BUFFS FEND OFF UCLA RALLY, WIN 48- 42
BroussArd rushes for 187 yArds, 3 touChdowns in Dorrell’s CU CoAChing deBut
BOULDER » Ralphie couldn’t run Saturday night with coronavirus restrictions at Folsom Field.
No problem. The Buffs had Jarek Broussard.
The only hard- charging Buffalo required against UCLA wore No. 23 and rumbled past Bruin defenders all game long. Time to formally introduce the next budding star in Boulder: Say hello to Broussard before he streaks into the opponent’s end zone.
CU began the Karl Dorrell era in style with a 48- 42 victory over the program that fired Dorrell as head coach back in 2007. Broussard, a redshirt sophomore in his first career start, carried the football 31 times for 187 yards and three touchdowns. The 5- foot- 9
Dallas native is the first Buffaloes running back to score three times in his starting debut since 1969 ( Bobby Anderson).
“This really means a lot to us. There were a lot of things we had to go through with the coronavirus … it really felt good to get the ( win) tonight,” Broussard said. “I’m a little nicked up, but if we had to go another quarter, you would have seen me out there.”
With senior quarterback Sam Noyer making his first start, CU led by as many as 28 points before holding off a fierce UCLA comeback.
The Buffs’ early cushion was gifted through exceptional special teams and defensive play.
CU punted after its opening possession stalled, but regained the football on the ensuing return when Buffs
safety Derrion Rakestraw forced a fumble recovered by CU inside the Bruins’ 30- yard line. CU scored three plays later on a Broussard rushing touchdown.
UCLA’s self- inflicted issues continued on its next series when quarterback Dorian Thompson- Robinson was intercepted by CU outside linebacker Carson Wells, who got dragged down just before the goal line. Broussard rushed for his second touchdown to put the Buffs up 14- 0 midway through the first quarter.
Noyer threw his first career CU touchdown pass, a 12- yard strike to tight end Brady Russell, to give the Buffs a 21- 7 advantage in the second quarter. However, CU opted to play quarterback Tyler Lytle on its next drive, and the offense suffered its first three- and- out of the night. Noyer replaced Lytle on the team’s following series and he remained in the game.
CU’s defense kept cooking after a pair of second- quarter fumble recoveries, with the second leading to yet another Broussard rushing score. The Buffs entered halftime with a commanding 35- 14 lead.
UCLA didn’t back down after the break, scoring three touchdowns on their first three possessions, with each drive lasting fewer than two minutes. CU placekicker James Stefanou also had a long field goal attempt blocked. The Bruins trailed by just a touchdown, 42- 35, late in the third quarter.
But Noyer calmed nerves with a methodical 10- play drive capped by a quarterback sneak across the goal line. The Buffs added two field goals from Evan Price to go up 48- 35. UCLA scored its final touchdown with under 2 minutes left, but was unable to recover an onside kick before CU bled the clock.
“They should feel confident they can win a lot of games,” Dorrell said. “We won our first one and that’s a big bonus for us.”
Noyer finished the night 20of- 31 passing for 257 yards and two touchdowns ( one rushing).
The Buffaloes ( 1- 0) travel to face Stanford next Saturday. UCLA ( 0- 1) hosts Utah on Friday.