Tag: Alex Fontenot

Karl Dorrell’s postgame opening statement following loss to ASU

READ: Karl Dorrell shares his thoughts postgame

“Well, what a shame.”

Karl Dorrell’s opening line in his postgame press conference summed it up. For the third week in a row, Colorado’s offense struggled to gain yards. Just 13 points were all the Buffaloes could score in their first Pac-12 Conference game of the season. Defensively, the many abilities of Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels made things tough for the Buffs as they relinquished a season-high 35 points. The loss dropped Colorado to 1-3 on the season. A week after losing to BYU, the Sun Devils moved to 3-1.

There was some optimism in Dorrell’s voice when he said freshman QB Brendon Lewis played “okay” and took a step forward. As for the other two Buffs we heard from afterward, Mark Perry and Alex Fontenot, their strong performances were once again clouded by a loss.

[lawrence-related id=710,706,703]

Karl Dorrell’s opening statement:

Well, what a shame. It was I think a competitive game for at least the initial quarter and a half. I think things were going decently defensively. I felt we did some really positive things in the first half. Those things were negated with the penalties, with the personal foul penalties that extended drives and they ended up getting points. But those guys played hard and did some really good things in that first half.

I think the second half was a little bit of a challenge for really getting a chance to really contain that offense. I think offensively in the first half there was some struggles as we all know, but I was really encouraged that we came out of halftime with the ball and we went down the field and scored. That was kind of more reminiscent of what we saw a year ago with how we played with the running game really leading the way, so to speak.

TEMPE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Karl Dorrell of the Colorado Buffaloes watches from the sidelines during the second half of the NCAAF game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

I thought Brendon played okay. I thought he had a couple steps of progress this week. We need to continue to bring him along, along with our passing game. I thought he hit some opportunities for some throws and a couple of receivers dropped the ball. That was something that negated some of that productivity on the passing game side of it.

We got to just keep bringing this team along. It’s a lot of young players that are playing and a lot of new players playing. It’s challenging each and every week now that we’re in season. There’s no preseason games, all these game count, unfortunately. We got to just keep working at getting better each week and hopefully that light bulb starts to glow a little bit brighter for us to be much more productive and score more points and actually do as well as we need to do defensively as well. We’ll keep plugging at it.

Small improvements seen in CU Buffs’ 35-13 loss to Arizona State

RECAP: Small improvements were seen in the CU Buffs’ Pac-12 opener loss to Arizona State

It wasn’t a shutout. but the offense continued to lag in Colorado’s third consecutive loss as the Buffs’ Pac-12 opener went the way of the Sun Devils, 35-13.

Two field goals and a touchdown were all the Buffaloes could muster on Saturday against an Arizona State squad that is a growing threat to win the Pac-12 South.

Despite throwing for just 67 yards, Brendon Lewis took another step forward according to Karl Dorrell. Colorado’s ground attack, however, was the beacon of positivity. Alex Fontenot ran for 65 yards and a touchdown while Jarek Broussard had 35 to become Colorado’s quickest to 1,000 career rushing yards. When all was complete, CU outgained ASU on the ground 183 to 167.

After Cole Becker hit a 51-yard field goal late in the second half, which ended CU’s Pac-12 record 24 consecutive scoreless possessions, the Buffs came out firing in the third quarter. Lewis completed a 26-yard jet sweep to Ty Robinson and it appeared the Buffaloes’ offense had been revived. Fontenot ended the drive with a 1-yard rushing TD and ASU’s lead was trimmed to 14-10.

TEMPE, ARIZONA – SEPTEMBER 25: Running back Alex Fontenot #8 of the Colorado Buffaloes reacts after scoring on a one-yard rushing touchdown against the Arizona State Sun Devils during the second half of the NCAAF game at Sun Devil Stadium on September 25, 2021 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“I was really encouraged that we came out of halftime with the ball and we went down the field and scored,” Dorrell said. “That was kind of more reminiscent of what we saw a year ago with how we played with the running game really leading the way.”

In the fourth quarter, Colorado handed the ball off every time but twice despite being down big. The nearly 100% ground attack produced a meaningless fourth quarter Becker field goal.

The Buffs’ defense, which has been solid in 2021, struggled to contain the explosiveness of ASU QB Jayden Daniels. His 75 yards rushing led the team and caused fits in the Buffs’ secondary. Colorado’s defense relinquished seven plays over 20 yards and couldn’t record a sack or a turnover. Nate Landman led with 10 total tackles.

While the effort may have been an improvement over last week, better results are still the goal.

“Progress doesn’t keep you stable,” Dorrell said. “We’re frustrated, we’re all frustrated, they’re frustrated, coaches, everybody is. But that’s kind of the nature of the beast… We got to be big men and grow up and try to get some things fixed in a hurry so we can be productive, and I think we’re pretty close. I don’t think we’re that far away.”

Up next for Colorado will be a home matchup on Oct. 2 with the likewise discombobulated USC Trojans.

WATCH: Alex Fontenot dives in for a Colorado touchdown

WATCH: Alex Fontenot dives in for a Colorado touchdown

The momentum of Cole Becker’s 51-yard field goal late in the first half carried over nicely to Colorado’s first drive of the third quarter. Entering the second half down 14-3, the Buffaloes drove 75 yards in eight plays to score their first touchdown since the first quarter vs. Texas A&M.

Jarek Broussard got the drive going with a 12-yard run followed by an 8-yarder. Then, the big play of the drive came on a 26-yard Ty Robinson jet sweep. Alex Fontenot came in next and ran the ball the next five plays. His final one was a 1-yard touchdown to cut the Buffs’ deficit to 14-10. It was Fontenot’s second touchdown of the year.