houstonchronicle
BOULDER, Colo. – The Colorado Buffaloes delivered a performance that head coach Deion Sanders had envisioned since September, not one typically seen so close to Thanksgiving. A dynamic and balanced offense, paired with an opportunistic defense, powered Colorado to a 42-32 upset over No. 14 Houston on Friday. It was the program's first victory against an AP top-15 opponent in more than 19 years.
For much of the season, the Buffaloes have been plagued by penalties, inconsistent quarterback play, and further disciplinary setbacks, preventing the team from putting together a complete game. That changed against the Cougars, and it came at a crucial time for Sanders, whose job security has been a subject of intense speculation.
"We all caught the same bus," Sanders remarked, summarizing the team's unified effort. He was, of course, at the wheel, steering Colorado (4-6, 2-5 Big 12) as he attempts to avoid a third losing season in his four-year tenure. Sanders soaked in the moment, which included fans rushing the field in celebration. "Wonderful," he said. "Like we just won the Super Bowl."
With two games remaining, the Buffaloes have earned a chance to salvage a tumultuous season that has featured quarterback changes, a rotating cast of running backs, a five-game losing streak, a league-high penalty count, and relentless hot-seat chatter surrounding their coach. In the win over Houston, Colorado's marquee players—the ones Sanders brought in to shine under the bright lights—were front and center all evening.
Tailback Richard Young, a transfer from Alabama, rushed for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Cornerback Boo Carter, who spent time at Tennessee, recorded his first interception as a Buffalo. Safety Randon Fontenette, who arrived via TCU and Vanderbilt, notched a third-quarter sack that forced a fumble. Receiver Joseph Williams continued his strong season with a 53-yard touchdown catch, one of four scores of 30 or more yards.
"That's what we're indicative of doing when we're all playing together as one," Sanders said. His team plays at Cincinnati on Saturday before hosting UCF on Nov. 28 to close out the regular season. "That was one of the challenges: Play for your brother. Along with their coach."
Fontenette echoed the sentiment: "Just coming to the game with Coach Prime—we all want him here. I came here for him, to play for him. That's why I really play hard, because I love playing for Coach Prime."
Wilson Leads Explosive Offense
This was the offensive blueprint Sanders envisioned when he hired coordinator Brennan Marion, the architect of the high-octane Go-Go scheme. Quarterback Isaac Wilson made proper reads, particularly between the second and third quarters when Colorado scored 28 consecutive points after trailing 20-7. Wilson even played through what appeared to be an ankle injury.
"Isaac is Isaac," Sanders said. "Isaac's going to give you some highs, and he's going to make you say, 'Darn it!' a couple times. But that's who he is. We love that. He's a fighter. He's tough."
The Buffaloes racked up 249 rushing yards against Houston, the most in the Sanders era. They converted 10 of 14 third downs, their highest conversion rate since Sept. 18, 2010, against Hawaii.
"We changed it up a little bit. We opened up the offense a little bit," Sanders explained. "We showed them different looks that I'm pretty sure they weren't ready for, especially at the onset of the game." Sanders attributed the success to one key factor: timing. "They were resilient," he added. "There's no quitting in them. That's nowhere in the vicinity of this team."
In the chaos after the game, Williams got completely lost inside a sea of fans—and relished it. "Super-dope," Williams said. "Our fans always show up and show out for us. When I got to see my teammates in the locker room, we turned up and had a great time."
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Originally reported by houstonchronicle.