It was the Julian Lewis Air Show on Saturday in Boulder.
From beginning to end, the Colorado Buffaloes (2-0) were able to blow the doors off the Weber State Wildcats (1-2) by a score of 52-21. After the defense forced a three-and-out to start, it didn’t take long for the Buffs to find the end zone.
On the first offensive play, Lewis connected with receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 66-yard score. Two plays later, he’d find Joseph Williams on the run-pass option for a 63-yard touchdown pass. It was a sign of what was to come for the rest of the day.
Beginning the third drive, Lewis lost the football on a sack, giving it back to the Wildcats. After being down 14-0, quarterback Nate Dahle was able to lead Weber State to their first scoring drive, connecting with receiver Noah Kjar for a 13-yard touchdown and making it 14-7.
That was the closest the score would ever be. Lewis responded with another touchdown pass, this time for 48 yards to Earnest Campbell, and the Buffs never looked back.
Lewis finished 17/23 passing with 366 yards and four touchdowns. He set a new career high in passing yards and threw for the most yards in a first quarter by a CU quarterback in program history (212). He also ran one in for a score.
Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders liked what he saw from Lewis, making just his fourth career start for the Buffs.
“366, four touchdowns and no picks?” Sanders said. “I'm happy.”
Late in the third quarter, backup Kaneal Sweetwyne got playing time, going 7/10 for 35 yards. He also had a rushing touchdown.
Williams was the leading receiver on the afternoon, finishing with 123 yards and two touchdowns. Moore also had a great day hauling in 107 yards and a score. In total, the quarterbacks found eleven different receivers through the air.
On the ground, the Buffs were just as efficient, rushing for 180 yards on 38 carries. Although the offense slung it early, the ground game was just as ready to explode. Micah Welch led the team with 106 yards and a score. It was the single highest rushing total by a back in the Coach Prime era.
“Micah is my dog, man. He is my guy, and he knows that,” Sanders said. “So every time he runs one, he comes back and says, ‘I told you I got you.’ I love that young man in the classroom, on the field, his practice habits, everything.”
Altogether, Colorado had six offensive plays that went for 20 yards or more.
On the other side of the ball, Colorado’s defense struggled at times in the secondary, allowing Dahle to throw for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Kjar was the leading receiver with 121 yards and two touchdowns. Colorado safety Randon Fontenette had an interception.
Defensive coordinator Chris Marve made one notable adjustment to help out the back end. Nickel cornerback Makari Vickers was substituted out, with Boo Carter taking his place and Jason Stokes playing outside.
As the Buffs move on to tougher competition, the secondary issues have to improve.
In the trenches, the defensive line was dominant once again, limiting Weber State to 127 yards rushing. In addition, the team had three sacks and pressured Dahle constantly. The defense's leading tackler was Jah Jah Boyd with five.
On special teams, the Buffs were improved on paper, but still struggled in kickoff coverage. Elliot Arnold was in at field goal kicker instead of Daniel Gerlach and delivered a 52-yard kick midway through the third quarter. He finished 7/7 on PATs as well.
The win was no doubt a confidence builder for Sanders’ program. As the Buffs gear up for a two-game road trip, they'll need to improve from mistakes and capitalize on their successes from Saturday.
“We're trying to win a championship. We're not just trying to win a game,” Sanders said. “Maybe you're comfortable with (52-21). I'm not comfortable with that. I'm a bona fide winner.”
Colorado will be playing at Northwestern next Saturday at 5:30 pm MT (Fox Sports).
Coaches Mentioned
