Lindsay’s effort awes teammates
CORVALLIS, ORE.» Colorado’s football team isn’t enjoying the same type of success it had a year ago, but senior running back Phillip Lindsay is in the midst of an amazing year to cap his stellar career.
Lindsay rushed for 185 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-33 win at Oregon State on Saturday, giving him 466 yards and five touchdowns in the last two games.
Already this season, Lindsay has 995 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he’s on pace for 1,705 yards — which would be the thirdbest total in CU history — and 17 touchdowns.
For his career, Lindsay is now third on CU’s all-time rushing list, with 3,228 yards. He’s likely to finish in the top two all time in yards and touchdowns rushing.
Equally impressive as the stats is the admiration his teammates have expressed for Lindsay.
“The hardest runner you’ll ever see,” receiver Bryce Bobo said after Saturday’s win. “You’ll never see another guy run with the passion he runs with.”
Quarterback Steven Montez added: “Everybody knows Phil’s a freak. The hardest runner you’ll ever see. He’s running through them like he’s 230 pounds.”
The 5-foot-8, 190-pound Lindsay has carried the ball 69 times in the past two games, which is a heavy load for any running back, let alone one his size.
No big deal to Lindsay, however.
“I feel good,” he said. “My mind-set is just different. I do this for my family and I do it for my teammates. At the end of the day, it’s about getting the win. My body is holding up well; I take care of it a lot.”
In the last five games of the regular season, the Buffs are sure to lean on Lindsay, and it gives coach Mike MacIntyre confidence knowing his senior can handle it.
“All Phillip wants to do is win, and he knows if he runs hard and we win and all those accolades will take care of itself,” MacIntyre said. “I’m very proud of him and what he means to our program.”
Battling back.
Montez wasn’t sharp Saturday, especially early. The sophomore misfired on several passes, especially early. He was just 6-for-14 for 100 yards through three quarters.
“I think in the first half he was a little bit rattled,” co-offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach Brian Lindgren said. “There was a couple of poor decisions that he made or he wasn’t seeing the defense a little bit. I think we just kind of were a little bit out of sync. I don’t think he felt like he was rhythm.
“In a way, I felt like he was pressing a little bit, like every time he got out there, he was trying to, ‘I have to make a big play right now,’ instead of letting the game come to him.”
In the fourth quarter, however, Montez completed 8-of-10 passes for 68 yards and two touchdowns. He completed his last five passes, two of them for touchdowns.
“He was able to settle in during the second half when we needed him and put together some critical drives,” Lindgren said. “When they needed to, (the offense) executed at a high level and were able to get a touchdown.”
Notable.
The Buffs were 4-for-4 in the red zone Saturday, scoring touchdowns on each try . ... Saturday’s games was the first of the year in which the Buffs didn’t attempt a field goal. ... The Buffs were successful on their only fourthdown attempt Saturday, and they are 8-for-11 (72.7 percent) this season, ranking 17th nationally.