A season filled with disappointment came to a merciful end on Saturday when the Colorado Buffaloes lost to Utah, 20-14, at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
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The win Saturday gave the Utes (9-3, 6-3) their best Pac-12 finish since joining the league in 2011, but there was still a feeling of emptiness after a 6-0 start and a No. 3 ranking just over a month ago.
“The first six weeks the emotions were very good, you know everyone was excited, then we had a setback against USC”, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said.
It’s been the difference in a handful of games this year – and in a season when two more wins would have had the Buffs playing for bowl eligibility today, that’s a significant difference. Utah hopes to get Kenneth Scott – who left the game in the third quarter on crutches – back and the Utes will be crossing their fingers for a speedy recovery from Devontae Booker.
Cade Aspay threw a 28-yard strike to Nelson Spruce to get Colorado on the scoreboard and cut the deficit to 10-7 at the halftime break. He finished with 111 yards and a touchdown on five receptions….
The Ute defense forced four turnovers, intercepting three passes and creating a fumble, while also producing six sacks, four from Viliseni Fauonuku.
“Definitely an emotional time, but I was glad to get a win in our last game here”, Wilson said. “I still feel like we had a special season and a great season”.
Utah’s Joe Williams made the Utes offense go on the day, his 187 yards on 34 carries was the difference for Utah on that side of the ball on a day where their senior quarterback didn’t have it. This year, the Buffs are last in the Pac-12 in red zone efficiency, with just 37 scores in 51 attempts and just 25 touchdowns.
Colorado drove inside the Utah 10-yard line on its first two possessions, but came away without any points after a blocked field goal by Kylie Fitts and an interception thrown by Apsay. Jared Norris recovered a fumble by Gehrke on a sack to end the drive and preserve a Ute win. Apsay threw a 28-yard touchdown to Spruce – his school-record 23rd career touchdown reception.
Colorado pulled within a possession with 4:13 remaining in regulation when Jordan Gehrke connected with Phillip Lindsay in the flat for a 16-yard touchdown.
Whittingham said the next step for his program is improving depth. “It’s a process. We’ve taken another step forward this year”.
It was the story of the second half of Colorado’s season: close but not quite. After going into the half up just three points, Utah chose to rely on Williams and that decision paid dividends as the Utes gashed the Buffs on the opening drive of the second half for 13 plays and 68 yards to take a 17-7 lead, 9 of those 13 on the ground.
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That leaves both with an eye on the future while trying to end 2015 on a high note.
