BOULDER — Colorado junior receiver Nelson Spruce apparently is not a stats guy. At least not regarding his own stats.
Spruce said after Saturday’s win over Hawaii he was surprised to learn that he had set a CU record by catching at least one TD pass in six consecutive games.
“I’m not keeping track,” Spruce said. “It’s a cool list to be on. At the same time, it was a little bittersweet, because in the second half we weren’t putting up any points. But we got the win.”
Spruce finished with 13 receptions for 172 yards, including his 71-yard touchdown.
What a Daigh. Colorado senior linebacker Brady Daigh replaced standout Addison Gillam (concussion) in the first half and responded with two tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hurry.
“That was big,” CU coach Mike MacIntyre said.
Gillam’s availability for Saturday’s game at California is listed as day to day.
At the half. Colorado’s 21-6 advantage at halftime was the largest for a Buffs team since Nov. 6, 2010. That was the infamous loss at Kansas when the Buffs were up 35-10 at the break and lost 52-45 in regulation.
CU coach Dan Hawkins was fired a day later.
The do-it-all man. In the second quarter, Buffs redshirt freshman George Frazier caught a 9-yard TD pass from quarterback Sefo Liufau on a crossing pattern. Minutes later, the two-way player was at defensive end and recorded a quarterback hurry against Hawaii’s Ikaika Woolsey.
Battle of the punters. Colorado’s Darragh O’Neill and Hawaii’s Scott Harding looked like two of the nation’s best Saturday. O’Neill averaged 46.2 yards per punt, Harding 46.1. Both punted nine times and played a big part in keeping opponents backed up. O’Neill pinned Hawaii inside its own 20 to start possession four times. Harding forced CU inside its 20 five times.
No surprise. Even though CU’s no-huddle offense seemed to catch Hawaii’s defense out of position, especially in the first half, the Rainbow Warriors said they weren’t surprised by it.
“We expected it. We knew they would go no-huddle,” said Hawaii coach Norm Chow. “They knew we would do the same.”
Passing deficiencies. Hawaii managed just 155 passing yards, its lowest total since having only 125 yards at Air Force in 2012.
Three Hawaii quarterbacks were a combined 17-for-46 with one interception. CU’s defense collected four sacks.
