BOULDER — Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders threw a 43-yard landing cross to LaJohntay Wester as regulation time expired Saturday to drive additional time and the Buffaloes went on to defeat Baylor, 38-31, at Folsom Subject.
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders’ Buffs improved to 3-1 general as they received their Massive 12 opener. Baylor dropped to 2-2, 0-1.
The sport will go down as a direct traditional in CU historical past.
The Buffs trailed 24-10 within the second quarter however lower the hole to 24-17 by halftime when Sanders linked with Omarion Miller on a 58-yard scoring cross. CU tied the sport late within the third interval earlier than the Bears regained the lead, 31-24, halfway by means of the fourth quarter.
The Buffs then escaped catastrophe after they had been compelled to punt from their very own finish zone and Baylor returned to the CU 26-yard line. The Buffs protection held and what would have seemingly been a game-clinching area purpose for Baylor sailed broad proper.
That saved Colorado inside one rating and Sanders — who endured eight sacks within the sport — directed a magical 72-yard landing drive, finishing the landing cross to Wester as time expired. Sanders rolled left on the play, stopped and set his ft simply in time to get the cross off in entrance of a Baylor defender.
Wester sealed the play by diving to the turf and cradling the ball for the rating.
“I knew I used to be going to get a number of strain,” Sanders mentioned. “So I used to be like, ‘OK, cool. Let’s go forward and roll.’ We put Travis (Hunter) bottom as a result of he’ll get all that focus and LaJohntay was there on the skin. They don’t seem to be going to assume we will throw him the ball. So I roll left, all people went in the course of the top zone and I simply trusted God. I simply threw it as much as God and God answered the prayer.”
However the huge performs by the Buffs weren’t over.
CU scored first in additional time, methodically driving 25 yards in seven performs with Micah Welch carrying in from 1 yard out.
Baylor then appeared able to tie the sport on its possession — solely to see Travis Hunter ship a success on Baylor operating again Dominic Richardson on the purpose line. The ball popped unfastened and bounced by means of the top zone to seal the win for Colorado.
CU followers rushed the sphere prematurely however an official assessment confirmed the ball got here unfastened simply earlier than the purpose line and the celebration ensued.
“Shedeur instructed me to go on the market and get the ball,” Hunter mentioned. “So I instructed him, ‘I received you,’ and I saved my phrase. I knew I needed to sort out. I knew they had been coming at me. They do not assume I may sort out, so I needed to present them.”
Sanders completed 25-for-41 for 341 yards and two touchdowns whereas surviving the eight sacks within the course of. Hunter completed with seven catches for 130 yards — his fifth straight 100-yard receiving sport — whereas additionally recording three tackles and the game-clinching compelled fumble in additional time.
Colorado outgained the Bears 432-313 and in addition survived 210 yards in returns by the Bears, together with a 100-yard kick return for a landing.
CU completed with 91 yards dashing, led by Isaiah Augustave’s 41 yards on 12 carries. Welch completed with 22 yards and two touchdowns on 9 carries.
“Nice, nice, nice, nice win,” Coach Prime mentioned in his postgame press convention. “Younger males had been resilient. They by no means gave up. They by no means surrendered. The coaches had been nonetheless impressed. I imply, all the best way to the top, they had been nonetheless calling and devising issues … I do not like the way it performed out, however I like the outcomes. I believe we’re so a lot better than what we’re exhibiting you at occasions. We maintain exhibiting you glimpses of operating sport. We present you glimpses of us enjoying powerful soccer defensively. We present you we are able to throw the ball throughout, after which we simply stall for a collection or two and give up one thing foolishly. However I am happy.”
HOW IT HAPPENED: Baylor used a 54-yard punt return to get in place for a area purpose and 3-0 lead halfway by means of the primary quarter, however the Buffs had a solution.
Sanders guided Colorado on an 11-play, 75-yard landing drive to offer CU a 7-3 edge. The CU quarterback accomplished six passes on the drive, together with throws of 11 yards to Jimmy Horn Jr., 24 yards to Hunter on third down and 10 yards to Drelon Miller.
The Buffs then overcame a holding penalty that negated a landing and at last scored on a 2-yard Sanders run, CU’s first dashing landing of the 12 months.
Baylor, although, answered with its first landing of the sport. The Bears saved their possession alive with a 22-yard cross completion on third-and-13 earlier than Sawyer Robertson threw a 30-yard scoring cross to Monaray Baldwin for a 10-7 BU lead.
Colorado then drove for a tying area purpose. Sanders accomplished 4 passes on a 55-yard drive that stalled on the Baylor 25, resulting in a 43-yard Alejandro Mata area purpose that tied the sport at 10-10.
However that led to CU’s second particular group glitch of the sport. On Colorado’s ensuing kickoff, Baylor’s Jamaal Bell took the kick ultimately zone and raced 100 yards untouched to the top zone to offer the Bears a 17-10 lead.
Baylor then pushed its result in two touchdowns after a CU punt and 17-yard Bears return. On fourth-and-1, BU’s Robertston snaked to the left facet, then raced 45 yards to the top zone for a 24-10 Bears lead.
However after each groups punted, the Buffs lastly discovered the top zone once more. Sanders was magnificent on the drive, avoiding not less than two sacks on one play to run 15 yards for a primary down, then avoiding one other sack three performs later to attach with Omarion Miller. The CU sophomore made a pleasant catch, then managed to maintain his knee off the turf, break a sort out and race to the top zone for a 58-yard landing.
That despatched the Buffs into the break trailing by only one rating, 24-17.
The landing was Miller’s first catch of the 12 months.
“He is hungry, he needs it,” Coach Prime mentioned. “He is sitting over there on the sideline. He does not need to be over there. When he will get in, he is able to go. Shedeur has an amazing expectation of him. And Omarion simply got here in there and did his factor.”
Neither group scored on their first two possessions of the third quarter, with the Buffs developing with a giant fourth-and-1 cease at midfield to halt one BU drive.
Colorado lastly discovered its offensive footing once more late within the interval. Sanders accomplished passes of 46 and 31 yards to Hunter, with the second changing a third-and-15. That set the stage for 2 Welch runs, together with a 2-yard landing that helped the Buffs tie the sport at 24-24 with a minute remaining within the quarter.
The Buffs then compelled one other Baylor punt and rapidly drove into Bears territory. However the drive stalled when CU elected to go for it on fourth-and-8 and Sanders was sacked.
That gave Baylor first rate area place and the Bears marched 61 yards in eight performs for a landing, ending the drive with a 24-yard scoring cross to Hal Presley. BU transformed two third downs on the march and took a 31-24 lead with 5:43 left within the fourth interval.
Colorado then dodged an enormous bullet. Sanders was sacked twice for 21 yards in losses on CU’s subsequent possession and following an incompletion, the Buffs punted from their very own finish zone. Baylor returned the ball to CU’s 26 and was in place for what would have been a game-clinching area purpose.
CU’s protection did its half and held. The Bears tried a 46-yard area purpose however the kick sliced proper and Colorado took possession nonetheless trailing by only a landing with 2:16 remaining.
That led to one more piece of Sanders magic and a direct berth within the annals of memorable Colorado performs.
Beginning at their very own 28 with 2:16 remaining, the Buffs drove into Baylor territory. Colorado overcame a second-and-24 when Sanders scrambled for a 17 yard acquire, threw for six yards on third down and ran for 3 on fourth-and-1.
That was adopted by two incompletions, leaving Colorado with the ball on the Baylor 43-yard line and two seconds on the clock.
On the ultimate play of regulation, Sanders rolled to his left, stopped and drilled a throw to the top zone the place Wester dove to the turf and cradled the ball for the landing. That set off a delirious Folsom Subject celebration and Mata’s PAT tied the sport, sending it into additional time.
Colorado then had first possession within the additional interval and methodically drove 25 yards in seven performs, with Welch scoring from 1 yard out. Mata’s PAT gave CU a 38-31 lead.
Baylor then appeared able to tie the sport on its ensuing possession — solely to see Hunter’s hit on Richardson on the purpose line drive a fumble. The ball bounced out of the top zone and the Buffs walked off the sphere with the win.
TURNING POINT: When Sanders accomplished the 43-yard Hail Mary landing, momentum lastly swung Colorado’s means.
KEY STATISTICS: The Buffs ran 83 offensive performs and averaged greater than 5 yards per snap … CU’s protection held the Bears to 148 yards passing and simply seven factors within the second half.
WHAT IT MEANS: Colorado is now 1-0 in Massive 12 play whereas notching a win that can go down as one of many biggest finishes in CU historical past
NEXT UP: The Buffs hit the street subsequent Saturday for his or her longest journey of the 12 months after they head to Orlando, Fla., for a matchup with UCF.