For two schools and the fans who love to hate each other, Colorado and Colorado State sure love to play each other.
When a sixth consecutive last-minute decision in the Rocky Mountain Showdown couldn’t be reached — thanks to Kevin Eberhart’s 22-yard game-tying field goal for CU with 13 seconds left in regulation — Eberhart had to come back in overtime with a 35-yarder to boost a 31-28 Buffs win.
It’s not that CSU didn’t have its chances, taking a 28-17 third-quarter lead on Kyle Bell’s 12-yard run. CU redshirt freshman quarterback Cody Hawkins repeatedly shook off adversity in his collegiate debut to drive the Buffs to their last 14 unanswered points.
“I was going crazy. It was an unbelievable thing,” said the son of CU head coach Dan Hawkins. The Buffs’ quarterback threw for 201 yards and two TDs while taking just one sack and getting intercepted once.
Instead of sending out Eberhart on fourth-and-4 from the Rams’ 28 with 1:16 to play in regulation, CU went for it. Despite an incomplete pass on the play, an interference call on CSU cornerback Joey Rucks kept the drive alive. After the Buffs made it to the CSU 5, Rams linebacker Jake Pottorff batted away a would-be TD at the goal line and Eberhart came in for the 22-yarder.
“I’m going to tell my guys that we are going to play to win. You have to take shots,” Dan Hawkins said.
The Buffs’ momentum continued, with CU winning the coin toss and sending CSU out first to the 25. Rams quarterback Caleb Hanie, who had his second near-flawless game against the Buffs, was picked off by Terrence Wheatley in the end zone on third-and-goal from the 9.
Until that play, Hanie had completed 20-of-26 passes for 229 yards and three TD passes to tight end Kory Sperry.
Hanie said CU took away the bubble screen, which had been so effective a year ago, and he went downfield to Sperry (eight catches for 103 yards) and wide receiver Johnny Walker (five for 74 yards). Unlike a year ago, CSU showed its running game had returned with Bell, who carried 40 times for 135 yards.
It was the eighth straight loss for the Rams, dating back to October. It was only the second overtime game for CSU, while CU evened its OT mark at 4-4.
“They beat us, but we’re not going to have a season like last year,” Sperry said of the Rams’ lackluster 4-8 campaign.
Hawkins went to work early. The redshirt freshman completed his first career pass for 9 yards to Scotty McKnight and capped the six-play drive with a 24-yard TD to McKnight.
Hawkins completed his first five passes.
Hanie answered each of CU’s two scoring drives with touchdowns to Sperry, and went back to Sperry again on the opening drive of the third quarter for the Rams’ first lead, 21-17. Sperry carried CU linebacker Brad Jones on his back the final five yards into the end zone.
A bizarre turnover on the ensuing kickoff gave the Rams the ball on the CU 47. A low line drive kickoff hit CU’s R.J. Brown and was recovered by CSU’s Jermaine Walters. Again, Sperry produced the big catch, but was stopped at the 12 by a solid hit from safety Ryan Walters. Bell ran into the end zone on the next play for a 28-17 lead.
The Buffs were determined to stop CSU’s momentum right then, as Wheatley returned the ensuing kickoff 68 yards to the Rams’ 24. Demetrius Sumler ran right into a wall and Hawkins had passes batted away by linebacker Jeff Horinek and then defensive tackle Blake Smith.
Colorado travels to play Saturday at Arizona State (8:15 p.m.), while the Rams are in Fort Collins against visiting Cal.
Staff writer Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303 954-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
