Colorado Buffaloes Move to 2-1 after Falling to the Michigan Wolverines

Sep 17, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau (13) passes for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 17, 2016; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Sefo Liufau (13) passes for a touchdown in the first quarter against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Colorado Buffaloes started their season 2-0. Then they took on the Michigan Wolverines and suffered their first loss of the season despite a hot start.

To win their first two games, the Colorado Buffaloes beat the Colorado State Rams and Idaho State. Their first real test was the Michigan Wolverines who sit #4 in the top 25. It was going to be a tough game for the Buffaloes all along, and ended as a tough loss.

Early in the game, not even three minutes into the first quarter, the Colorado Buffaloes took an early lead with a touchdown pass from senior quarterback Sefo Liufau. Liufau is one of the few seniors on the Buffaloes looking to boost his draft stock. Against a tough Michigan defense, he had a huge chance and it started out great.

One the ensuing Michigan drive, another Colorado Buffaloes senior Chidobe Awuzie, forced a fumble which teammate Derek McCartney picked up and returned for a touchdown. Awuzie is another senior looking to boost his draft stock before next years NFL draft. This kind of play in a big game gets a lot of attention.

Unfortunately for the Colorado Buffaloes, their special teams play was atrocious and directly responsible for two touchdowns for the Wolverines, with the first of the two hurting momentum of the Buffaloes and cutting into their early 14-0 lead.

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But that didn’t stop the Colorado Buffaloes. Not long after Liufau tossed his second touchdown of the game to top off a ten play drive. After an impressive showing to start, Liufau continued that play on this drive. He should have caught some scouts attention and boost his draft stock.

With the Colorado Buffaloes controlling the first quarter and jumping to a 21-7 lead, the second quarter wasn’t their friend. It was all Wolverines as they put up 17 unanswered points to take a 28-21 lead entering halftime. Despite the appearance, the Buffaloes defense actually played quite well.

The Colorado Buffaloes put up a good fight and came out swinging to start the third quarter as Liafau hit Junior receiver Shay Fields for a 70 yard touchdown for Liufau’s third touchdown of the day. Fields went on to add another 3 catches and 29 yards in the rest of the game. It was a beautiful play from start to finish.

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Despite the fight they put on, that was it for the Colorado Buffaloes. The Wolverines went on to add another 21 points, including a second punt return for a touchdown. As much as the Buffaloes fought, they were just outmatched against the Wolverines and lost 45-28.

They did enough to show that they aren’t a bad team. That their winning their first two games with a combined score of 100-14 wasn’t a fluke. They are a good team with good offense and defense. Issue is, there are teams out there better than the Colorado Buffaloes in all phases. Michigan was just one of them.

Next: Buffaloes Seniors Fighting to be Drafted

Next week the Colorado Buffaloes take on the Oregon Ducks, who also sit as 2-1 on the season. The Ducks started out 2-0, but fell to Nebraska. So both teams will look to get back to winning with only one of them able to achieve that.