BOULDER, CO – Head Coach Mel Tucker and the Colorado Buffs suffered their first loss of the season, falling in the first overtime to the Air Force Falcons 30-23. Their first matchup since 1972, Air Force left the Buffs offense looking for answers as they simply could not break down the Falcon’s line pressure and efficient secondary.
Colorado found themselves in another come from behind situation, trailing 20-10 heading into the 4th quarter. The Air Force defense turned down anything CU threw at them and after shutting down Colgate last week to just seven total points, they had to feel confident about closing the game out.
As proven before, you can only keep the individual offensive talent searching for so long. Montez found his first answer came on a 13-yard connection with Dimitri Stanley, shortening the lead 23-16.
With just under ten minutes to go in the game, Air Force QB DJ Hammond III had a chance to close the game out by putting his team in field goal position. Hammond found success in the first three quarters with a couple of big-gain plays and just one more would’ve sealed it right then. Hammond did his part in giving kicker Jake Koehnke a makeable kick. The Buffs defense desperately blocked the attempt and kept fans in their seats for a little longer.
After struggling to move the ball all game, Buffs QB Steven Montez to finally found his timing and made a couple of key first down completions to move the offense up the field with four minutes to go. The Buffs drive was capped off by a wildcat formation 2-yard touchdown by Laviska Shenault Jr in the final minute.
It didn’t take long after the overtime coin flip for the cheers to migrate to the other side of the stadium. The Falcons exploded for an immediate 25 yard touchdown drive to put CU in the gallows and the key just out of reach.
Even with momentum on their side, Colorado and Montez ultimately couldn’t follow with the tying touchdown. Montez’ fourth down pass fell just out of reach of Shenault Jr in the endzone and Folsom Field flashed white and blue.
On today’s result, Tucker said, “We have to, as coaches, find out why we are not being as consistent as we need to be… We’re going to move forward with this football team. But I do want to give Air Force a ton of credit. They made more plays than us tonight.”
On his team’s offensive struggles he said, “We’re trying to figure that out. It’s consistency. You’ve got to do it play in and play out and that’s where we’re lacking right now. Eventually, if you don’t execute, you know it’s going to catch up to you and that’s what happened today… It’s not about playing hard and getting a great effort, it’s about being able to execute for four quarters plus being able to finish.”
Colorado will have to reflect on this game not as one that could and may very well diminish their bowl chances, but one that they can look back at the tape and solve the offensive issues that gives their opponents control of the game.
The Buffs will have a chance to get back on track when they head to Arizona State on Saturday night. This is a matchup marked on the CU calendar as one that should end with a W. But that is what we were saying this morning.
Air Force will head to 22nd ranked Boise State to see if they can maintain their momentum from the first two games of their season.
Written by Paul Fritz
Image Courtesy of Colorado Athletics
