Final
Colorado Buffs curb Cowboys with 24-0 win
Sep 19, 2009 - 11:11 PM By ARNIE STAPLETON AP Sports WriterBOULDER, Colo.(AP) -- The Colorado Buffaloes quieted the cacophony of criticism stemming from their bad start with a 24-0 win over Wyoming on Saturday.
Quarterback Cody Hawkins returned from a concussion and directed four scoring drives, and Rodney Stewart returned from a hamstring injury to carry 32 times for 127 yards and a two touchdowns.
The Buffaloes (1-2) simplified their defensive game plan after allowing 77 points and 1,000 yards in opening their season with losses to Colorado State and Toledo, and it worked wonders.
Wyoming (1-2) went three-and-out six times in the first half, when they managed just three first downs and 61 yards of offense.
The Buffs led 17-0 at the half on the way to their second shutout in the Dan Hawkins era. The first was a 42-0 whitewash of Miami-Ohio two years ago.
It was a welcomed respite for the Buffaloes, who spent the week defending their coach and hearing about their poor play from fans and media - and even a geology professor who called out linebacker Marcus Burton in class last week, according to the senior captain.
After scoring just a field goal in the first half of each of their first two games, the Buffaloes scored a touchdown on their opening drive Saturday, but it took a heads-up play by wide receiver Scotty McKnight, who scooped up tailback Demetrius Sumler's fumble at the 2 and barreled into the end zone.
Center Mike Iltis snapped the ball over Hawkins' head on the Buffs' next possession and Cowboys linebacker Brian Hendricks recovered at the Colorado 18. But Austin McCoy was wide right on a 35-yard field goal try after three snaps yielded no yards.
A failed fake punt gave the Buffs the ball at midfield and Colorado made it 10-0 on a 20-yard field goal by Aric Goodman, who began his collegiate career at Wyoming before transferring to Boulder in 2007.
Stewart's 2-yard TD run made it 17-0 after cornerback Jalil Brown recovered Darius Terry's fumble at the Cowboys 27 in the second quarter.
The Buffs stalled on their next five possessions before making it 24-0 on Stewart's 11-yard touchdown run. His two TDs matched his total from last season.
The Cowboys reached the Buffs' 6 but went backward from there and McCoy was wide left on a 37-yard field goal attempt, keeping the shutout intact.
After completing just one of four passes for 2 yards, Cowboys quarterback Robert Benjamin was replaced by Austyn Carta-Samuels, who finished 11-of-24 for 125 yards.
Hawkins was 17-of-31 for 175 yards in the first meeting between the former conference foes since 1997.
- NCAAF FINAL
1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH TOTAL
--- --- --- --- -----
WYOMING 0 0 0 0 0
COLORADO 7 10 7 0 24 FINAL
SCORING SUMMARY
1ST QUARTER: COLORADO - TD, SCOTTY MCKNIGHT 3 YD RUN
(ARIC GOODMAN KICK), 1:30.
COLORADO 7-0
2ND QUARTER: COLORADO - FG, ARIC GOODMAN 21 YD, 0:25.
COLORADO 10-0
COLORADO - TD, RODNEY STEWART 1 YD
Sep 19 5:43 PM - NCAAF
WYOMING 0
COLORADO 24 0:00 LEFT, 4TH QTR
Sep 19 5:43 PM - NCAAF
WYOMING 0
COLORADO 24 0:00 LEFT, 3RD QTR
Sep 19 5:07 PM - NCAAF
WYOMING 0
COLORADO 17 0:00 LEFT, 2ND QTR
Sep 19 4:04 PM - NCAAF
WYOMING 0
COLORADO 7 0:00 LEFT, 1ST QTR
Sep 19 3:21 PM
Related News
- National Signing Day Recap: Who did Coach Prime land in the transfer portal? Dec 21
- Buffs add five games to non-conference football schedule through 2028 Dec 20
- National Signing Day 2024: Brandon Davis-Swain is a Buffalo! Dec 20
- National Signing Day 2024: Eric Bratntley is a Buffalo! Dec 20
- Athletic Pitt defensive end surprise commits to Colorado Dec 19
- Colorado lands 4 star wide receiver from TCU Dec 17
- LSU transfer defensive lineman commits to CU Dec 17
- Colorado’s biggest rivalry: Deion Sanders vs. anonymous Pac-12 coach Dec 16
- Buffaloes snag top SEC wide receiver from the transfer portal Dec 15
- The reports of the Buffaloes death have been greatly exaggerated Dec 13
- Coach Prime changes staff — What does this mean for the Colorado Buffaloes? Dec 12
- Travis Hunter receives first team All-American honors Dec 11