Despite being ahead 29-0 at halftime, Deion Sanders couldn’t shake off an unsettling sensation. It might not have been the most catastrophic downfall in Colorado’s history, but there was still an undeniable unease in the air.
Stanford coach Troy Taylor didn’t really change a thing, just watched as the Cardinal steadily staged the largest comeback in school history.
This game, played on the ominous date of Friday the 13th and concluded on Saturday the 14th, is destined to be remembered as a monumental event for both teams.
Joshua Karty connected on a 31-yard field goal in the second overtime after tying the game in regulation, Elic Ayomanor had a school-record 294 yards receiving and Stanford rallied for a 46-43 victory over Colorado early Saturday.
According to Taylor, it is an extraordinary game for these individuals to remain resilient despite being behind 29 points against a highly skilled football team. “We will relish this victory,” Taylor added.
The Buffaloes, on the other hand, were in a completely different situation as they were still recovering from their worst collapse in school history. This record-breaking mishap had occurred during their game against Kansas on November 6, 2010, where they had squandered a 28-point lead.
Sanders also detected a hint of complacency starting to seep in, indicating that something was not quite right.
“The Colorado coach expressed his conversation with them regarding the old cliche people often mention – that it’s a tie game with no score, but he disagreed. He clarified that it was not a 0-0 situation, but rather a 29-nothing disadvantage for his team. He admitted feeling a sense of complacency during halftime due to offensive setbacks and surrendering yardage. The coach disliked the emotions he experienced going into halftime. When the team returned to the field, complacency reemerged, and the coach expressed frustration towards the team he despises, as well as the inability to comprehend how such a situation could occur. However, it happened nonetheless.”
In the second overtime, Stanford’s safety Alaka’i Gilman intercepted a lofted pass from Shedeur Sanders in the end zone, setting the stage for Karty. Additionally, Karty successfully kicked a 46-yarder just as regulation time expired.
“I just threw it up,” Shedeur Sanders said, referring to his errant throw, adding, “That was a foolish play.”
The Cardinal (2-4, 1-3 Pac-12) found themselves trailing 29-0 at halftime as neither QBs Justin Lamson nor Ashton Daniels were able to ignite any momentum.
However, everything changed in the second half when Daniels, assisted by Lamson, guided Stanford to eight consecutive scoring drives. During this time, the Cardinal accumulated 408 yards out of their total of 523 yards, including overtime.
In the game, Daniels accomplished a remarkable feat by throwing for 396 yards and scoring four touchdowns. Ayomanor also had an outstanding performance, making 13 catches, all of which occurred in the second half. His contributions included three touchdowns, one of which was a remarkable catch that tied the game in the first overtime. Additionally, he made a pivotal play by catching a 97-yard pass that completely altered the course of the game. It is worth noting that Ayomanor’s 294 receiving yards surpassed the previous school record set by Troy Walters in 1999 against UCLA, which was 278 yards.
The sell-out crowd was left stunned by Ayomanor and the Cardinal’s performance.
Ayomanor expressed that the satisfaction of persevering as a team until the very end and continuing to fight is much greater than simply silencing the opposing team’s crowd.
During a game that kicked off at 8:20 p.m. local time and concluded at 12:21 a.m., Colorado accumulated a total of 17 penalties, resulting in a loss of 127 yards. Deion Sanders, at his post-game news conference, remained perplexed by the events that unfolded.
Sanders expressed that he cannot recall a single instance in his life, from his early years until now, where he was leading by a score of 29-0 in a football game and ended up losing. He admitted that this particular situation is proving to be quite challenging for him to process.
Shedeur Sanders had an impressive performance, throwing for 400 yards and five touchdowns while also leading the team in rushing with 37 yards. He and the Buffaloes (4-3, 1-3) displayed great chemistry from the start, building a substantial lead that seemed insurmountable.
It wasn’t.
Deion Sanders expressed that moving forward is our only option, as that is simply a part of life. He acknowledged that we did not anticipate this situation, but emphasized that wallowing in self-pity is not a viable solution.
Travis Hunter, a versatile player on both offense and defense, made a remarkable comeback after being absent for three games due to a severe injury sustained from a late hit during the Colorado State game. The hit resulted in him being hospitalized with a lacerated liver. Nonetheless, Hunter displayed exceptional performance upon his return, making 13 catches for 140 yards and scoring two touchdowns. In addition, he contributed defensively with five tackles.
Sanders stated that the plays he made were instrumental in keeping us in the game.
Deion Sanders expressed his strong disapproval of late kickoff games on his weekly radio show prior to the game. The Buffaloes had experienced their second late kickoff game of the season at Folsom Field, both of which went into double overtime. The first late kickoff game had resulted in a victory for the Buffaloes, as they successfully rallied to defeat Colorado State with a score of 43-35.
Stanford was the one who rallied this time.
Sanders admitted that currently, the team is not adequately prepared for crucial moments. He acknowledged that certain players lack the ability to step up and make critical plays when necessary.
THE TAKEAWAY
Stanford’s Cardinal put an end to their seven-game losing streak in the conference.
The defense of Colorado remains a concern as they are currently conceding an average of close to 36 points per game.
UP NEXT
On October 21, the Stanford Cardinal will be hosting the 18th-ranked UCLA team.
Colorado’s football team, the Buffaloes, will have a week off before heading to UCLA to take on the Bruins on October 28th.
___
For the latest updates on college football, check out the AP’s dedicated hub at https://apnews.com/hub/college-football. Stay informed with the AP Top 25 College Football Poll, available at https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll.
