Colorado Buffaloes 4-0 After Dismantling UCLA Bruins
The Colorado Buffaloes shook off a game UCLA Bruins team to cruise to an easy 38-16 victory on Friday night.
On a surprisingly cool night in Boulder, the Colorado Buffaloes were efficient and overpowering moving to 4-0 for the first time since 1998 and dropping Chip Kelly‘s Bruins to 0-4 as Pac-12 play opened.
The Buffaloes got great performances once more from the players that have been their best for the first quarter of the season. Steven Montez went 22-for-26 for 237 yards a touchdown and a 93.2 QBR. He added 11 carries for 87-yards in a performance that has to resonate with Pac-12 South coaches. The bottom line is that the work Montez put in over the offseason has paid dividends. He is a very good football player.
Not to be outdone, Laviska Shenault Jr. hauled in 12 passes for 126 yards and a touchdown. Shenault, Jr. is second in the NCAA with 581 receiving yards. The super sophomore has already made the Biletnikoff watch list and if he continues his production into the tougher part of the Buffs schedule may get on some Heisman watch lists (though it’s been a long time since a WR was awarded the Heisman).
Laviska’s breakout has been a delight to watch as a Colorado fan. He is unbelievably crafty with the football, hard to bring down and does not turn the ball over. He already belongs on the storied list of Colorado receiving greats.
Fellow sophomore Nate Landman continued his dominance on defense with 9 tackles. Landman seems to be in on every play and his 53 has become an imposing sight for opponents.
It’s worth pointing out the contribution of Colorado receiver Jay McIntyre. While he had just one catch for 10 yards, the Senior captain keeps his team motivated and provides on-field leadership that’s critical to the Buffs success. He’s also the son of CU head coach Mike McIntyre.
We’ve had a father-son duo before in Colorado and it left a bad taste in our mouths. The Dan Hawkins nightmare was never more difficult to endure than when Cody Hawkins was playing quarterback. It felt forced and entitled. It felt wrong.
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For that reason CU fans are wary of father-son coach-player relationships but the McIntryres (and Chiaverinis) have more-than eased those concerns.