Montez, Shenault help keep Buffs undefeated
BOULD E R » Colorado could be on the cusp of cracking the Top 25 after a comefrombehindturneddominant 3816 victory over UCLA at Folsom Field to open its Pac12 schedule in convincing fashion.
The Buffaloes’ aerial attack between quarterback Steven Montez and star wide receiver Laviska Shenault sliced its way through the Bruins’ oftconfused secondary, while the Buffs’ defense disrupted UCLA freshman quarterback Dorian ThompsonRobinson and limited the Bruins to just 289 total yards.
The Buffs are now 40 for the first time under coach Mike MacIntyre.
Shenault, who entered the
week leading the FBS with 151.7 yards and 8.7 receptions per game, continued his case as arguably the top wide receiver in college football, and as Friday’s game — and the season — have progressed, the Buffs continue to use the star sophomore more creatively.
Shenault hauled in a 57yard touchdown in the first quarter, scored on a oneyard touchdown rush via a direct snap and drew UCLA’s defense away with double and tripleteam coverages that helped set up Montez for his effective zoneread plays.
Montez finished the night 22 of 26 for 237 yards through the air and 81 yards on the ground for three total touchdowns. The junior entered the night with the nation’s fifthhighest completion percentage (73.4), and he elevated that mark to 75.8 percent on Friday. It was Montez’s 35yard touchdown run with 7:15 remaining that squashed any chance of a Bruins (04, 01 Pac 12) comeback.
Behind its talented tandem, Colorado (40, 10) showed offensive creativity in the second half after a few notable miscues hamstrung them in the first two quarters, most glaringly their twominute offense that had them on the cusp of scoring. An impressive 30yard catch by Jay MacIntyre at the nineyard line was wiped away after a personalfoul penalty against center Brett Tonz.
Yet the Buffs quickly bounced back and outscored the Bruins, 243, in the second half, while essentially eliminating any effectiveness from the dualthreat ThompsonRobinson, limiting the freshman to just 138 passing yards.
Buffs linebacker Drew Lewis finished with a careerhigh two sacks, his first of the season, both within the Bruins’ first five plays of the game, while racking up half of Colorado’s six tackles for loss.
Colorado continues Pac12 play next Saturday against Arizona State at Folsom Field, almost assuredly as a Top 25ranked team in any poll.