*Colorado is now 8-2 this year and 6-1 in conference play
*Sefo Liufau was 19 of 27 for 213 yards and 3 touchdowns and 1 int
*Colorado will be ranked in the Top 10 come Tuesday in the CFB Playoff Rankings
*Colorado will host No. 23 Washington State (8-2, 7-0) next Saturday in Boulder
*First time since 2004 that Colorado has won 8 games in a season
TUCSON, ARIZONA - The last time Colorado was ranked within the Top 10 (2002), President George W. Bush was in office and the Buffs were led by Head Football Coach Gary Barnett. With No. 2 Clemson, No. 3 Michigan, No. 4 Washington, No. 8 Texas A&M, and No. 9 Auburn all losing on Saturday, the golden gates to the top 10 were open for the No. 12 Buffs who took the field at Arizona Stadium against the 2-7 Wildcats.
1st Quarter
After the Buffs’ defense forced a three and out to start the game, the Colorado Offense went 81-yards in 15-plays capped off by a 1-yard rushing touchdown by Phillip Lindsay with 7:27 in the quarter. Lindsay’s touchdown was his 11th of the season. On the drive to open the game, the Buffs were 4 for 4 on third down conversions.
The Wildcats moved down the field, but Wildcat Kicker Josh Pollack would miss a 44-yard field goal with 2:15 seconds in the first quarter. The Wildcats were penalty-plagued early on racking up 5 penalties for 52-yards in the first quarter alone. The quarter would end with the Buffs leading 7-0.
2nd Quarter
The second quarter started with Arizona having possession having forced a Colorado punt after sacking Colorado Quarterback Sefo Liufau twice. The Wildcats put together an 85-yard drive that lasted just 2:25 seconds and tied the game after a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Samajie Grant with 12:28 left in the second quarter.
The Buffs would drive right down the field in a lightning quick touchdown drive that lasted just 53 seconds. After Liufau hit Shay Fields for a 48-yard gain, Lindsay scored his second touchdown from 4-yards out to make it Colorado 14-7 with 11:29 before half.
Arizona would gash the Colorado defense on the next possession, Samajie Grant busted a long run for 45-yards which set up the Wildcats in great field position, four plays later Wildcat kicker Josh Pollack would hit a 23-yard field goal to make it 14-10 Colorado with 8:22 left in the second quarter.
Colorado drove right down the field during a 62-yard, 7 play drive and it would be Quarterback Sefo Liufau hitting Shay Fields for a 15-yard touchdown pass to make it 21-10 with 5:45 in the 2nd. The Buffs continued to pour it on before half when Liufau hit Jay MacIntyre for a 40-yard touchdown, it would be MacIntyre’s first career receiving touchdown as a Buff. The score would put Colorado up 28-10, Arizona would miss a field goal just before half.
3rd Quarter
Arizona missed their third field goal of the game to open the third quarter and trailed the Buffs 28-10 with 6:40 in the 3rd quarter. Colorado Quarterback Sefo Liufau would throw his third touchdown of the game when Liufau hit Shay Fields for a 27-yard touchdown. Fields caught the pass, then shook off the defender before diving into the end zone to make it 35-10 Colorado with 5:01 in the quarter.
At this point in the game Liufau was 15 of 22 passing for 191-yards with 3 touchdowns, Fields had caught 5 of those passes for 103-yards and 2 touchdowns. Liufau then called his own number and scored on a 1-yard rushing touchdown, his third rushing touchdown of the season to put Colorado ahead 42-10 as the 3rd quarter ended.
4th Quarter
Arizona trailing by 32 points at this point would tack on two quick touchdowns to open the quarter. Samajie Grant scored his second touchdown of the game from 2-yards out and then after an interception by the Wildcats, Zach Greene scored from 2-yards out to make the score 42-24 with 9:16 left in the game. After the two teams would trade punts, Phillip Lindsay would score his third touchdown of the night off a 34-yard run to make it 49-24 with 3:34 left in the game. The final would be 49-24.
Game Stats
Sefo Liufau - 19 of 27 passing for 213-yards and 3 touchdowns, 1 int, rating of 165.9
Phillip Lindsay - 25 attempts for 119-yards and 3 touchdowns
Shay Fields - 6 receptions for 108-yards and 2 touchdowns
Colorado had 388 yards of total offense
Arizona had 417 yards of total offense
Arizona had 13 penalties for 143-yards
Colorado was 7 for 14 on third down conversions (50%)
Scoring Drive
1st Quarter
7:27 - Colorado TD - 1-yard rushing TD by Phillip Lindsay, 7-0 Colorado
2nd Quarter
12:28 - Arizona TD - 3-yard rushing TD by Samajie Grant, 7-7 Tie
11:29 - Colorado TD - 4-yard rushing TD by Phillip Lindsay, 14-7 Colorado
8:22 - Arizona FG - Josh Pollack hits 23-yard FG, 14-10 Colorado
5:45 - Colorado TD - Sefo Liufau to Shay Fields for 15-yard TD, 21-10 Colorado
1:29 - Colorado TD - Sefo Liufau to Jay MacIntyre for 40-yards, 28-10 Colorado
3rd Quarter
5:01 - Colorado TD - Sefo Liufau to Shay Fields for 27-yard TD, 35-10 Colorado
0:57 - Colorado TD - Sefo Liufau 1-yard TD run, 42-10 Colorado
4th Quarter
13:47 - Arizona TD - Samajie Grant 3-yard TD run, 42-17 Colorado
12:11 - Arizona TD - Zach Greene 2-yard TD Run, 42-24 Colorado
3:10 - Colorado TD - Phillip Lindsay 34-yard TD Run, 49-24 Colorado
Final Score
Colorado 49, Arizona 24
