Colorado Buffaloes vs Michigan Wolverines Match Player Stats On Sep 17, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Sep 17, 2016

ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- De'Veon Smith scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 42-yard run and No. 4 Michigan overcame an early 14-point deficit to defeat Colorado 45-28 on Saturday at Michigan Stadium.

The Wolverines (3-0) scored two special-teams touchdowns, including Jabrill Peppers' 54-yard punt return. Amara Darboh caught a 45-yard touchdown pass from Wilton Speight, who passed for 229 yards.

Colorado senior quarterback Sefo Liufau left the game early in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle. X-rays were negative.

He was hit hard while delivering a 70-yard scoring strike to Shay Fields on the Buffaloes' first possession of the half. Liufau played during Colorado's ensuing series but was hobbling around and took a sack on the final play of the possession. Liufau completed 16 of 25 passes for 246 yards and three touchdowns.

Liufau's replacement, redshirt freshman Steven Montez, did not complete any of his seven passes. Receiver Devin Ross caught seven passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns for the Buffaloes (2-1).

The Liufau-Fields hookup briefly put the Buffaloes in front. The Wolverines quickly responded with Smith's 42-yard scoring run just 1:44 into the half, giving them a 31-28 lead.

Ty Isaac's 1-yard scoring run, set up by Grant Perry's 54-yard reception, extended Michigan's advantage to 38-28.

Peppers' return with 11:27 remaining sealed the victory.

The Wolverines erased a 21-7 deficit with 17 unanswered points before halftime.

Ross got behind safety Dymonte Thomas on a 37-yard scoring strike from Liufau on Colorado's first possession. The Buffaloes' defense delivered the next touchdown, as defensive back Chidobe Awuzie recorded a sack-fumble against Speight. Derek McCartney scooped up the ball at the 18 and rumbled to the end zone.

The Wolverines got on the board with their third blocked kick this season. Michael Jocz blocked Alex Kinney's punt attempt and the ball bounced around until Perry picked it up at the 6-yard line. He trotted into the end zone to make it 14-7.

Ross caught his second touchdown pass with 3:49 still remaining in the quarter. He once again beat Thomas, this time on a 6-yard pass.

Kinney hit one of his blockers in the back with his next punt attempt, which went out of bounds at the 38. Michigan took advantage of the gift with Jehu Chesson's 17-yard end around, cutting the Buffaloes' lead to 21-14.

Kenny Allen's 39-yard field goal with 1:59 left in the half sliced Colorado's lead to four.

Darboh eluded a couple of tackle attempts and scooted down the left side on his 45-yard catch-and-run with 33 seconds left in the half.

NOTES: Colorado has now lost 23 straight games to ranked opponents, including 12 under head coach Mike MacIntyre. ... The Buffaloes led by a combined score of 80-0 at halftime in their previous two games. ... Michigan is now 50-26-1 all-time against current Pac-12 opponents, while Colorado is 35-65-3 against current Big Ten schools. ... The Wolverines lead the all-time series 4-1, with the only loss being the Buffaloes' 27-26, last-second victory in 1994 when Kordell Stewart hit Michael Westbrook with a 64-yard Hail Mary pass. ... Michigan opens its Big Ten season against Penn State on Saturday, while Colorado faces Pac-12 foe Oregon.