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COLO |
ARIZ |
Shedeur Sanders accounts for 3 touchdowns, Colorado shuts down Arizona 34-7
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Both of Colorado's losses came after sluggish starts, so coach Deion Sanders naturally emphasized a better beginning in the desert.
With the help of Arizona's failed opening gamble, the Buffaloes charged out of the gates and ran away with one of their best all-around games of the season.
Shedeur Sanders threw for 250 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, and Colorado's defense shut down Arizona in a 34-7 win on Saturday.
“We're in good shape and we always play well in the second half, but it was imperative to get off to a tremendous start in the first half,” Sanders said. “That's what we focused on.”
They did just that.
The Buffaloes (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) scored two early touchdowns - one after Arizona's failed opening onside kick - and swarmed the Wildcats (3-4, 1-3) all afternoon to bounce back from last week's 31-28 loss to Kansas State.
Sanders threw for two touchdowns with two interceptions on 23-of-33 passing and ran for another score. Colorado converted 8 of 11 third downs while building a 21-point halftime lead and its defense held the Wildcats to 245 total yards.
“Everybody is capable and we have a team capable of winning every game, and that's what we did today,” Colorado safety Shilo Sanders said. “Everybody played like themselves.”
Arizona spent most of the afternoon chasing the Buffaloes.
The Wildcats had trouble protecting quarterback Noah Fifita, giving up seven sacks after allowing six combined the first six games. Scrambling most of the day, Fifita threw an interception, lost a fumble and couldn't find preseason All-American Tetairoa McMillan, who had five catches for 38 yards.
“There were some opportunities there, some bright moments, but not nearly enough to sustain drives and move the ball against a really active defense,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said.
The Wildcats' problems started from the opening kick.
Trying to surprise the Buffaloes, Arizona tried an onside kick that failed and spent most of the first half defending a short field.
Colorado started its opening drive at Arizona's 46-yard and converted with Isaiah Augustave's 1-yard touchdown run. Drelon Miller scored on a 1-yard shovel pass from Sanders on the next drive, then Will Sheppard hauled in a 16-yard touchdown in the corner of the end zone - initially ruled incomplete before being overturned on review.
Sanders' 6-yard touchdown run put Colorado up 28-7 at halftime.
Arizona had one sustained drive in the first half, capped by Fifita's 1-yard shovel pass to Chris Hunter, and lost a fumble deep in its own end - two plays after recovering a fumble.
“We have a standard and we're not living up to it,” said Fifita, who threw for 138 yards on 16-of-28 passing. “Obviously, losing makes it even worse.”
Colorado's offense stalled in the second half, but it didn't matter the way its defense played.
Shilo Sanders returned last week after missing three games with a broken forearm and played what he called the worst game of his life against Kansas State.
Sanders spent the week watching tape and talking to his father about what he did wrong, and it paid off with a stellar game against Arizona. Sanders had four tackles, one breakup and was a big reason Colorado was able to hold Fifita to 134 yards below his season average passing.
“Everybody goes through ups and downs,” Sanders said. “It was better for me to go through a down. It made me lock in, watch all my film and prepare to the highest level.”
A week after a close loss to Kansas State, Colorado appears to be back on track with one of its best all-around games. Arizona is searching for answers on both sides of the ball following its third straight loss.
UP NEXT
Colorado: hosts Cincinnati next Saturday.
Arizona: hosts West Virginia next Saturday.
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S. Sanders
2 QB 250 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, 2 INTs, 6 RuYds, RuTD |
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N. Fifita
11 QB 138 PaYds, PaTD, INT, 24 RuYds |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 21 | 16 |
Rushing | 6 | 7 |
Passing | 12 | 6 |
Penalty | 3 | 3 |
3rd Down Conv | 9-18 | 3-11 |
4th Down Conv | 1-3 | 0-0 |
Total Net Yards | 398 | 245 |
Total Plays | 73 | 60 |
Avg Gain | 5.5 | 4.1 |
Net Yards Rushing | 148 | 107 |
Rush Attempts | 39 | 34 |
Avg Rush Yards | 3.8 | 3.1 |
Yards Passing | 250 | 138 |
Comp. - Att. | 23-34 | 16-26 |
Yards Per Pass | 7.0 | 2.8 |
Penalties - Yards | 6-70 | 9-91 |
Touchdowns | 4 | 1 |
Rushing TDs | 2 | 0 |
Passing TDs | 2 | 1 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 3 | 3 |
Fumbles - Lost | 2-1 | 2-2 |
Int. Thrown | 2 | 1 |
Punts - Avg | 2-49.5 | 7-40.0 |
Return Yards | 80 | 3 |
Punts - Returns | 3-34 | 1-3 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 1-46 | 2-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
S. Sanders
2 QB
|
S. Sanders | 23/33 | 250 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Staub
16 QB
|
R. Staub | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
I. Augustave
23 RB
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I. Augustave | 14 | 53 | 1 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Offerdahl
44 RB
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C. Offerdahl | 7 | 53 | 0 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hayden
7 RB
|
D. Hayden | 6 | 35 | 0 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Welch
29 RB
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M. Welch | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Sanders
2 QB
|
S. Sanders | 7 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
L. Wester
10 WR
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L. Wester | 9 | 8 | 127 | 0 | 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
W. Sheppard
14 WR
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W. Sheppard | 4 | 4 | 54 | 1 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Miller
6 WR
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D. Miller | 3 | 3 | 18 | 1 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hunter
12 ATH
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T. Hunter | 3 | 2 | 17 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Smalls
31 TE
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S. Smalls | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Horn Jr.
5 WR
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J. Horn Jr. | 4 | 2 | 9 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
I. Augustave
23 RB
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I. Augustave | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hayden
7 RB
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D. Hayden | 1 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Onovughe
80 WR
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J. Onovughe | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Pearson
37 TE
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M. Pearson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Offerdahl
44 RB
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C. Offerdahl | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
C. Silmon-Craig
7 S
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C. Silmon-Craig | 5-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Hill-Green
41 LB
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N. Hill-Green | 5-2 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Sanders
21 S
|
S. Sanders | 3-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Hodge
24 CB
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P. Hodge | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Okunlola
93 DE
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S. Okunlola | 3-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Hood
3 CB
|
C. Hood | 3-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Walker
53 DE
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A. Walker | 2-1 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Wade
27 DE
|
K. Wade | 2-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Barnes Jr.
92 DT
|
A. Barnes Jr. | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Riley
9 S
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S. Riley | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Hunter
12 ATH
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T. Hunter | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Thomas
95 DT
|
T. Thomas | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Williams
87 TE
|
C. Williams | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Stoutmire
23 S
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C. Stoutmire | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Green II
35 DE
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B. Green II | 1-2 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. McKinney
8 CB
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D. McKinney | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. McCoy
40 DE
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T. McCoy | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. LaPenna
54 LB
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B. LaPenna | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Cokes
99 DL
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S. Cokes | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Bentley
20 LB
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L. Bentley | 0-3 | 0.0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
A. Mata
16 K
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A. Mata | 2/2 | 34 | 4/4 | 10 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
M. Vassett
15 P
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M. Vassett | 2 | 49.5 | 1 | 53 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Horn Jr. 5 WR
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J. Horn Jr. | 3 | 11.3 | 18 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
N. Fifita
11 QB
|
N. Fifita | 16/26 | 138 | 1 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
Q. Conley
7 RB
|
Q. Conley | 11 | 42 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Reescano
3 RB
|
K. Reescano | 7 | 26 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Fifita
11 QB
|
N. Fifita | 12 | 24 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Luke
30 RB
|
K. Luke | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Johnson
20 RB
|
B. Johnson | 2 | 8 | 0 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Tannenbaum
12 QB
|
C. Tannenbaum | 1 | -4 | 0 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
T. McMillan
4 WR
|
T. McMillan | 5 | 5 | 38 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Patterson
2 WR
|
J. Patterson | 6 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Hunter
16 WR
|
C. Hunter | 4 | 4 | 30 | 1 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Olson
84 TE
|
S. Olson | 2 | 2 | 27 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Q. Conley
7 RB
|
Q. Conley | 3 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Hyatt
13 WR
|
D. Hyatt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Haynes
14 WR
|