Naturally, Shedeur Sanders wore a hat and sun shades after the sport late Saturday night time.
Maybe that was probably the most predictable facet of the weekend for the Colorado Buffaloes, in gentle of the feedback made by Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell this previous week.
It’s additionally changing into pretty predictable that Sanders, the Colorado Buffaloes’ dynamic junior quarterback, goes to have a big affect on the result of CU’s video games. So, it ought to come as no shock that Sanders as soon as once more led CU to victory, 43-35 in double additional time over the in-state rival Rams at Folsom Subject.
“This child can flat out play,” CU head coach Deion Sanders mentioned of his son. “Neglect the identify Sanders. The child can flat out play this recreation.”
And, so it was that on a day the place CU was within the nationwide highlight from dawn to deep into the night time, Shedeur Sanders performed the position of hero, throwing for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns.
ESPN’s GameDay and Fox’s Massive Midday Kickoff each arrange store and filmed their pregame exhibits in Boulder. The Rock was available. Lil Wayne carried out dwell within the North finish zone because the Buffs took the sphere. Among the many different company have been Offset, Grasp P and Kawhi Leonard.
But, probably the most jaw-dropping moments of the day got here from Shedeur, who saved the 18th-ranked Buffaloes from an embarrassing loss and delivered the victory.
“I’d already been there earlier than (in an identical scenario),” he mentioned. “So, it’s like I’m not gonna be capable of dwell with myself, truthfully, on a loss like that. Like I do know I wouldn’t be capable of sleep. So I simply didn’t wish to undergo that.”
Colorado (3-0) got here into the sport a 23.5-point favourite towards the Rams (0-2), however trailed, 28-17, across the center of the fourth quarter.
It was 28-20 when CSU punter Paddy Turner pinned the Buffs at their very own 2-yard line with 2 minutes, 6 seconds to play.
“We do it in follow on a regular basis, so it’s not likely a shock or a shock to it,” Shedeur mentioned of the scenario. “We like these excessive strain moments. Like, that’s what we dwell in and I want the entire recreation was simply straight that truthfully. That’s after I say we excel however actually like in my very own thoughts I used to be considering, ‘Brady second.’ He does it on a regular basis and I’ve bought to have the ability to do it.”
Shaking off an evening full of offensive struggles, Shedeur discovered Michael Harrison for 11 yards after which Tar’Varish Dawson for 18 yards. He discovered Xavier Weaver for 26 yards. And he capped the drive with a 45-yard landing strike to Jimmy Horn Jr.
In seven performs, Shedeur took the Buffs 98 yards in solely 90 seconds to tie the sport at 28-28.
The hat he wore after the sport mentioned “Legendary,” which was becoming, as a result of his late-game efficiency was one thing Buff Nation gained’t quickly neglect. He carved up the Rams’ protection as if he was Tom Brady, Peyton Manning or John Elway.
It was an on the spot traditional within the renewal of the Rocky Mountain Showdown, which hadn’t been performed since 2019 and which hadn’t been on both campus since 2009. And Shedeur performed the starring position.
“Shedeur has been that,” Coach Prime mentioned. “That is who he’s. It don’t matter the place he got here from. That’s who that man is. His ardour and his research habits and his dedication to excellence, it exhibits each weekend. … Folks watch for him to fail, like he can’t preserve this going. Sure he can as a result of that is who he’s.”
The Shedeur-engineered 98-yard drive despatched the sport to additional time. And in further time, he threw two landing passes to Harrison to stun the Rams, who have been the higher group many of the night time.
CU gained the coin toss to begin additional time and quite a lot of groups elect to begin on protection to allow them to see what the opponent will do first. Coach Prime went towards the norm, in fact.
“Once we went to the middle of the sphere to speak about additional time, I informed him we would like the ball,” Coach Prime mentioned. “I would like you to have the ball. Most groups put the protection out first so you possibly can see sort of what they do (on the opposite facet). I would like the offense out first. I would like you to place strain on them to get them out of their consolation zone. That’s sort of the way it transpired.”
Most individuals projected a CU win, however not like this.
The Buffs have been a heavy favourite towards the Rams, who have been blown out two weeks in the past at residence by Washington State.
The nationwide media that descended upon Boulder all picked Coach Prime’s group to roll. However, the Rams got here to Boulder with a chip on the shoulder they usually didn’t again down.
“I’m simply actually pleased with our group and our youngsters and the best way that they competed,” Norvell mentioned. “It was a extremely good soccer recreation for positive – among the finest school video games I’ve ever been part of. I give Colorado credit score. They competed laborious, as properly, and got here again.”
For Coach Prime and the new-look Buffs it was the third totally different kind of win in three video games.
CU gained a shootout as a heavy underdog at TCU in Week 1. The Buffs routed rival Nebraska in Week 2. And, in Week 3, they took a number of punches from an unfazed underdog and stood their floor, fought again and relied on their unflappable quarterback.
“We confirmed that we’d combat, we confirmed that we had no give up or surrender in us,” Coach Prime mentioned. “That’s rather a lot for a group that’s pretty new.
“Resilience. I imply, the fellows, shoot, had each alternative on the planet to surrender. That they had each alternative on the planet to present in they usually didn’t. They usually by no means doubted themselves on the sideline.
“It’s an ideal day for Colorado, it was an ideal day for the Buffalo followers.”
