+5
About that third and long I just mentioned? The one in which Colorado just needed to stop Toledo on third and long to have a chance to get back in the game? Yeah, didn't quite happen: Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt rushed 60 yards for a touchdown to extend the lead to 44-24.
Speaking of Opelt, he's had himself a whale of a game feasting on Colorado's atrocious safeties: 13-19 passing for 303 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 turnovers, with another 98 yards rushing on 6 carries, including 2 more touchdowns.
You wouldn't think so from the score but Colorado has the momentum heading into the final quarter, having scored two touchdowns in two minutes to pull back within 13 points after trailing 30-3 and 37-10. Toledo will open the fourth quarter with the football facing third down and long; if Colorado holds them and forces a punt, they'll be one drive away from getting the game back within one score for the lead.
Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt has passed for 205 yards and 2 touchdowns and rushed for 37 yards and another score, leading Toledo to a commanding 20-point lead at home against Colorado. A week after giving up 52 points to Purdue, the Rockets are dominating a struggling Colorado team now in danger of losing its fourth straight dating back to last year.
So how are CU fans handling the poor first half?
Okay, I've been Hawkins's biggest fan. I truly hate [former head coach Gary] Barnett. But Hawkins has one half to win me over. ONE. After that, I’m through with him.
Not so well.
Not exactly the start Dan Hawkins was hoping for a week after a miserable loss at home to Colorado State, the Buffs now trail Toledo 16-3 early in the second quarter. Colorado's moving the ball on the ground a bit with talented sophomore Darrell Scott, but the defense is being torched by the no huddle spread attack of the Rockets. The Buffaloes trailed 20-3 at halftime last week.
Looking to rebound from a disastrous opening weekend home loss to Colorado State, the Colorado Buffaloes (0-1) visit the Toledo Rockets (0-1) in an oddly scheduled Friday night game on ESPN (9 p.m. ET). Of course, if the Buffs lose, head coach Dan Hawkins may be hoping that no one sees the game, as it would be Colorado's third straight loss, and fifth in six games, dating back to last year.
Colorado blog The Ralphie Report breaks down the match up and offers a prediction:
Toledo's offense matchups up very well against Colorado if the Buffs don't get pressure on the quarterback and we think the Buffs offense is at an advantage when they have the ball. So that puts the extra pressure on the defenses tonight. I have to think that the back seven for the Buffs will play better than they did last week and be up for the challenge against a strong passing team. Other than S Barry Church for Toledo, the Buffs defense is stronger than Toledo's.
I give the Buffs the nod over Toledo tonight solely because I don't want doomsday part two to occur on Saturday morning.
I think both teams have the ability to win by 10+ points because, let's face it, Toledo is rebuilding in a lot of areas and everyone saw the Buffs play last Sunday night. For me, Colorado wins 27-24 in a close one, certainly not the dominating performance to make people feel a lot better.
Hey, we've all been there before: "My team can't lose this one, because losing this one would be an unmitigated disaster."
Final: Toledo Crushes Buffs 54-38
Toledo quarterback Aaron Opelt dominated Colorado, passing for 319 yards and 4 touchdowns while rushing for 108 yards and 2 more scores, as the Rockets cruised past Toled 54-38 on Friday night.
Sep 12 12:57a by Peter Bean - 0 comments