT UP: The Buffs close out the regular season with Senior Day next Saturday against Utah (5:30 p.m. Folsom Field, Fox)
Contact: BG.Brooks@Colorado.EDU
Team Stats
WSU
COLO
Total Yards
462
603
Pass Yards
325
345
Rushing Yards
137
258
Penalty Yards
35
75
1st Downs
21
31
3rd Downs
4
13
4th Downs
2
0
TOP
26:19
33:41
1st Quarter
WSU 0, COLO 7
COLO - Lindsay, Philli 9 yd run (Price, Davis kick), 12 plays, 81 yards, TOP 2:53
WSU 7, COLO 7
WSU - Lewis, Robert 14 yd pass from Falk, Luke (Powell, Erik kick) 9 plays, 78 yards, TOP 2:58
WSU 14, COLO 7
WSU - Morrow, Jamal 46 yd pass from Falk, Luke (Powell, Erik kick) 3 plays, 72 yards, TOP 0:38
2nd Quarter
WSU 14, COLO 14
COLO - Liufau, Sefo 3 yd run (Price, Davis kick), 10 plays, 74 yards, TOP 2:36
WSU 17, COLO 14
WSU - Powell, Erik 28 yd field goal 13 plays, 65 yards, TOP 3:07
3rd Quarter
WSU 17, COLO 21
COLO - Liufau, Sefo 7 yd run (Price, Davis kick), 11 plays, 71 yards, TOP 3:48
WSU 24, COLO 21
WSU - Thompson, John 7 yd pass from Falk, Luke (Powell, Erik kick) 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:25
WSU 24, COLO 28
COLO - Liufau, Sefo 11 yd run (Price, Davis kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 2:48
4th Quarter
WSU 24, COLO 31
COLO - Graham, Chris 46 yd field goal 12 plays, 58 yards, TOP 4:08
WSU 24, COLO 38
COLO - Lindsay, Philli 13 yd run (Price, Davis kick), 8 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:24
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
27
TD
0
YDS
345
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DB
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WR
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DE
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WR
/ Football
TB
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DB
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OLB
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ILB
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PK
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DT
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C
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DB
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TB
/ FootballQB
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WR
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QB
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PK
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WR
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DB
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