DENVER—After the smoke from Colorado State’s celebratory cannon cleared and the officials ruled that Austin Gray’s 100-yard fumble return was just a mirage, the Colorado Buffaloes had another big chance to go ahead.
Buffs coach Jon Embree decided against a chip-shot field goal that would have erased the Rams’ two-point lead late in the third quarter, but a fourth-down pass play failed and Colorado came away empty-handed.
It was that kind of afternoon for the Buffs, who lost 22-17 to their arch rivals Saturday as Jim McElwain became the first Rams coach ever to beat Colorado on his first try.
Malcolm Creer lost the ball just as he was reaching across the goal line and Gray scooped it up and rumbled 100 yards for the apparent score. It was overturned, but the Buffs’ own celebration was short-lived when defensive end Shaquil Barrett pressured Jordan Webb into an overthrow of tight end Nick Kasa.
“We had three options on that play: a run and then two guys to throw it to, and they did a good job of defending it,” said Embree. “We felt that was better for us. Our backs, Tony (Jones) was out with a shoulder and Malcolm (Creer) got dinged on that so we felt our best option at that point was doing that.”
Colorado had taken possession on the Rams 15 when Will Pericak recovered a fumble.
Embree is coming off a 3-10 inaugural season in Boulder and was hoping for a strong start in non-conference play before a brutal stretch in the Pac-12.
Instead, he had another stinging loss.
Kansas transfer Jordan Webb, who was 22 of 41 for 187 yards and two TDs for the Buffaloes, but he was outdone by Grayson, who completed 14 of 21 passes for 173 yards and two touchdowns.
The failed fourth-and-1 is what Webb will remember about his Colorado debut.
“That really hurt, we have to be able to convert there,” he said. “They put the ball in my hand and I didn’t make a lay, so yeah, it definitely hurt.”
Embree is sticking by his QB who transferred in July and won the job last month.
“I thought Jordan played well,” Embree said. “He gave us a chance and the receivers an opportunity to make some plays. He had a real nice pass to Tyler McCulloch for a touchdown. I expect him to continue to play better each week.”
Jared Roberts kicked two fourth-quarter field goals after the Rams had fallen behind 17-16.
McElwain, the former offensive coordinator at defending national champion Alabama, became the first Rams coach to win his debut since Jerry Wampfler in 1970. None of other 12 Rams coaches who have faced Colorado had ever beaten the Buffs on their first try.
Will Oliver’s 30-yard field goal put the Buffaloes ahead 17-16 early in the fourth quarter, but Roberts hit from 48 yards out with 6:39 left to put the Rams back on top, 19-17.
After the Buffs went three-and-out, the Rams had to salt this one away with backups because tailback Chris Nwoke was on the sideline with a leg injury.
Freshman Donnell Alexander took off on a 37-yard run, and Terrel Smith’s face mask penalty tacked on another 15 yards. But the Buffs stood their ground, forcing the Rams to settle for another field goal, this one from 32 yards out with 2:56 remaining.
Strong safety Trent Matthews’ game-sealing interception was nullified by Lanston Tanyi’s roughing penalty, and the Buffaloes had a first down at the Rams 47 with 1:27 left.
They turned the ball over on downs 40 seconds later.
Webb found freshman Nelson Spruce eight times for 64 yards, including a sliding 12-yard grab on fourth-and-7 from the 28 before hitting him for a 15-yard touchdown that put the Buffs ahead 7-3.
Webb’s second TD toss, a 9-yarder to McCulloch, came after Matthews was whistled for pass interference on a fourth-and-5 pass from the Rams 30.
Matthews’ recovery of a muffed punt by D.D. Goodson at the Colorado 20 got the Rams back into the game. On the next play, Grayson found Dominique Vinson uncovered for the score with 26 seconds left in the half.
The loss could prove costly for the Buffs, who lost starting DBs Ray Polk and Greg Henderson to ankle injuries.