Buffs run out of juice in 34-31 loss to No. 23 Arizona

BOULDER– As the Colorado Buffaloes entered Folsom Field for the last time this season, they knew they would have some fun on their senior day.

Facing off against the No. 23 Arizona Wildcats, the Buffs fearlessly did just that.

“It’s all about having fun,” CU quarterback Shedeur Sanders said in his postgame presser, “and I had a lot of fun today.”

After a strong defensive stop forced Arizona to punt on their opening drive, Colorado wide receiver Xavier Weaver made a great return before coughing up the football. As the crowd held their breath, CU linebacker Jordan Domineck snatched up the rock and took off. While the big man only gained a few yards, the surprising moment set the groundwork for the Buffs’ exciting play on Saturday afternoon.

Following the return, it only took the Colorado offense three plays to score the first points of the contest. In the three-play drive, Sanders found wideout Javon Antonio for a decent gain before the junior quarterback took off from 16 yards out to dive into the endzone.

CU QB Shedeur Sanders flashes his wrist after his 16-yard touchdown run. The junior had 13 carries for 29 yards and a touchdown. (Photo by Alex Burns/Sko Buffs Sports)

Having struggled to capitalize on great field position in prior weeks, the Buffs did not waste the opportunity.

Arizona, however, proved why they were ranked No. 23 heading into Saturday afternoon by promptly responding with a score of their own. The drive was ignited by a 31-yard reception by former Buffalo wideout Montana Lemonious-Craig.

The junior wide receiver finished with five receptions and 67 yards in his return to Boulder.

“Yeah, I just said ‘wassup’ to him,” Sanders said about the Lemonious-Craig.

The Buffs got the ball back after trading punts with the Cats following Arizona’s score, leading an eight-play, 48-yard drive for six. The drive appeared to fizzle out after a false start on third-and-7, but Sanders used his legs once more to earn CU a new set of downs. After the scramble, wideout Jimmy Horn Jr. reeled in a high-arching back corner throw by Sanders in over-the-shoulder fashion for Colorado’s second score of the game.

At the end of the first quarter, Colorado led by a touchdown.

The Buffs looked to extend their lead, but the Wildcats’ defense prevented a score on CU’s first drive of the second quarter. Following the defensive stand, Arizona led a drive deep into Colorado territory.

Hope glimmered for the black and gold as a great play by two-way star Travis Hunter prevented a touchdown on second down. But a roughing-the-passer penalty committed by Colorado linebacker Deeve Harris on third down allowed UA to stay alive. The Cats followed up the penalty with a screen to wideout Jacob Cowing to knot the score at 14 a piece.

“They’re not coached to hit a quarterback late,” Coach Prime said, “...That just happens, that’s part of the game. We just have to be more disciplined in those moments.”

Again, Colorado responded with a touchdown of their own. Up seven, the Buffs and Wildcats traded field goals to end the half.

Going into the break, the Buffs enjoyed a 24-17 lead against the No. 23 Wildcats.

Through one half of football, the Buffs had cleaned up the issues that had plagued them all year. The offensive line was playing much better, the run game had been implemented, and the offense was capitalizing on the defense’s play.

“Overall, I really think they’ve improved tremendously,” Coach Prime said about his offensive line.

Still, some tasks are too tall to overcome.

Coming out of the half, Colorado allowed a score on the opposition’s opening drive. Contrary to the UCLA and Oregon State opening scores of the second half, Wildcat wideout Tetairoa McMillan made this score special.

As the Cats lined up from the two-yard line, Arizona’s McMillan was across from Colorado’s Hunter. Wildcats’ quarterback Noah Fifita dropped back and lobbed the ball up to McMillan. The ball appeared to be uncatchable, but the sophomore receiver rose up for UA’s third score of the game as he plucked the ball out of the air with one hand.

As the back-and-forth nature of the afternoon affair ensued, Colorado and Arizona traded scores at the end of the third and beginning of the fourth. At 31 each, Folsom Field felt the high energy of its last game of 2023 and in the Pac-12.

For the final 12:41 of the game, the contest would turn into a rock fight. Both teams’ defenses would step up as the football was punted four times before CU kicker Alejandro Mata had a chance to put Colorado up three. From 44 yards out, the kicker that “don’t miss” pushed his try for the lead slightly right. To make matters worse, Coach Prime had to use a timeout before the field goal missed.

“Mata finally missed,” Coach Prime said. “I love him though… He’s been knocking it down for us all year so he is certainly not to blame because he’s one of the reasons we’re in the game consistently every week.”

With CU only having two timeouts left, Arizona tried to use as much of the remaining 4:57 as possible. The Wildcats did just that after Colorado made a crucial mistake by tackling UA’s Lemonious-Craig just short of the goal line with a minute left. The tackle allowed the Cats to run out the clock before calling timeout and allowing their kicker, Tyler Loop, to knock in the game-winning chip shot.

“I really hate it for our fanbase because they deserve so much better,” Coach Prime said, “and we’re gonna give them better, we’re gonna give them better. But we’re close, we’re really close.”

Coach Prime before the game. His team needs to win their last two games of the season to be considered bowl eligible. (Photo by Alex Burns/Sko Buffs Sports)

With bowl eligibility on the line, Colorado has to win their last two games of the season. The Buffs head to Washington to play the Washington State Cougars on Friday, Nov. 17 at 8:30 p.m. MST.

“I’m tired of ‘we could have won,’” Coach Prime said. “I’m tired of that part. We should have won.”