Colorado Buffs Shock Oregon Ducks 41-38; Oklahoma State Falls Short of #16 Baylor 35-24
CU shocks Oregon behind backup QB
Montez finishes with 468 yards of offense; late INT seals victory
By Brian Howell
BuffZone.com
POSTED: 09/24/2016 07:15:27 PM MDT
Colorado defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon (23), catches the game winning interception intended for Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington II (7) during the last moments in an NCAA college football game Saturday. (Thomas Boyd / FR171453 AP)
EUGENE, Ore. - Colorado puts its trust in Steven Montez on Saturday, and the redshirt freshman delivered. Oh boy, did he deliver.
With senior quarterback Sefo Liufau unable to play because of an ankle injury, Montez made the first start of his career, and he led the Buffaloes to their biggest win since joining the Pac-12. Montez compiled 468 yards in total offense and accounted for four touchdowns to direct CU to a 41-38 upset of Oregon at Autzen Stadium.
The game was sealed when Ahkello Witherspoon picked off an Oregon pass in the end zone with 48 seconds to play, giving CU (3-1) its first win against Oregon since joining the league in 2011.
Montez threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 135 yards and another score.
More importantly, he shook off two second-half interceptions and rallied the Buffs when it appeared the game was slipping away.
Montez's 31-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Bobo - who made a brilliant catch on the play - with 8 minutes, 43 seconds to play provided the game-winning points.
If Montez had any nerves about making his first start, they were quickly calmed when he completed his first three passes, two of them for first downs.
Phillip Lindsay they did his part with a 33-yard run to get the Buffs to the red zone. Lindsay's 1-yard touchdown run three plays later capped an impressive 80-yard scoring march on the opening drive.
Montez, in fact, completed 17 of his first 18 passes, with the only incompletion coming on a throwaway as he was chased by an Oregon defender. The freshmen led the Buffs to three touchdowns and a field goal on their first four possessions.
Phillip Lindsay capped CU's first drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Montez tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Shay Fields late in the first quarter to give the Buffs a 16-7 lead.
After an Oregon punt, the Buffs struck again. A 61-yard pass from Montez to Devin Ross put the Buffs at the Oregon 5-yard line. Two plays later, Montez ran for a 3-yard touchdown and a 23-7 Colorado lead.
Oregon rallied in the second quarter scoring 10 straight points to pull within 23-17, but CU responded with another scoring drive before intermission. Chris Graham's 33-yard field goal at the second-quarter buzzer sent CU into the locker room with a 26-17 lead.
The Buffs kept the momentum going in the third.
After receiving the kickoff to start the second half, the Buffs marched to the Oregon 48, and then Montez threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Ross down the middle of the field. That gave the Buffs a commanding 33-17 lead.
CU appeared poised to pull away after that. The Buffs forced an Oregon punt and then four consecutive Kyle Evans runs picked up 42 yards. On the next play, however, Montez was picked off by Brenden Schooler - the first interception thrown by the Buffs this season - who returned it 38 yards to midfield.
From that point, the game turned in a hurry, as Oregon went on a 21-0 scoring surge.
After the interception, the Ducks needed just five plays to score, capping the march with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tony Brooks-James to cut the CU lead to 33-24.
On CU's ensuing possession, the Oregon defense forced the Buffs to punt for the first time. The Ducks then went on a 10-play, 74-yard scoring drive, capped by a Kani Benoit 3-yard touchdown to cut the CU lead to 33-31.
Two plays later, Montez threw his second interception, and Oregon needed just two plays to capitalize on that. Dakota Prukop connected with Darren Carrington for an 18-yard touchdown pass that put the Buffs in a deficit for the first time, 38-33.
Montez rallied the Buffs, though. His touchdown to Bobo put them up by one, and then the two connected for a two-point conversion.
The Buffs' defense, which struggled throughout the day, then came up with two big stops, the last in dramatic fashion with Witherspoon's interception.
Contact staff writer Brian Howell at howellb@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/BrianHowell33.
http://www.buffzone.com/football-cubuffs/ci_30399752/cu-shocks-oregon-behind-backup-qb
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Russell has 4 TD passes, No. 16 Baylor beats Oklahoma State
SCHUYLER DIXON (AP Sports Writer)
•Sep 25, 2016, 2:49 PM
Russell has 4 TD passes, No. 16 Baylor beats Oklahoma State
Baylor quarterback Seth Russell (17) throws a touchdown pass as teammate Mo Porter (76) blocks Oklahoma State defensive end Cole Walterscheid (82) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Waco, Texas. Baylor wide receiver Ishmael Zamora caught the pass for the score.
WACO, Texas (AP) -- Seth Russell has been keeping an eye the past few weeks on a determined receiver in Ishmael Zamora and a frustrated one in Chris Platt. What the Baylor quarterback saw from the pair of sophomores against Oklahoma State didn't surprise him.
Russell threw four touchdown passes, including an 89-yarder to Platt for the go-ahead score in the third quarter, and the No. 16 Bears held on to beat the Cowboys 35-24 on Saturday night in the weather-delayed Big 12 opener for both teams.
Zamora had career highs of 175 yards receiving and two touchdowns on eight catches in his season debut for the Bears after a three-game suspension over a video of him whipping his dog that surfaced during the summer. Platt also had two TDs.
''He never takes any days off,'' Russell said about Zamora. ''When he was suspended, he never griped one day. He came to work, and it showed tonight.''
As for Platt, Russell said it's been difficult for the young receiver to shake off a case of the drops in recent games.
''I just kept trying to encourage him,'' Russell said. ''He's a soft-spoken guy. He came out firing and he did some great things like we knew he would.''
Baylor earned its fourth consecutive 4-0 start in its first big test after a light nonconference schedule.
The game was stopped by lightning for about 1 1/2 hours after the Bears scored on the opening series.
The Cowboys (2-2) lost three fumbles, including the second by Justice Hill after he picked up a first down at the Baylor 2 with Oklahoma State trailing 28-24 with 9 minutes remaining. Hill, who had 122 yards rushing, was originally ruled down, but the call was overturned on review.
''This game was pretty easy to see,'' coach Mike Gundy said. ''Travel on the road and turn the ball over three times and then your defense gives up way too many big plays.''
With leading Baylor receiver KD Cannon out for most of the game with a groin injury, Zamora's first TD came when Russell's high pass went through Lynx Hawthorne's hands and into the sophomore's arms. Because the defense converged on Hawthorne, Zamora raced untouched down the sideline for the final 30 yards on the 38-yard play.
Platt, who had 114 yards receiving, was 5 yards behind Ashton Lampkin on the sideline after a stutter-and-go route when he caught Russell's pass in stride and easily outran everyone to the end zone. Russell was 18 of 28 for 387 yards with an interception.
''I probably haven't opened up like that since high school,'' Platt said.
A week after throwing for a national season-high 540 yards to beat Pittsburgh in another weather-delayed game for the Cowboys, Mason Rudolph was 27 of 45 for 279 yards with an interception.
It was the first loss in a true road game for Rudolph since his debut as a freshman at Baylor two years ago, a span that included six straight road wins. Baylor is the only Big 12 team the junior hasn't beaten.
''I think (Gundy) was not happy with our ball security and just kind of mishandling the ball a few times,'' Rudolph said. ''It's reasonable for him to be upset, and we've got to correct it.''
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Baylor: The Bears figure to move up since No. 8 Michigan State and 12th-ranked Georgia lost in blowouts, while the three teams immediately behind them in the rankings (Arkansas, LSU and Florida) also lost.
THE TAKEAWAY
Oklahoma State: Who knows what would have happened if the Cowboys hadn't fumbled inside the Baylor 5 on what looked to be a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. Add that to the what-if list that started with a disputed loss when officials mistakenly allowed an untimed down for Central Michigan's winning score.
Baylor: The Bears have been something of an afterthought in the Big 12 race since a tumultuous offseason marked by allegations of mishandled sexual assault cases that led to the dismissal of two-time league champion coach Art Briles along with school President Ken Starr and athletic director Ian McCaw. But the Bears are the only 4-0 team, and the only other unbeaten team is West Virginia (3-0).
UP NEXT
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys host No. 21 Texas next week. The Longhorns were off this week.
Baylor: The Bears have their two easiest Big 12 games on paper at Iowa State next week and then Oct. 15 at home against Kansas. There are two byes in the mix as well before a visit to the Longhorns on Oct. 29.
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/russell-4-td-passes-no-16-baylor-beats-044959594--ncaaf.html
Montez finishes with 468 yards of offense; late INT seals victory
By Brian Howell
BuffZone.com
POSTED: 09/24/2016 07:15:27 PM MDT
Colorado defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon (23), catches the game winning interception intended for Oregon wide receiver Darren Carrington II (7) during the last moments in an NCAA college football game Saturday. (Thomas Boyd / FR171453 AP)
EUGENE, Ore. - Colorado puts its trust in Steven Montez on Saturday, and the redshirt freshman delivered. Oh boy, did he deliver.
With senior quarterback Sefo Liufau unable to play because of an ankle injury, Montez made the first start of his career, and he led the Buffaloes to their biggest win since joining the Pac-12. Montez compiled 468 yards in total offense and accounted for four touchdowns to direct CU to a 41-38 upset of Oregon at Autzen Stadium.
The game was sealed when Ahkello Witherspoon picked off an Oregon pass in the end zone with 48 seconds to play, giving CU (3-1) its first win against Oregon since joining the league in 2011.
Montez threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 135 yards and another score.
More importantly, he shook off two second-half interceptions and rallied the Buffs when it appeared the game was slipping away.
Montez's 31-yard touchdown pass to Bryce Bobo - who made a brilliant catch on the play - with 8 minutes, 43 seconds to play provided the game-winning points.
If Montez had any nerves about making his first start, they were quickly calmed when he completed his first three passes, two of them for first downs.
Phillip Lindsay they did his part with a 33-yard run to get the Buffs to the red zone. Lindsay's 1-yard touchdown run three plays later capped an impressive 80-yard scoring march on the opening drive.
Montez, in fact, completed 17 of his first 18 passes, with the only incompletion coming on a throwaway as he was chased by an Oregon defender. The freshmen led the Buffs to three touchdowns and a field goal on their first four possessions.
Phillip Lindsay capped CU's first drive with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Montez tossed a 7-yard touchdown pass to Shay Fields late in the first quarter to give the Buffs a 16-7 lead.
After an Oregon punt, the Buffs struck again. A 61-yard pass from Montez to Devin Ross put the Buffs at the Oregon 5-yard line. Two plays later, Montez ran for a 3-yard touchdown and a 23-7 Colorado lead.
Oregon rallied in the second quarter scoring 10 straight points to pull within 23-17, but CU responded with another scoring drive before intermission. Chris Graham's 33-yard field goal at the second-quarter buzzer sent CU into the locker room with a 26-17 lead.
The Buffs kept the momentum going in the third.
After receiving the kickoff to start the second half, the Buffs marched to the Oregon 48, and then Montez threw a 48-yard touchdown pass to Ross down the middle of the field. That gave the Buffs a commanding 33-17 lead.
CU appeared poised to pull away after that. The Buffs forced an Oregon punt and then four consecutive Kyle Evans runs picked up 42 yards. On the next play, however, Montez was picked off by Brenden Schooler - the first interception thrown by the Buffs this season - who returned it 38 yards to midfield.
From that point, the game turned in a hurry, as Oregon went on a 21-0 scoring surge.
After the interception, the Ducks needed just five plays to score, capping the march with a 1-yard touchdown run by Tony Brooks-James to cut the CU lead to 33-24.
On CU's ensuing possession, the Oregon defense forced the Buffs to punt for the first time. The Ducks then went on a 10-play, 74-yard scoring drive, capped by a Kani Benoit 3-yard touchdown to cut the CU lead to 33-31.
Two plays later, Montez threw his second interception, and Oregon needed just two plays to capitalize on that. Dakota Prukop connected with Darren Carrington for an 18-yard touchdown pass that put the Buffs in a deficit for the first time, 38-33.
Montez rallied the Buffs, though. His touchdown to Bobo put them up by one, and then the two connected for a two-point conversion.
The Buffs' defense, which struggled throughout the day, then came up with two big stops, the last in dramatic fashion with Witherspoon's interception.
Contact staff writer Brian Howell at howellb@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/BrianHowell33.
http://www.buffzone.com/football-cubuffs/ci_30399752/cu-shocks-oregon-behind-backup-qb
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Russell has 4 TD passes, No. 16 Baylor beats Oklahoma State
SCHUYLER DIXON (AP Sports Writer)
•Sep 25, 2016, 2:49 PM
Russell has 4 TD passes, No. 16 Baylor beats Oklahoma State
Baylor quarterback Seth Russell (17) throws a touchdown pass as teammate Mo Porter (76) blocks Oklahoma State defensive end Cole Walterscheid (82) during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, in Waco, Texas. Baylor wide receiver Ishmael Zamora caught the pass for the score.
WACO, Texas (AP) -- Seth Russell has been keeping an eye the past few weeks on a determined receiver in Ishmael Zamora and a frustrated one in Chris Platt. What the Baylor quarterback saw from the pair of sophomores against Oklahoma State didn't surprise him.
Russell threw four touchdown passes, including an 89-yarder to Platt for the go-ahead score in the third quarter, and the No. 16 Bears held on to beat the Cowboys 35-24 on Saturday night in the weather-delayed Big 12 opener for both teams.
Zamora had career highs of 175 yards receiving and two touchdowns on eight catches in his season debut for the Bears after a three-game suspension over a video of him whipping his dog that surfaced during the summer. Platt also had two TDs.
''He never takes any days off,'' Russell said about Zamora. ''When he was suspended, he never griped one day. He came to work, and it showed tonight.''
As for Platt, Russell said it's been difficult for the young receiver to shake off a case of the drops in recent games.
''I just kept trying to encourage him,'' Russell said. ''He's a soft-spoken guy. He came out firing and he did some great things like we knew he would.''
Baylor earned its fourth consecutive 4-0 start in its first big test after a light nonconference schedule.
The game was stopped by lightning for about 1 1/2 hours after the Bears scored on the opening series.
The Cowboys (2-2) lost three fumbles, including the second by Justice Hill after he picked up a first down at the Baylor 2 with Oklahoma State trailing 28-24 with 9 minutes remaining. Hill, who had 122 yards rushing, was originally ruled down, but the call was overturned on review.
''This game was pretty easy to see,'' coach Mike Gundy said. ''Travel on the road and turn the ball over three times and then your defense gives up way too many big plays.''
With leading Baylor receiver KD Cannon out for most of the game with a groin injury, Zamora's first TD came when Russell's high pass went through Lynx Hawthorne's hands and into the sophomore's arms. Because the defense converged on Hawthorne, Zamora raced untouched down the sideline for the final 30 yards on the 38-yard play.
Platt, who had 114 yards receiving, was 5 yards behind Ashton Lampkin on the sideline after a stutter-and-go route when he caught Russell's pass in stride and easily outran everyone to the end zone. Russell was 18 of 28 for 387 yards with an interception.
''I probably haven't opened up like that since high school,'' Platt said.
A week after throwing for a national season-high 540 yards to beat Pittsburgh in another weather-delayed game for the Cowboys, Mason Rudolph was 27 of 45 for 279 yards with an interception.
It was the first loss in a true road game for Rudolph since his debut as a freshman at Baylor two years ago, a span that included six straight road wins. Baylor is the only Big 12 team the junior hasn't beaten.
''I think (Gundy) was not happy with our ball security and just kind of mishandling the ball a few times,'' Rudolph said. ''It's reasonable for him to be upset, and we've got to correct it.''
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Baylor: The Bears figure to move up since No. 8 Michigan State and 12th-ranked Georgia lost in blowouts, while the three teams immediately behind them in the rankings (Arkansas, LSU and Florida) also lost.
THE TAKEAWAY
Oklahoma State: Who knows what would have happened if the Cowboys hadn't fumbled inside the Baylor 5 on what looked to be a go-ahead drive in the fourth quarter. Add that to the what-if list that started with a disputed loss when officials mistakenly allowed an untimed down for Central Michigan's winning score.
Baylor: The Bears have been something of an afterthought in the Big 12 race since a tumultuous offseason marked by allegations of mishandled sexual assault cases that led to the dismissal of two-time league champion coach Art Briles along with school President Ken Starr and athletic director Ian McCaw. But the Bears are the only 4-0 team, and the only other unbeaten team is West Virginia (3-0).
UP NEXT
Oklahoma State: The Cowboys host No. 21 Texas next week. The Longhorns were off this week.
Baylor: The Bears have their two easiest Big 12 games on paper at Iowa State next week and then Oct. 15 at home against Kansas. There are two byes in the mix as well before a visit to the Longhorns on Oct. 29.
https://sports.yahoo.com/news/russell-4-td-passes-no-16-baylor-beats-044959594--ncaaf.html