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As a redshirt sophomore, Steven Montez isn't like most quarterbacks that are beginning their first season as the team's QB1.
Montez played in 11 games last year and started three when Sefo Lifua was unable to play. Montez completed 89-of-140 passes for 1,078 yards, nine touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Montez led the Buffaloes to an easy win over Oregon State, had an incredible performance in a road win against Oregon, and nearly led CU to a road victory against USC.
"I think the experience from last year helped me out a lot [on Saturday]," Montez said. "I mean there was some stuff from games last year that I saw tonight that helped me out because I knew what to do with it."
In Montez's first game as "the guy" at quarterback for the Buffs, it was a mixed bag. He completed 72% of his passes, but he did throw two interceptions - although one wasn't really his fault.
He threw for 202 yards and had an incredible showing of athleticism and arm strength when he rolled left and found Shay Fields open for a 31 yard score.
"I just felt a little pressure and got out of the pocket, spun out," Montez said about his touchdown throw to Fields. "I was just kind of scanning the field and I knew I had a bunch of time. I was just kind of hitching back there, and then I saw Shay and I kind of just looked at him and was like just turn up the field. Sure enough, he went and I tossed it up to him and scored a touchdown."
But the Buffs were unable to find the end zone in the second half. Heck, the Buffs couldn't even get the football between the uprights.
"I'm not really sure if I could tell you, to be honest," said Montez about CU's second half offensive struggles. "I think if I had to answer that we would have changed something and probably fixed it. So I really couldn’t tell you. We are going to have to go watch the film, and just clean up our mistakes and see what we have to do for next week.
"I mean they are a great defense. They played really well on defense [on Saturday] and that’s pretty much what it was. I mean we needed to get to some different things on offense. So we’ll just take that and like I said earlier we are going to watch the film and make some improvements on offense."
