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MANHATTAN, Kansas (Ticker) -- Some of the luster is back at Colorado. Chris Brown ran for 114 yards and Colorado shut down Kansas State's high-powered offense in a 16-6 Big 12 Conference victory over the 13th-ranked Wildcats. Craig Ochs threw a touchdown pass and Jeremy Flores added three field goals for the Buffaloes (4-1, 2-0 Big 12 North), who have won four straight games after a season-opening loss to Fresno State. Colorado was 3-8 last season and seemed to be on course for another poor year after the loss to then-unknown Fresno State. But the Buffaloes have bounced back behind an aggressive defense that recorded six sacks on Saturday and now are a legitimtate contender for the Big 12 North title. "It puts us closer to what our goal is, but it won't be done until we get a Big 12 championship or a national championship," Buffaloes tackle Brandon Dabdoub said. "But we're a step closer." It was also the biggest win for Colorado under coach Gary Barnett, who took Northwestern to two Big Ten Conference titles but was just 7-5 in his first season with the Buffaloes in 1999. "I have a vote in the coaches (poll), and I'll vote us a couple more ranks upward, but I've had us in Top 25 all the time," Barnett said. "It was a good performance in a tough sutuation, but it wasn't one that would get yourself a lot of national attention. The win itself will get you something." In the process, Kansas State (2-2, 0-2 North) suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since 1998, when it dropped the Big 12 title game to Texas A&M and the Alamo Bowl to Purdue. The Wildcats dropped back-to-back regular season games for the first time since 1994. "I thought we self-destructed in several ways, and I thought they did a nice job," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. Kansas State also had won its previous 58 home games against unranked opponents since a 21-16 loss to Kansas on October 28, 1989. Ell Roberson had a two-yard TD run for the Wildcats, who scored 37 points against Oklahoma last week but recorded their lowest point total since a 12-0 loss to Colorado in 1996. "We were real flat as an offensive unit. I myself, was flat," Roberson said. "That's just something we can't have." The Wildcats were unable to run the ball effectively, gaining just 74 yards on 40 carries. Roberson entered the game third in the nation in rushing among quarterbacks, but had minus-six yards on 19 carries. He fared only a little better when trying to throw, completing just 10-of-19 passes for 107 yards with two interceptions. The only score of the first half was Ochs' 21-yard scoring strike to Daniel Graham. Ochs set up the score with a 27-yard run and carried four times for 70 yards. He completed eight-of-16 passes for 87 yards and was intercepted twice. Flores kicked field goals of 31 and 21 yards in the third quarter to increase the lead to 13-0. The Wildcats drove deep into Colorado territory late in the period before Kyle Altvater missed a 27-yard field goal attempt. Altvater also missed a long field goal attempt and backup Jared Brite had an extra point blocked. Kansas State finally scored on Roberson's short run 6:30 into the fourth quarter that was set up by defensive end Henry Bryant's interception near midfield. A 54-yard punt return by Roman Hollowell set up a 22-yard field goal by Flores with 2:27 left.
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