Another tough road loss for CU

Did you hear that? Maybe it’s the “plunk” of pigskin hitting metal. It could be the shriek of an official’s whistle blowing. How about the sound of a safety gasping for air or the ball slipping out of a running back’s hands? Actually, it was all of those.

Mistakes and big plays kept Colorado from upsetting No. 12 Oklahoma State on Thursday night in a game that was truly, to rely on a cliche, heartbreaking. After holding a lead late into the third quarter and gaining one back in the fourth, errors took Colorado down, 31-28.

The Buffaloes came into Stillwater looking more like the team playing for a BCS berth than their opponent. With OSU quarterback Zac Robinson on the sidelines recovering from a concussion the week before, the CU defense kept replacement Alex Cate from completing a single pass and picked one off in the first half. OSU tried to rely on the run, but CU was ready. The defense forced a fumble, stopped a fourth-down rush behind the line and kept OSU out of the end zone. The Cowboys’ only offensive points in two quarters came from a 30-yard field goal.

OSU did have the lead early, however. CU’s first offensive drive ended in a punt, which Perrish Cox promptly returned 67 yards for a score. The Buffaloes’ offense continued to sputter, relying on screen passes and quick outs for minimal gain, but didn’t let the deficit affect them the way it has previously. Things clicked two drives later, and CU took advantage of midfield position to tie it at 7.

Get this — Cody Hawkins played, and played well. The backup came in late in the second quarter after starter Tyler Hansen fell on top of his throwing thumb, which still has two screws in it from a previous injury. Hawkins completed 6 of 7 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, all in one 51-second drive. That gave CU a 14-10 lead at the break.

The momentum continued to be in Colorado’s favor through much of the third quarter. OSU gambled again on fourth down on its first drive and again was stopped for a loss. Hansen came back into the game, his hand numbed with a shot and wrapped in athletic tape. He looked shaky to start the half, taking a sack and throwing two incompletions for a three-and-out on CU’s opening possession. But Cox muffed the ensuing punt, and CU recovered. Hansen threw a perfect pass two plays later, a 28-yard touchdown to Markques Simas that put the score at 21-10.

With 6:24 left in the third quarter, things started to erode. OSU had put in its third-string quarterback, 26-year-old Brandon Weeden, but the former minor league pitcher from the Yankees organization struggled to get his arm under control. Weeden finally completed two consecutive passes to move the chains for the Cowboys, something that hadn’t been accomplished until that point. Another completion set up the first big offensive play for OSU, which also found the end zone. Keith Toston ran for 45 yards to reduce the CU lead back to 4 points.

CU tried to answer, driving from its own 18-yard line to set up for a field goal to open the fourth quarter. Instead, Aric Goodman hit the right upright from 49 yards away. Two drives later, OSU scored again on a big play, Weeden passing to Toston for 47 yards. That gave the Cowboys the lead again at 24-21. Colorado’s Brian Lockridge didn’t let that last more than a few seconds, running the kickoff back for a touchdown and putting CU back in front, 28-24.

As exciting as the return was, OSU responded just as CU did early in the game after a special teams score. Weeden threw 27-yard and 28-yard completions on the next drive, the latter to Justin Blackmon for the final touchdown of the game, along with the lead.

Even though it forced four OSU turnovers, the only ball CU lost was the most costly. Running back Demetrius Sumler fumbled at the 50-yard line with 5:27 left in the game. OSU did its best to bleed the clock but had to give CU a final chance. Three Hansen incompletions later, OSU got the ball back and used the run to get two first-downs and the game.

It was the worst day of the season for Colorado when it came to penalty yardage: 14 for 150 yards. Four of those were 15-yard personal foul penalties on the defense, which helped OSU with field position.

Everything combined for one tough loss for the Bufffaloes. At the end of the ESPN broadcast, one thing was heard loud and clear from CU alumni and color commentator Chris Fowler:

“I’d be surprised if they don’t make a buyout (coach Dan Hawkins) at the end of the season, frankly. I’m told the money is there.”

KEY STATS

COLORADO
QB Tyler Hansen: 23-for-36, 169 yards, 2 TD.
QB Cody Hawkins: 7-for-11, 69 yards, 1 TD.
RB Rodney Stewart: 8 carries, 21 yards.
RB Brian Lockridge: 98-yard kickoff return for TD.

OKLAHOMA STATE

QB Alex Cate: 0-for-9, 0 yards, 1 INT.
QB Brandon Weeden: 10-for-15, 168 yards, 2 TD.
RB Keith Toston: 30 carries, 172 yards, 1 TD rushing. 2 catches, 45 yards, 1 TD receiving.

Editor’s note: Comments have been turned off on football stories involving CU to meet the university’s requirement for giving media credentials to Web site reporters and photographers.