Well, that was something! What a huge flippin’ comeback win for the Cougs, as they get off the mat and finish the deal in Boulder, 31-27.
Here’s some lovely video, thanks to Jared at WSU:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3iEdWN4GRw&w=420&h=315]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imPotLVUxdY&w=425&h=246]
So, yeah, CU helped out a tad. For example, what was with that 3rd down rollout pass play with 2 minutes left, when they had the ground game going and the Cougs were running out of gas? And they absolutely blew the coverage on Marquess Wilson’s “sluggo” route where they bit about a million times too hard on the little fake, AND they fumbled the ball at the WSU 35 in the last minute of the game……but YEAH, WE’LL TAKE IT! After these last four years, we’ll take anything, but a PaC-12 game on the road to get to 3-1!? Again, WE’LL TAKE IT! And is there anything sweeter than singing the fight song in another school’s HOUSE??
And it has to be said. He looked shaky at times, and continued to lock on a bit too much. But that’s who Marshall is, and sometimes it can deliver outstanding results. 32-for-49 for 376 and three huge TD passes, that’s the stuff that can get you player-of-the-week honors. And what a great job by Marshall the last two drives, leading them on consecutive 80-and-90 yard TD drives to win the game.
Great job Cougs, way to pull it out. At 3-1, we are now halfway to a bowl game. Can they find three more wins this year? There is time to hash all that out later, but for now, GO BANANAS. Enjoy your victory beer(s) tonight, it’s well-earned as Cougs.
(READ ON for Sutra’s Post Game Comments:)
SMOKE EM IF YOU GOT EM!!!!!
First of all, Congrats to Paul Wulff, the Lobster, Kars, and Alex Hoffman-Ellis (our seniors) for a wonderful victory.
As you all know, on Friday, I not only picked us to lose this game, I picked us to get BLOWN OUT!!!!
So, for the past two games I have been (uncharacteristically) WRONG about our Cougars’ fortunes. But, at least for today, if being wrong means feeling the way I do right now, I DON’T WANT TO BE RIGHT!
Of course, when the score was 20-10, it sure didn’t feel like I was going to be wrong. And that leads me to the main header for this game:
IT WAS A GAME OF FIRSTS, AND IT WAS A GAME OF WORSTS!
Let’s start with the Worsts:
1) GOING FOR IT?! Up 7-3 in the 1st quarter, we set up in the Pistol for a 3 and 1 from the 41 yard line. Unfortunately, Fullington threw a look-out block and Mitz got stuffed as soon as he made his first step. But, instead of punting the ball and pinning them way back, we went for it–EVEN after they called a time out. Of course, we run the same play again, get stuffed, and three personal fouls later, we were down 10-7. As I tweeted at the time, I really began to wonder what it would take for Paul Wulff to get out of his own way…especially since the playcalling had been A+ up to that point…but what a shift in Mo!
2) The Squibb kick to end the first half that didn’t. I mean, I know that there will be a day where we SHOULD HAVE squibbed it, but didn’t (and they will return a kick 98 yards for a touch as a consequence), but I HATE THE FRICKING SQUIBB KICK!!! Of course, Furney grounded the kick, they returned it to the 50, and three plays later the score went from 10-10 to 13-10–with them holding the ball.
3) TWO FOURTH QUARTER DRIVES. Down 20-17, our D held the Buffs down on two consecutive possessions. And what did we do? LOOK STINKING AWFUL. I mean, the whole darn day, we made our living off of a wonderful combination of possession passing and some solid running by Winston, Galvin, and Mitz. But on those two possessions, we ran the ball once. What’s more, we got an accute case of the dropsies. Wilson and Barton in particular had what would have been CRUCIAL first downs that turned into KILLER drops. And boy was it depressing to watch us come close, but fail to deliver!!!!!
4) The Clock. Down 27-17, Marquess Wilson made the first of his game saving receptions along the left sideline. It was a beautiful catch on a fly route: Wilson caught the ball, got a foot down, and fell out of bounds. If you get a chance to watch the replay, the clock starts to run as soon as they start to run the PLAY CLOCK. So, even thought we hit Barton on the next play (I think), we lost 20 seconds of the game. I couldn’t fricking believe it.
5) The Pass Interference Call That Wasn’t (PI). With 2:30 something left, on 2nd and 10, Colorado went for a fly route down the left side. Their guy dove, there was a bit of contact, and BINGO the refs thrown the yellow flag on Simmons for pass interference. Without question that was THE WORST PI CALL that I have seen in some time. The fact that it came at such a critical juncture is exhibit Z why the Pac-10/12 officials are still the worst ever.
6) The WORST clock management. For once, the OTHER TEAM’s coach made a call that changed the outcome of the game. Facing 3rd and 6 with 1:56 left, Colorado faced a no-brainer decision after we called our final timeout. Run the football, and our Cougies would get the ball back with about 1:15 left in the game. BUT NO. Embree decides to get cute and call for a pass. Two seconds later, CU is punting–and punting the game away.
THE FIRSTS
1) Winston. Although he came away with “only” 47 yards, Carl Winston was a MAN out there today. And with his performance, made a strong case that he might be our #1 back moving forward. EXCELLENT work, Carl. I honestly didn’t think you had it in you. Another first for this season: The staff brining Mitz in for some bruiser yards. All in all, when we made calls for our backs, I thought the balance between the 3 backs was terrific! And that was a first.
2) GUT CHECK. Lots of that in this one, but down 20-10, Marshall and company mounted the first of three (potentially) season saving drives. This one was 12 plays (I think) 80 yards which culminated in an AWESOME call by Sturdy to Byers in the flat. Simply put, if we don’t score there, my prediction becomes a reality. And that would have REALLY SUCKED!!!
3) MARSHALL AS TEAM LEADER. Mind you, this is a game we would have run away with had Tuel been at the healm. And the reason: Tuel can move around and make plays with his legs that Marshall simply cannot do. But, what Marshall can do, is keep his poise and sling the ball around a bit. And now, unlike ever before, his teammates trust that he can win ballgames for them. And, as we head for another game without Jeff Tuel (my guess), Lobster’s new status should give us all LOTS of confidence that we can win in LA next week.
4) DEFENSIVE STAND. Several of them in this game. But, when I saw the phone ring (it was SeanHawk) following Wilson’s game winning TD, the first thing I said to Sean was “We scored too fast.” Of course, seconds later, those who were watching the game were jumping up and down as wel stripped Richardson at our 40 and recovered the ball to end the game A HUGE STOP with a turnover to boot!
5) 1-0 in Conference. Not a first, of course, but the first 1-0 since Alex Brink led the Cougs to a 36-10 victory at the pre-Captain Comeback Stanford Cardinal in 2006.
And that, dear followers, is the tale of the tape. Must say, however, that I am eagerly awaiting an opportunity to see the replay–not only because of how exciting it was, but because I am DYING to see whether their punter could have run for a first at the end of the game. I swear, when they snapped the ball to the punter with 1:50 left, it seemed like our whole team ran the F away from the punter and the football liike it was the plague.
What a great stinking win.
3-1 Folks! Go Cougs!
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