Boulder, CO (Sports Network) - Jon White rushed 20 times for 168 yards and a
touchdown as the Utah Utes closed out their season with a 42-35 win over the
Colorado Buffaloes in a Pac-12 Conference bout at Folsom Stadium.
Travis Wilson completed 13-of-25 attempts for 128 yards and one touchdown for
Utah (5-7), which snapped a two-game losing streak with the victory. On the
defensive side of the ball, Nate Fakahafua recorded a team-best seven solo
stops, four tackles for loss, and a sack. Eric Rowe made five tackles,
recovered a fumble, and made one of the team's four interceptions.
While under center for Colorado (1-11), Nick Hirschman threw for 306 yards and
one touchdown on 30-of-51 passing, but was guilty of all four interceptions.
Nelson Spruce reeled in a game-high 10 receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown
while Tyler McCulloch made six grabs for 88 yards. Donta Abron rushed 14 times
for 84 yards and a score to pace the rushing game for the Buffaloes, who ended
their season on an eight-game losing slide. Ray Polk made a game-high nine
tackles in the losing effort.
Hirschman was intercepted on the second play from scrimmage which gave Utah a
short field in the opening minute. It took advantage as Wilson completed a 16-
yard touchdown pass to Dres Anderson to make it 7-0.
The Buffaloes answered on their next possession as generated a 12-play, 75 yard
drive which ended with an eight-yard touchdown pass from Hirschman to Spruce.
The Utes took a lead just before the first frame ended with a 21-yard field
goal by Coleman Petersen.
Neither side managed to put any more points on the scoreboard until the 3:43
mark of the second quarter when Kelvin York rushed four yards across the goal
line to extend the Utes' advantage to 10 points. Colorado answered just before
the half with a one-yard run for a score by Hirschman, which sent the game into
the intermission with Utah on top, 17-14.
Utah opened up the second half with an eight-play, 55-yard drive which was
concluded by a 37-yard field goal by Petersen.
Colorado then took its first lead as Tony Jones rushed three yards for a
touchdown at the 8:46 mark of the third frame. Abron scored on a five yard run
with just a minute to go before the final quarter to give the Buffaloes a 28-20
lead.
The visitors came right back with a 12-play drive that took 5:19 off the clock.
After White scored on an 11-yard run to put the Utes down by two points, Jake
Murphy found David Rolf in the end zone for a successful two-point conversion.
Wilson put Utah back in front by a touchdown with a nine-yard touchdown run at
the 8:41 mark of the fourth frame.
Colorado's special teams then gave it a boost as Marques Mosley returned the
ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown to tie it up at 35. Not to be
outdone, Utah's return man Reggie Dunn caught Will Oliver's kickoff at the goal
line and produced a 100-yard kick return touchdown of his own. Dunn's return
put Utah up 42-35, which is where the score would remain as Hirschman was
intercepted on Colorado's last drive.
Despite the loss, Colorado gained 418 yards of total offense and limited Utah
to 336.
GAME NOTES:
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