| | |
|
NCAA Football Recap (Oregon-Colorado)
Posted: Sat December 26, 1998 at 12:52 a.m EST COLORADO 51, (21) OREGON 43HONOLULU (Ticker) -- Cornerback Ben Kelly returned the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown to set the tone and Mike Moschetti threw for a career-high four scores as Colorado built a big lead and held off Oregon, 51-43, in the Aloha Bowl. The Buffaloes turned five Oregon turnovers into 23 points in the highest-scoring Aloha Bowl in history. Moschetti's four touchdown passes established a new Aloha Bowl record, as did Jeremy Aldrich's three field goals as Colorado matched the highest point total in the game's 17-year history. "We came here with two goals," said Colorado coach Rick Neuheisel. "The first was to win the game and the second way, I felt like, this was a great reward for our kids. "Today was a great exhibition of athleticism." Colorado led 51-28 with 10:45 remaining in the fourth quarter after Moschetti hit running back Daniel Graham for a 20-yard TD. Oregon answered when quarterback Akili Smith barreled his way for a one-yard score. The Ducks took advantage of Moschetti's fumble and cut the margin to eight points when Smith hit Donald Haynes for a 42-yard touchdown and Bobby Nero for the two-point conversion. The Buffaloes drove to midfield on their next possession but were stopped on a fake punt when cornerback Marcus Washington was pulled down one yard away from a first down. Smith was sacked and threw three incompletions after Oregon took control, and Colorado was able to run out the clock. The fake punt attempt brought back memories of the 1996 Cotton Bowl between the same schools, when a third-quarter fake by the Buffaloes propelled them to a 38-6 rout. Cornerback Damen Wheeler returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown for Colorado (8-4), which used several big plays to post its highest point total since a 66-14 pounding of Northeast Louisiana on September 16th, 1995. It also marked the most points scored by the Buffaloes in their bowl history, surpassing a 47-point outburst against Alabama in the 1969 Liberty Bowl. "We talked about being able to control the line of scrimmage," added Neuheisel. "Our offense did a great job but the drives were so short that our defense was on the field way too much. That's why we were susceptible to the big plays." The 94 combined points easily surpassed the Aloha Bowl record, set when Kansas topped UCLA, 51-30, in 1995. Ironically, the four highest-scoring games in Aloha Bowl history have come in the last four years. Navy edged California, 42-38, in 1996 and Washington topped Michigan State, 51-23, last season. Smith completed 24-of-46 passes for 452 yards and two touchdowns and Derien Latimer ran for three scores and 74 yards for Oregon (8-4), which has dropped five of its last six bowl games. The Ducks only postseason victory this decade came last year, a 41-13 trouncing of Air Force in the Las Vegas Bowl. "That had to be the most talkative team I've played against in my whole life," Smith said of the Buffaloes. "Sometimes, it causes you to mouth off back to them, but we have to control ourselves and stay focused as much as possible. We ended up doing that, and only ended up eight points short today. But we just weren't able to make the plays in order to win today." Latimer tied the Aloha Bowl record with three TD runs, eclipsing the mark set in 1993 by Colorado's Rashaan Salaam. The Aloha Bowl marked the first half of college football's first bowl doubleheader. Air Force beat Washington, 45-25, in the inaugural Oahu Bowl in a game that also is being played in Aloha Stadium. Colorado led 37-14 at halftime and appeared to take control early in the third quarter when cornerback Damen Wheeler stepped in front of Smith's screen pass toward the left side and returned it 52 yards for a score. But Oregon fought back as Smith hit tight end Jed Weaver for a nine-yard TD midway through the period and Latimer went in from the 1 early in the fourth, cutting the Buffaloes' advantage to 44-28. Moschetti was 11-of-23 for 213 yards to earn Most Valuable Player honors for Colorado, which recorded its fifth straight bowl victory dating to a 41-30 triumph over Fresno State in this game in 1993. Dwayne Cherrington gained 92 yards on 10 carries in place of Marlon Barnes, who had 24 yards on eight attempts before leaving late in the second quarter with an injured right ankle. "There's a big difference between 7-5 and 8-4," said Moschetti. "We approached this game as if it was the first game of next year. "We have a lot of guys coming back, but just because we do won't give us any 'gimme' wins next season. We have to work our butts off in the offseason." The fireworks started immediately when Kelly, a sophomore, caught the opening kickoff at his own 7-yard line. After faking right, he cut toward the left sideline and raced to the end zone virtually untouched. It put the Buffaloes ahead just 17 seconds into the contest. "We wanted to start out with a bang," Kelly said. "Everybody made their blocks and there was nothing but green ahead of me. The guys really did a great job ob blocking. I had the easy part. We expected them to kick to me one time and then we expected the rest to be squibs after the touchdown. Our goal was to make a big play on the opening kickoff and that's what we did." Colorado built its advantage to 17-0 before the end of the first quarter with the help of two fumbles by Oregon freshman running back Herman Ho-Ching. Aldrich capatilized on the first miscue by connecting on a 48-yard field goal. Following the second fumble, the Buffaloes began at the Oregon 35. After an end-around to wide receiver Marcus Stiggers gained 29 yards to the 6, Moschetti hit Javon Green for a five-yard score. "I believe that we're a better team than Colorado is, but not today obviously due to the turnovers," said Oregon coach Mike Bellotti. "We have to continue and profit from the loss, learn, and the next step is to go out on the field and not make than many mistakes." Oregon finally got on the board on its next possession when Latimer capped a nine-play, 67-yard drive with a 11-yard TD run. But Colorado answered on the third play of the next drive when Moschetti found Stiggers for a 58-yard score. Running back Jason Cooper fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Aldrich made it 27-7 with a 41-yard field goal. Latimer scored on a four-yard run with 7:11 left in the half, but it took Colorado just one play to get the points back when Moschetti found Darrin Chiaverini wide-open down the right sideline for a 72-yard touchdown. After safety John Sanders intercepted Smith in the end zone, Aldrich booted a 23-yarder two seconds before halftime for a 37-14 advantage. Smith's huge day came despite the fact that Oregon played without its second-leading receiver, Tony Hartley, who was suspended for violating team rules. But others picked up the slack as Damon Griffin hauled in eight passes for 176 yards and Haynes added 148 on seven receptions. Chiaverini and Stiggers caught three passes apiece for 96 and 81 yards, respectively, for the Buffaloes. © 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
|
Copyright © 1999 CNN/SI. A Time Warner Company. Terms under which this service is provided to you.
|
