Colorado Football Follows the Script in the First Half vs. Kansas State

The Colorado Buffaloes game against Kansas State has been anything but a barn burner. The good news for Buffs fans is the first half was better for Colorado than it was for Kansas State. However, the game has been less than impressive by either team.

Colorado’s blueprint for the last month has been to have a productive first half. Be better than the opponent and create a lead. The bad news is they have been unable to maintain their lead and the damn breaks in the second half. Losing the last four games by almost double Colorado’s productive output.

With ten minutes remaining in the first half, the Kansas State quarterbacks (Duff and Barnett) combined for 2 yards total. In the second quarter, the Wildcats moved off of Duff and over to Blake Barnett. Since the switch, Barnett has been 4 of 5 for 50 yards and a passing touchdown late in the first half. The Colorado counterpart was Isaac Wilson as expected. Backup QB Julian Lewis was rushed to the hospital this week with a “medical emergency,” as provided by the University of Colorado and Lewis’ father.

Wilson also has decent efficiency, going 6 of 8 for 67 yards. This game has not been objectively ‘good’ yet. Colorado’s Richard Young has 53 yards and a touchdown on the ground, but no other Buffaloes player has more than 30 yards. The score should be wider than it is in favor of Colorado. With four minutes left in the second quarter, Dekalon Taylor took a hand off to the left for 30 yards. The problem is that he tried to force the touchdown and ended up fumbling the ball out of the back of the end zone for a Wildcats touch back.

On the following possession, Kansas State marched down the field on an 11-play drive. That drive included multiple passes over ten yards each. Including the 28-yard touchdown pass to cap off that drive. Colorado had an opportunity to force a punt on that drive, but ESPN Lampron was called for a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty, giving the Wildcats a much-needed first down.

Colorado had a chance to extend the lead before halftime. The Buffs had 18 yards in three plays and reached the CU 40-yard line before an ineligible downfield penalty and a sack on the very next play forced another punt.

Both teams are similarly productive on offense. Both are 50 percent on third downs. Colorado is having a slightly better day throwing and running the ball. However, the margins are not very wide. Kansas State and Colorado have two and three penalties respectively, but neither is causing a stark difference in yards. Dekalon Taylor’s fumble is the lone turnover in this game.

Kansas State is playing better defense and is controlling time of possession. Colorado will need to, once again, find a way to manufacture points if they hope to change their second half fate. This has been the juncture in the game where Colorado loses control of the game.

Colorado will receive the second half kickoff with the game tied at 7-7.