BOULDER — Anyone who witnessed Colorado’s 2006 defeat at the hands of Montana State knew that an inferior team on paper may not turn out to be reality.
So into Folsom Field stepped Eastern Washington, a scrappy squad that featured a no-huddle offense similar to that of the Buffs, and skilled players to make it work. And for three quarters today, Colorado frantically searched to find answers before defense helped the Buffs escape with a 31-24 victory in their home opener.
Colorado scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to remain unbeaten on the season. A Cha’pelle Brown interception return for a touchdown with 1:44 to play proved to be the winner in a heart-stopping affair.
Prior to that, Colorado had driven the ball 57 yards in five plays to tie the score at 24, the first time the game was knotted up since the second quarter.
Eastern Washington controlled the early tempo and the game using its West Coast offense, no-huddle attack. Its series of short passes and timely running plays helped the Eagles march down the field on their opening drive, going 82 yards in nine plays.
The touchdown, from quarterback Matt Nichols to Brynsen Brown, featured a drag job as Brown took CU cornerback Jalil Brown with him for the last 10 yards as the Buff clung to his jersey.
Colorado took some time to get started but finally broke through on a drive that started in the first quarter and ended in the second.
The Buffs’ march covered 65 yards in 12 plays. Running back Darrell Scott sprinted 22 yards on one play during the drive, hurdling an Eastern Washington defender to gain extra yards. A 9-yard Cody Hawkins-to-Josh Smith touchdown pass capped the drive and tied the score at 7.
Things fell apart for CU after that.
The CU defense stopped Eastern Washington’s next drive, but Smith fumbled on the punt return and the Eagles recovered at CU’s 28-yard line. It took just six plays for them to punch it in for the go-ahead score.
The most demoralizing moment of the first half, though, was yet to come. A Hawkins interception was returned 42 yards for a touchdown and the Eagles held a 21-7 lead, which they took into halftime.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
