Monday, October 22, 2007
BOULDER, Colo. — Colorado freshman quarterback Cody Hawkins tried to avoid showing his frustration and disappointment following Saturday’s 19-14 loss to Kansas.
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When he first took the podium at the post-game press conference, he talked about how hard the Jayhawks played. With one word, he described the Buffaloes as “searching.” But eventually, he couldn’t hide his feelings.
“I was probably about three plays away from walking in here with a big cheesy grin on my face and acting like it was the last day of school,” Cody Hawkins said. “You go out and expect to win every game but when you lose, it hurts.”
Those three plays could have easily come from stopping the Jayhawks on third down. Kansas converted on seven of 16 third downs in its victory and controlled the clock in the final half by making big plays to keep drives alive.
Colorado senior linebacker Jordon Dizon said the conversions not only controlled the clock but also frustrated the defense. Despite recording a team-high 12 tackles, the nation’s leading tackler said the defense’s third-down deficiencies were his fault.
“As a leader, I need to step up and make a play here and there, and I didn’t as well so I put the blame solely on me,” Dizon said. “As a leader, you have got to go up there and get people fired up and get people clued in on what we’re going to do.”
The noise provided from the Folsom Field crowd of 51,940 was electric going into the fourth quarter as 95 yards of grass lay ahead of sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing and the Kansas offense. Colorado downed a punt at the Kansas five yard line to end the third quarter.
But Reesing and the Jayhawks marched down the field and silenced the crowd’s roar. Even Colorado coach Dan Hawkins said he felt deflated after the drive.
“You punt the ball, and you get them down there and are thinking, ‘What are the chances?’” Dan Hawkins said. “But that’s the hallmark of a good team — a mature team.”
Kansas went four-for-four on third-down conversions in that drive, which turned out to be its final and game-winning scoring drive. A plethora of Jayhawks contributed to the drive’s third-down success by sustaining blocks, fighting for extra yards and running precise routes, but Reesing was always in some way involved.
On a third-and-nine play from the Jayhawk 22-yard line, Reesing weaved his way in and out of defenders to pick up 17 yards and continue the drive. Four plays later on third-and-three, he made a textbook throw to junior receiver Dexton Fields for 17 yards that set up the eventual touchdown.
“You see him run, and there’s nothing you can do about it,” Dizon said. “You get back, re-dial and then do it all over again for three downs. He’s a great quarterback; he did what he needed to on the ground and the air to win the game.”
The Buffaloes also had their chances to convert in important situations. But Colorado went only five for 17 on third downs. Dan Hawkins said the statistic was one of the main reasons why his team couldn’t pull out a victory.
Colorado plays another offensively efficient team next week in Texas Tech. If they desire a different outcome, the Buffaloes must make plays on third downs — offensively and defensively.
—Edited by Chris Beattie
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Comments
Long scoring drives deflate Colorado
This story is flat WRONG. I was at the game. KU never trailed 14-12 in the 4th. We trailed once, by a score of 7-3. We then led 10-7, 13-7, 19-7 and finally 19-14. It is not good form that a reporter and an editor wrote a story that is easily checked...
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