BOULDER — The ballgame wasn’t always a blowout. Far from it. But if the Buffaloes were to topple the Trojans on Senior Day at Folsom Field, the mistakes could not be this glaring. And so it was that much of the second-largest crowd this year at Folsom Field (49,337) filed to the exits Saturday after a collection of coustly CU errors.
Two blocked field-goal attempts, an interception returned for a touchdown, a third-quarter delay of game penalty in the red zone — and the list goes on. It was pick your own poison in USC’s 38-24 victory to clinch the Pac-12 South Division title for a berth in the conference championship game Dec. 1.
“We made some critical mistakes and we gave them the game,” CU coach said. “(USC is) the most talented team in our league year in and year out, no doubt. We had some opportunities tonight and squandered it away.”
Now it comes to this for CU: The season hinges on a single game for postseason eligibility, Nov. 25 at Utah, following a much-needed bye week. Win, and the Buffaloes reach consecutive bowl games for the first time since 2004-05. Lose, and all that talk about “The Rise” being real falls on deaf ears.
The Buffaloes (5-6, 2-6 Pac-12) trailed USC (9-2, 7-1) by just two touchdowns with under a minute left in the first half when CU quarterback tossed a 34-yard pick-six to USC cornerback Ajene Harris. Add in blocked field-goal attempts by James Stefanou in the first and third quarter, and itap clear a 13-point swing changed the game’s complexion in a 14-point defeat.
“I really didn’t even see (Harris),” Montez said in regards to his interception returned for a touchdown. “I thought he was with the pick guy. They kind of ran into each other. But he made a good play.”
Said MacIntyre on the blocked field goals: “(Stefanou) kicked both of them low. He said it hit his ankle. That hasn’t happened all year long.”
CU did its best to charge back in the second half. A third-quarter bust in the USC secondary led to a 70-yard catch-and-run touchdown for receiver to finally get the Buffaloes on the scoreboard. When CU blocked a USC punt on the ensuing drive, recovering the football at the Trojans’ 1-yard line, tailback rushed in for the score three plays later to trail 27-14.
After a USC field goal, CU marched back inside Trojan territory to face second-and-12 from inside the USC 25-yard line. But confusion followed, with the Buffaloes taking a costly delay of game penalty that ultimately forced a converted field-goal attempt. Said Montez: “I’ve got to do a better job of looking at the clock. That’s my fault.”
CU would eventually reach the end zone in the fourth quarter, this time on a 57-yard Winfree reception, but not until after another Montez interception that opened the door for USC tailback Ronald Jones’ 22-yard rushing score.
The Buffaloes’ late-season bye week comes at a perfect time. Receiver Shay Fields was ruled out Saturday with concussion symptoms after a first-quarter hit. Cornerback Isaiah Oliver played in the first half after missing two games, but continues to recover from a leg injury. And now the Buffaloes have two weeks to game plan against a Utah team also desperate for a sixth win after falling 33-25 against on Saturday, dropping the Utes to 5-5 (2-5).
“Hopefully they understand what’s at stake,” MacIntyre said. “A late open-date like this is sometimes rough, because it’s so late in the season. But I don’t think it will be with these guys. They’ve always come to practice hard and play hard. I think they showed that with the way they came out in the second half (tonight) and fought.
“I believe I’ll see a great fight out of them.”