The Cougar defense aided by Brennan Jackson, had two touchdowns to go with Cam Wards 4 touchdowns as the Cougs stomped the Buffaloes’ in Pullman 56-14.
The Cougs entered into the game Friday night on a 6-game losing streak dating back to last September. The Cougs had one of their greatest starts in school history, then took a nose dive to the bottom of the conference. So with Coach Deion Sanders and his Colorado Buffs coming into Gesa Field. There was a buzz in the stadium with Prime in town and the Buffalo faithful showed up in full force.
Both teams came into the game at 4-6 and needing a win to help keep their bowl eligibility alive. The Buffs have been led by Junior QB Shedeur Sanders, and the Cougs got to him early and often. He left the game early in the second quarter after taking 2 huge hits. Sanders walked off the field at that point and never returned.
WAZZU was looking for a quick start like they did in their big wins against Wisconsin and Oregon State and they got it. Cam Ward made quick work of the Colorado defense with a 7-play, 65 yard drive ending in a 15-yard run by senior receiver Lincoln Victor to give the Cougs the 7-0 lead. The Coug defense followed that with a strip sack by Ron Stone Jr. that Brennan Jackson Scooped up and returned for 40-yards for a Cougar Touchdown.
Before Sanders left, he connected on a 45-yard TD Travis Hunter who outran the Cougar Secondary and pulled the Buffs within 7. Hunter’s 45-yard touchdown pulled Colorado right back in it. But the following Kickoff, WSU’s Leighton Smith got the score back with a 98-yard kickoff return that extended the lead back to 14. This appeared to be the turning point in the game, because Sanders went out soon after and the Cougs poured it on. At the end of the first, Ward found Josh Kelly for a 51-yard completion, followed by a 2-yard TD run by Ward to put the Cougs up 42-7 at half.
The Buffs couldn’t get anything going after that rotating between their second and third string quarterbacks. Deion was under the weather and nearly didn’t make it out to the field for the game. The enthusiasm in the team was definitely lacking and it seemed to match what Sanders was feeling. “We’re falling short of what we’re capable of, that’s the part of this that’s tough to digest. We’ve got high expectations here, so this is tremendously disappointing,” said Coach Sanders following the game.
The Cougs have a chance to become bowl eligible next week against the undefeated Huskies in the Apple Cup. The fire and energy the Cougs brought to the table on Friday will be needed to knock off the Huskies and give Coug nation their desired Apple Cup victory.
