SHREVEPORT, La. — Colorado’s first bowl game of the Dan Hawkins era didn’t exactly go as the coach would have scripted Sunday night.
Looking overmatched early, the Buffaloes fell behind Alabama by 27 points in the first half of the Independence Bowl. Colorado made a game of it, but wasted opportunities in the second half and lost a 30-24 heartbreaker to the Southeastern Conference team before 47,043 at Independence Stadium.
Needing some time to adjust to Alabama’s speed and strength, CU trailed 27-0 just 2 1/2 minutes into the second quarter but outscored the Crimson Tide 24-3 the rest of the way.
“I’m proud of the way the guys came back,” said Hawkins, whose team could only follow the second part of his “start fast, finish strong” mantra.
“It looked like the rout was on. Our guys could have pulled up the tent. They didn’t do that.”
After two touchdown passes by Cody Hawkins late in the second quarter, Colorado moved into Alabama territory three times in the third quarter but produced just three points. Cody Hawkins finished 24-for-39 passing for 322 yards and three scores. He threw two interceptions, one of which came on CU’s first offensive play from scrimmage.
In the end, it was a case of too little, too late.
“Coming out of the gates, we weren’t controlling the tempo,” Cody Hawkins said. “Starting the game with a turnover, that puts you in the tank, and momentum is so important in college football. When you finally get some mojo going, you can get some things done.”
Despite showing marked improvement over last season’s 2-10 record, Colorado (6-7) couldn’t avoid posting consecutive losing records for the first time since a six-year run of futility from 1979-84. The Buffs got the ball at the CU 20 with 1.5 seconds left in the game and, trying to pull off a miracle, threw a forward pass and three laterals before the Crimson Tide made the tackle to end the game.
“Just a few plays kept us from winning,” Cody Hawkins said. “We’re a young team. We’ll learn from that.”
With 20 points in the first quarter, Alabama (7-6) tied its bowl best for scoring in a period. That’s saying something, considering this is a program making its 55th bowl appearance, an NCAA record. The Crimson Tide got 19-for-32 passing for 256 yards and three touchdowns from junior quarterback John Parker Wilson.
“We got off to a great start, which means we were well-prepared,” said Alabama coach Nick Saban, who narrowly avoided a losing record in his first season in Tuscaloosa. “Colorado has a good team, and they did a good job of coming back.”
Colorado had never allowed more than 14 points in a quarter during its 27 previous bowl games.
“I don’t think we came out slow; Alabama came out fast,” CU junior defensive tackle George Hypolite said.
Down 27-0, Colorado finally gave its fans something to cheer about when Cody Hawkins threw two touchdown passes during the final 2:05 of the second quarter. The first, a 4-yard toss to senior tight end Tyson DeVree, was set up by an interception from safety Ryan Walters, who returned the pick 35 yards to the Alabama 43-yard line.
“That turned the game around and got us back in it,” Walters said.
After an Alabama punt, the Buffs took over at their 45 with 1:11 to go. Hawkins worked the clock to perfection with sideline passes. Then, on third-and-9, he hit senior Dusty Sprague on the 1-yard line, just in front of Alabama cornerback Kareem Jackson. Sprague dived for the end zone and scored just 4.4 seconds before halftime.
In the end, however, Alabama’s early lead was enough. The Crimson Tide snapped a four-game losing streak.
“With what happened to us (losing four straight at the end of the regular season), this really showed a lot of maturity on our part to finish the way we did,” Wilson said.
Considering the second half, Colorado could say the same thing.
The Grades | By Tom Kensler
OFFENSE
B Cody Hawkins and the offense could have but didn’t quit after falling behind 27-0.
DEFENSE
C We’ll give a “D” grade for the first half and a “B” for the second half.
SPECIAL TEAMS
D Nothing special on the Colorado side on this night.
OVERALL
C It takes a “B” effort or better to beat a Southeastern Conference team on most nights, including this one.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
