For about the first 26 minutes of the first half, Colorado was playing some of its worst football of the season, and that is saying something. We saw the same uninspired offense combined with a secondary that simply couldn’t keep up with USC’s receivers, mainly Drake London.
Something finally went Colorado’s way when Guy Thomas forced USC running back Keaontay Ingram to fumble around midfield. Mark Perry was alert and picked up the fumble to give Colorado its best field position of the game at USC’s 48-yard line.
The momentum garnered stayed with the offense as Brendon Lewis immediately found Dimitri Stanley for a 7-yard gain. Jarek Broussard broke loose on the next play as well for a 19-yard rush, his longest of the game.
19-yard gain from our guy @jarekbroussard1 💨
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📱 https://t.co/pKLx54rW9d pic.twitter.com/YMY4wgEbZx— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) October 2, 2021
Tight end Brady Russell got into the act too with a gutsy 13-yard gain.
With the Buffaloes just over one yard outside of the end zone, Deion Smith punched it home for his second touchdown of the year. The TD and extra point would bring the game to its halftime score of USC 20, Colorado 7.
.@DeionS20 finishes the drive with a 1-yd TD 🦬#GoBuffs
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📱 https://t.co/pKLx54JxxN pic.twitter.com/nvMgxo6S9Z— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) October 2, 2021