Boulder — Colorado tight end Tyson DeVree’s 11-yard touchdown catch from Cody Hawkins with 3:39 left in Saturday night’s game came way too late to change the outcome of a 16-6 loss to Florida State.
The grab near the back of the end zone did, however, preserve a nearly two-decade streak of CU putting points on the board. The Buffs hadn’t endured a shutout since a 7-0 loss at Nebraska on Nov. 12, 1988. That streak, fifth best in the nation, improved to 225 games.
The missed two-point conversion try after the touchdown might have proved costly as the Buffs (1-2) hurried down the field in the final minute, but with 3 seconds left Hawkins was intercepted in the end zone on the Buffs’ final drive.
With or without the late score, the offense is ailing. Hawkins faced constant pressure and the running game showed no progress from last week or forward progress for the night.
It was one of Colorado’s better defensive efforts, digging in to hold Florida State (2-1) to two Gary Cismesia second-half field goals and a 16-0 lead early in the final quarter.
But the offense, which shut down after the first quarter last week at Arizona State, couldn’t revive itself in front of a Folsom Field crowd of 52,951, the largest crowd since the 2005 finale against Nebraska.
Florida State punter/kickoff specialist Graham Gano pinned the Buffs deep in their end of the field, Hawkins faced relentless pressure and the running game netted a minus-5 yards at the end of three quarters. The Buffs weren’t much of a threat to cross the goal line, much less win the game.
CU’s biggest break of the night came when Florida State couldn’t pounce on a CU fumbled snap at the FSU 3.
In the third quarter, the Buffs appeared ready to end a streak of six scoreless quarters dating back to the first quarter at Arizona State last week, when CU suddenly threw it in reverse.
A 38-yard catch near the left sideline by freshman Josh Smith set up first-and-10 at the FSU 26. Two more plays advance to the 13 when Hawkins was blindsided by defensive end Everette Brown for a 7-yard loss. Two inside runs were dropped for minus-9 yards.
Kevin Eberhart was called in for his second field goal attempt of the night, but the 46-yard drifted wide left.
Hawkins’ interception with 11:26 left in the second quarter set up the opening score of the night. Florida State freshman linebacker Kendall Smith picked off a pass intended for Patrick Williams at the FSU 30 and returned it to midfield.
The Seminoles needed only three plays to cover half the field in 41 seconds.
It was a short field again when the Seminoles extended the lead to 10-0. After taking possession at its 37, Florida State settled for Cismesia’s 31-yard field goal with 4:30 left in the half.
Both teams opened with an uneventful first quarter until Hawkins directed the Buffs from his 20 to the Seminole 21. Eberhart came in for a 37-yard field goal that was wide right with 25 seconds left.
