By Katie O’Keefe

CSU Collegian

 

CSU fell to in-state rival CU, 41-27 on Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, giving first-year CU head coach Mike MacIntyre his first win as a Buffalo.

In the opening game of the season, CU equaled their entire number of wins from last year (1-11). The Buffs were able to beat the Rams with explosive plays from receiver Paul Richardson and their ability to capitalize on the Rams’ mistakes.

CU was lead by quarterback Connor Wood in his second start for the Buffaloes.  He finished the game with 400 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

“He played like a grown man,” said Richardson. “I couldn’t even tell you how proud I am of him.”

CU quarterback Conner Wood passed for 400+ yards in the game.

CU quarterback Conner Wood passed for 400+ yards in the game.

Richardson, who was forced to sit out all of last season because of a torn ACL, was a weapon CSU could not contain. He finished the game with ten catches for 208 yards including an 82-yard touchdown run on CU’s first possession of the game to put the Buffs ahead of the Rams, 7-0.

Paul Richardsonscored two touchdowns and rushed for 200+yards in the victory

Paul Richardsonscored two touchdowns and rushed for 200+yards in the victory

After a quarterback battle that lasted until game day, CSU quarterback Garrett Grayson was picked to lead the Rams. Grayson finished the game with 201 yards and zero touchdowns.

McElwain said his decision to play Grayson over junior Connor Smith and freshman Nick Stevens was based on Grayson’s preparation for the game.

“I think he was ready,” McElwain said after the game. “I’m not putting this loss on Garrett by any stretch of the imagination.”

The score was 10-0 at the end of the first quarter after the Rams defense held CU to a field goal.

A 49-yard field goal by kicker Jared Roberts put the Rams on the board with 14:17 left in the half.

The Rams receivers struggled to catch the ball throughout the game. The offense finished the game 2-of-14 on third down conversions.

“Offensively we didn’t do a very good job of keeping our defense off the field (by) sustaining drives,” McElwain said.

CU added to their lead after a 17-yard touchdown pass from Wood to receiver D.D. Goodson, making the score 17-3 Buffs with 3:56 left in the first half.

The Rams completed their first third-down conversion on their final drive of the half after previously going 0-for-6. With less than two minutes to go in the half, CSU running back Kapri Bibbs ran the ball for 7 yards and the score to give the Rams their first touchdown of the game and Bibbs’ first touchdown of his career as a Ram.

After a CU field goal, the Buffs were up 20-10 at the half.

Coming out of the half, CSU seemed to have found a second wind. Big plays by the special teams kept CSU in the game during the third quarter.

After going three and out on their first possession to start the second half, CU punted the ball to CSU punt returner Joe Hansley who returned the ball 74 yards for the touchdown.

After CU was forced to settle for a field goal, CSU punt returner Thomas Coffman got in on the action and returned the punt 84 yards . Moments later, Bibbs scored his second touchdown of the game giving CSU its first lead, 24-23. Bibbs was given more carries after running back Donnell Alexander went down in the first half with an upper body injury, said to be a hand injury after the game.

In the fourth quarter, though, Bibbs made a costly mistake when he fumbled the ball which was recovered by CU and returned for the touchdown, giving CU a 31-26 lead and momentum back in favor of the Buffs.

The Rams would not lead again in the game.

A 75-yard pitch and catch from Wood to Richardson gave CU a 41-27 lead over the Rams after the successful extra point and the icing on the cake.

CU will take the Centennial Cup and year-long bragging rights back to Boulder after the Rams earned both in a win over the Buffs a year ago. CSU hasn’t had back-to-back wins over CU since the 1999 and 2000 seasons, a stat that will remain at least until 2015.

 

Football Beat Reporter Katie O’Keefe can be reached at sports@collegian.com

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