Colorado Buffaloes vs Arizona Wildcats Match Player Stats On Nov 12, 2016

The Sports Xchange
Nov 13, 2016

Sefo Liufau passed for three touchdowns, Phillip Lindsay ran for three and No. 12 Colorado stayed atop the Pac-12 South with a 49-24 victory over Arizona on Saturday night in Tucson, Ariz.

Colorado (8-2, 6-1) stayed a half-game ahead of USC (6-2) and a game ahead of Utah (5-2) in the division. The Buffaloes have won more conference games this season than they did in their first five seasons in the Pac-12, when they won a total of five.

Colorado led by as many as 32 points against Arizona, which entered with one of the worst defenses in the country at 37.1 points allowed per game.

The Buffaloes scored touchdowns on six of their first nine possessions. Lindsay, who ran 25 times for 119 yards, scored the first two touchdowns. Liufau connected on scoring throws of 15 and 27 yards to receiver Shay Fields, and a 40-yarder to receiver Jay MacIntyre, before scoring on a 1-yard run late in third quarter for a 42-10 lead.

Arizona (2-8, 0-7) has lost seven consecutive games for the first time since 2004.

The Wildcats moved the ball well, outgaining Colorado 417-388, but missed three field goals (44, 50, 44 yards) and hurt themselves with 13 penalties for 143 yards.

Liufau completed 19 of 27 passes for 213 yards, with one interception.

Arizona running back Samajie Grant, in his third game at the position after being moved from wide receiver, carried 16 times for 113 yards and two touchdowns. UA starting quarterback Brandon Dawkins was 9 of 19 for 107 yards, also running for 81 yards, before being replaced late in the third quarter.

Colorado struck first with an 81-yard touchdown drive on its first possession after forcing Arizona to punt. The Buffaloes converted three third-down conversions on the drive, capped by a 1-yard run from Lindsay with 7:27 to go in the first quarter.

Arizona was turned away on the ensuing drive, missing a 44-yard field goal, but the Wildcats tied the game with an 85-yard drive that was their longest touchdown drive since going 94 versus Washington on Sept. 24. Running back Samajie Grant took it in on a 2-yard rush, jumping over a would-be tackle at the line of scrimmage and scoring with 12:28 to go before half.

Colorado regained the lead, taking advantage of an Arizona injury.

One play after cornerback Dane Cruikshank limped off, Liufau went deep against his replacement, Malcolm Holland, connecting with Fields for a 47-yard gain to the 4. Lindsay scored one play later.

Grant's 45-yard burst set up a 23-yard field goal by Josh Pollack to cut the lead to 14-10 with 8:22 left in the second quarter.

But Colorado responded with touchdowns -- a 15-yard scoring pass to Fields in the back left corner of the end zone and a 40-yard deep throw to MacIntyre -- coach Mike MacIntyre's son -- for a 28-10 lead.

Pollack missed a 50-yard field goal attempt with 15 seconds left in the half.

Colorado has an arduous close to the season. The Buffaloes host No. 23 Washington State on Saturday in a surprising battle of Pac-12 division leaders before finishing at home against No. 15 Utah.

NOTES: Colorado QB Sefo Liufau made his 36th career start, breaking the school record for quarterbacks held by current Buffaloes assistant Darian Hagan. ... Scouts from the Detroit Lions, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers were in attendance. ... Saturday's game marked the eighth time an Arizona game started at 7:30 p.m. local time or later. ... Arizona senior WR Nate Phillips caught a pass for the 43rd consecutive game. ... Colorado LB Kenneth Olugbode had seven tackles in the first half, giving him 100 for the season. ... The Buffaloes have forced a turnover in 23 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation.