Colorado’s defense delivered enough to make No. 11 Utah sweat, even if the Buffaloes still walked away with a 27-24 loss at Folsom Field on Saturday.
Devon Dampier had only thrown two interceptions all season, and Colorado matched that total before the third quarter was barely underway. The Buffaloes turned two takeaways into real momentum, including one at the goal line and another that led directly to the field goal that put Colorado ahead 17-13.
The first swing came on a goal-line stand that ended with a defensive lineman hauling in the ball. Utah had marched 72 yards on its fourth possession and was sitting at the Colorado 3 with the Buffaloes already down 10-0.
On second-and-goal, Gideon Lampron got a hand on Dampier’s shovel pass, and Dylan Manuel came away with it at the 6 before returning it a yard. Manuel also added half a sack.
“Big man interception. Love to see it,” Lampron said. “Proud of him.”
The next interception came midway through the third quarter, with Santana Hopper pressing Dampier as he threw. Naeten Mitchell grabbed it at the Colorado 45 and brought it back 20 yards to the Utah 35, setting up Elliott Arnold’s 32-yard field goal. That kick gave Colorado a 17-13 lead.
Colorado’s defense did plenty more than just cash in on turnovers. Utah was held to 131 rushing yards, roughly 100 below its average, and the Buffs finished with nine tackles for loss and three sacks. The Utes had scored at least 30 points in 11 straight games before Saturday.
Coach Deion Sanders said the defense has spent the season trying to keep things afloat while the offense has struggled.
“You’ve got to understand they’re more than capable, but when the offense contributes greatly, they’re even better,” Sanders said.
Lampron said the takeaways had been coming.
“It’s nice that the stats could show in the turnovers for us because, you know, we’ve struggled with that the last couple weeks,” he said.
He was everywhere for Colorado, finishing with 11 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, a sack and two pass breakups. Randon Fontenette also posted 11 tackles, while Liona Lefau added 10 and a sack.
Lampron said physicality is baked into defensive coordinator Chris Marve’s approach, and that standard never changes.
“That was emphasized the entire week,” Lampron said. “I feel like it paid off today.”
The defense was still making plays late. After Utah recovered Colorado’s onside kick with 1:21 left, the Utes lost 2 yards across three plays. Lampron and Hopper dropped Dampier for a 4-yard loss on second down, then Toby Anene hurried him into an incompletion to force a punt and give Colorado one more crack.
Utah’s offense leaned heavily on the passing game. Braden Pegan caught eight passes for 86 yards and both of the Utes’ second-half touchdowns. Creed Whittemore had only three receptions, but they went for 88 yards, including a 43-yard gain on third-and-10 that set up Pegan’s first score.
Dampier finished 24 of 41 for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Colorado didn’t get to him until the final minute of the first half, when Lefau sacked him at the Colorado 17.
Wayshawn Parker, who entered averaging 7.6 yards per carry, ran 23 times for 98 yards and a 4.3 average. His longest run was 14 yards.
Arnold went 1-for-1 on field goals and hit two touchbacks on kickoffs. Sanders said Arnold told him, “Coach, it was just one game. I’m back, baby.”
Colorado was flagged 10 times for 93 yards, while Utah had seven penalties for 61 yards. The Buffaloes are back in action against Oklahoma State on Oct. 24.
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