Even with a struggling USC team coming into Folsom, the Colorado Buffaloes wrote a familiar script throughout another uninspiring performance.
Colorado lost its fourth consecutive game and lost even more patience from Karl Dorrell. Now into the heart of Pac-12 play, the Buffs’ inexperience—and they’ve got plenty of it—isn’t an excuse anymore.
“We’re at that point there’s an urgency about being more productive and more demanding about what we’re doing,” Dorrell said. “Not that we haven’t done that already, but the pacifier, or the binky, is going to have to go. We got to grow up fast.”
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The play of second-year freshman quarterback Brendon Lewis isn’t exempt from Dorrell’s expectations either. But statistically speaking, Lewis did have his best passing performance this season. Scoring two touchdowns won’t win many games in the Pac-12, but Lewis threw for a season-high 162 yards and one touchdown. His 58.8% completion rate was also his best since Northern Colorado.
The O-line, however, remained a glaring problem. Yes, Lewis’ pocket presence needs improvement, but Colorado can’t allow USC to get five sacks and three QB hits.
“They’re not playing at a level that they should given their experience,” Dorrell said of the O-line.
For the Trojans, who improved to 3-2, they gave Colorado plenty of help by committing 12 penalties for 115 yards. That turned out not to matter much, though, as USC improved to 15-0 all-time against CU.
It would be a major disrespect to Drake London to continue further without mentioning his prowess. The 6-foot-5 wide receiver was simply unguardable. Whether it was Christian Gonzalez, Nigel Bethel or Mark Perry trying to guard him, London even exceeded the hype en route to 130 receiving yards and an impressive one-handed touchdown catch.
“We knew 15 (London) was going to be a threat and he was still making plays regardless of how tightly covered he was,” Isaiah Lewis said.
While the expectations weren’t exactly high, the agony on Saturday was at its worst when USC took a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter.
After USC tacked on a 44-yard field goal to make it 20-0, the Buffs regained a little hope courtesy of their defense. Guy Thomas laid a fumble-inducing hit on USC running back Keaontay Ingram and Mark Perry recovered to give CU’s offense a prime opportunity around midfield. The Buffs fully capitalized when Deion Smith’s goal line patience led to a 1-yard touchdown.
Pretty much the only other positive moment came with a third quarter touchdown drive. Soon after Lewis and Russell connected for a 65-yard catch and run, which was CU’s longest play of the season, true freshman wide receiver Chase Penry caught the first touchdown of his career. The seven points gained cut USC’s lead to 30-14 and, if nothing else, made it less of a blowout.
A fourth quarter that began with USC taking a commanding 23-point lead was not enough to get backup QB Drew Carter into the game. When asked what the quarterback situation looks like moving forward, Dorrell once again said it’s under discussion. He added that there is risk involved with removing Lewis too early and potentially hurting his confidence.
With a 1-4 record now graffitied next to Colorado’s name, Dorrell’s upcoming bye week will be a busy one.