Two-minute drill
Turning point – CU quarterback Sefo Liufau threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown with 10 minutes left. The Buffs failed to score again.
Notable number – 311 The number of passing yards the Buffs allowed to Utah quarterback Travis Wilson, who had thrown for more than 200 only twice this season before Saturday.
Difference-maker – CU challenged Wilson to make plays in the passing game, and he proved more than up to the challenge. The Utes averaged 12.4 yards per completion. Wilson completed 25 of 37 passes with three touchdowns.
Injuries – Linebacker Addison Gillam (concussion).
Mike MacIntyre seems awfully certain his Colorado football team is on the brink of winning games. His players are right there with him.
Colorado fans will be either comforted by those thoughts through another interminable offseason or they will suffer through nine months of apprehension.
This much is certain, the next step for MacIntyre in his rebuilding job with the Buffs is not waiting for his players to mature and learn how to win. It’s pushing them over the top by whatever means necessary the next time they are on the field and the time after that until it sinks in for good.
The Buffs lost their season finale to Utah 38-34 on Saturday with Folsom Field slightly more than half full or almost half empty depending on one’s perspective. It was similar to other games the Buffs have played this season in that they had control and a lead only to give it away and lose.
“I felt extremely sad for those seniors who gave all that they had,” MacIntyre said. “I do feel 100 percent that they have built a foundation and taught these young men how to fight, fight, fight and keep battling.”
Holding a three-point advantage in the fourth quarter, quarterback Sefo Liufau found himself under pressure deep in his territory and rushed a screen pass. The badly off-target throw was intercepted by Utah cornerback Dominique Hatfield and returned for a touchdown. It was the 15th interception thrown by Liufau this season and a particularly disheartening way for him to end what had been a special season statistically.
He also set a CU single-season record for passing yards (3,200) and added to his single-season record for touchdown passes in the game. But the 2014 season will be remembered every bit as much for the shortcomings and mistakes as it will be for the records.
The Buffs were frustratingly close to winning numerous games and didn’t get it done.
Saturday’s loss was one final bitter pill to swallow for 21 CU seniors who never enjoyed a winning season or a bowl game and finished their final season 2-10 overall with the first winless season in conference play in 99 years at CU.
“The way we fought in games this year was just something else,” senior wide receiver Tyler McCulloch said. “A lot of coulda, woulda, shouldas out there, but the way this team plays is just completely different from when I’ve been here in the past. The program is definitely headed in the right direction; it’s just frustrating I’m not going to be here to be a part of it any longer.”
The Buffs went 0-9 against Pac-12 competition and carry an eight-game losing streak into the offseason. They also have a 12-game losing streak in Pac-12 games dating back to a victory over Cal in 2013.
“It’s time for them to take the next step,” senior linebacker Woodson Greer said. “Next year, the fans should expect them to close out games, and when they get ahead to close people out.
“That’s just something that we didn’t quite really grasp as a team. It doesn’t have anything to do with the coaches; it’s just us personally, as players. We have to dig deeper and be able to finish. Next year they’ll definitely correct that and they’ll be better.”
Running back Christian Powell scored three first-half touchdowns on runs of 2, 1 and 33 yards. Powell hadn’t been in the end zone since the second game of the season at Massachusetts.
Colorado’s defense held up well against Utah running back Devontae Booker, who had averaged 134.5 rushing yards in eight previous Pac-12 games this season. Booker ran 25 times for 95 yards and a touchdown.
But the Buffs gave up big plays through the air to a Utah passing game that was averaging just 188 yards per game. Utah quarterback Travis Wilson repeatedly burned the Buffs’ secondary with long passes to wide receivers Kaelin Clay and Delshawn McClellan and finished with his first 300-yard passing day of the year.
Utah also executed a fake punt in the third quarter, extending a drive that eventually led to a touchdown. The drive appeared to be cut short only moments before the fake when CU safety Terrel Smith appeared to have intercepted a pass. The ruling was overturned by replay officials.
Now it’s up to MacIntyre to take the next step. He seems eager to do so. He will host the senior banquet at 10 a.m. Sunday morning at Folsom Field and hold his final press conference of the season on Monday morning at 9 before hitting the recruiting trail. He already seemed to be shifting gears after the loss Saturday.
“I believe to turn anything around in anything that you do takes hope, passion and endurance, and endurance is the biggest thing,” MacIntyre said. “If you can endure, then you’ll keep your hope and passion alive.”
Kyle Ringo: ringok@dailycamera.com, twitter.com/kyleringo