NCAA Football Recap (Wyoming-Colorado)
Posted: Sat September 27, 1997 at 10:15 p.m. EDT
Ben Kelly returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and Ron
Merkerson brought back a fumble to set up Jeremy Aldrich's
18-yard field goal with three seconds left that allowed number
16 Colorado to escape with a 20-19 victory over Wyoming.
Kelly's return came with 4:10 left and just 19 seconds after
Marques Brigham ran 18 yards for a touchdown, giving Wyoming a
19-13 lead. It was the first kickoff return for a touchdown by
Colorado since Lance Olander against Drake in 1980.
The Cowboys (3-2) took over after the ensuing onside kick at
their own 44 and had a great chance to run out the clock and
pull off the upset. Brigham gained two yards on 3rd-and-1 at
the Colorado 47 and time had wound down close to two minutes
when he was stripped by linebacker Mike Phillips on a
second-down carry.
"The ball just came out and I was thinking, please bounce to
me," Merkerson said. "It bounced right into my arms and I took
off thinking that I could score."
After Merkerson's return and a running play, John Hessler hit
Darrin Chiaverini for 21 yards to the 1. The Buffaloes (2-1)
took a couple of shots at the touchdown before Hessler spiked a
pass to stop the clock with five seconds left, setting up
Aldrich for the winning kick.
"It was a great victory," Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel said. "I
know the questions will be, `What's wrong with the Buffs?' And
for the coaches, we certainly have to evaluate from that
standpoint. But we won a game we probably weren't supposed to,
and as we all know having followed sport, that can be as magical
as anything else."
"There are no pluses, because we really felt like we had the
better team, and no one picked us to win," Wyoming coach Dana
Dimel said. "There are no pluses in the game, absolutely zero."
Marlon Barnes had a nine-yard touchdown run for Colorado, which
improved to 23-2-1 all-time against Wyoming. The Buffaloes held
a 290-233 advantage in total yards and won their 14th straight
homecoming game.
"I couldn't believe the turn of events that took place," Hessler
said. "Although special teams showed up the most, we all
contributed."
It was a bittersweet ending for Brigham, a native of Aurora,
Colorado who had 29 carries for 127 yards, his third straight
100-yard game. Cory Wedel kicked four field goals for the
Cowboys, who fumbled after a series of laterals on the game's
final play, an onside kick by Colorado.
"I am a captain and a leader and it was my responsibility to
hold onto the ball," Brigham said. "Before I went in, I just
thought to hold onto the ball and not worry about gaining any
yards. Why it happened, I don't know. I didn't know how to
walk into the locker room after the game."
Wyoming grabbed a 6-0 lead on field goals of 39 and 27 yards by
Wedel less than four minutes apart late in the first quarter.
The first capped an 11-play, 58-yard drive and the second came
after a 33-yard interception return by Brian Lee.
Barnes' score completed an 80-yard march and gave Colorado a 7-6
lead with 11:25 left in the second quarter. The drive was kept
alive by Hessler, who escaped a rush and raced 11 yards on
3rd-and-10.
Wedel answered with a career-best 52-yard field goal as Wyoming
regained the lead with 6:13 left in the first half. But Hessler
found Phil Savoy with a 46-yard pass to set up a 32-yard kick by
Aldrich that gave the Buffs a 10-9 halftime lead.
Another field goal by Wedel, this one from 40 yards, finished a
short drive and gave Wyoming a 12-10 lead with 5:04 remaining in
the third quarter. Wedel has made 48-of-61 field goals in his
career.
Colorado was unable to move the ball and Wyoming expanded the
lead to 19-10 on Brigham's TD that capped a 72-yard march in 13
plays. Brigham had 34 yards on the drive and the Cowboys were
helped by a roughing-the-passer penalty against the Buffs.
Hessler was 12-of-25 for 190 yards and two interceptions. Savoy
caught four passes for 88 yards and Herchell Troutman gained 70
yards on 19 carries.
"I think John showed spots where he looked really good," said
Neuheisel. "I think he played better than he has played and I
think he is excited about continuing to improve."
Jeremy Silcox was 7-of-12 for 63 yards and backup Jay Stoner was
5-of-6 for 27 yards for Wyoming. They were sacked a combined
seven times.
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