Colorado 31, Delaware 7

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September 6th – Boulder          Colorado 31, Delaware 7

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Third-string quarterback Ryan Staub led the Buffs to two back-to-back touchdowns, allowing the Buffs to pull away from Delaware, finally defeating the Blue Hens, 31-7. Staub completed a a 21-yard touchdown pass to Dekalon Taylor with nine seconds left in the first half, then a 71-yard touchdown to Sincere Brown three plays into the third quarter, turning a 10-7 game into a 24-7 advantage.

Coach Prime gave each of his quarterbacks two series to open the game. Kaidon Salter led the Buff offense to ten points in his first drives, including a nine-yard scoring drive on CU’s opening drive. Freshman Julian Lewis came in for the next two drives, but the Buff offense failed to score. Then, after Delaware scored in the final minute of the half to make it a 10-7 game, Staub’s heroics gave CU a three-score advantage. A 10-yard touchdown run by Micah Welch early in the fourth quarter closed out the scoring, allowing many of those 50,341 in attendance on a sunny Boulder afternoon the chance to head for the exits early.

The teams were almost even in total yards, 398-396, but three turnovers by the Blue Hens, together with two fourth down stops by the Buff defense in the red zone, allowed CU to hold Delaware to only seven points. Ryan Staub finished with seven completions in ten attempts, going for 157 yards and two touchdowns. CU’s leading rusher was Simeon Price, with 55 yards on nine carries. Sincere Brown became the first Buff receiver to top 100 yards on the season, with 120 yards on only four catches, including his 71-yard score.

“There’s been a lot of days of a lot of work and some self-doubt,” Staub explained of how he dealt with being third-string, with one career start (against Utah to end the 2023 season). “It’s crazy to be rewarded this way. It doesn’t really feel real.”

When asked about his plan for his quarterbacks going forward, Coach Prime replied, “Yes, I know exactly how I am going to handle the quarterback situation. I’m not going to say it, but no, I’m not lost for direction”.

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Game story … Delaware took the opening kickoff, and used a ten-yard run and a 16-yard completion to quickly move to midfield to open the game. On first-and-ten at the CU 46, however, Buff linebacker Martavius French sacked Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci for a four-yard loss, with the Fightin’ Blue Hens punting the ball away three plays later.

Taking over at their 13-yard line, the CU offense set off on a 12-play, 87-yard drive to score on its opening drive of the game for the second weekend in a row. A nine-yard completion from quarterback Kaidon Salter to wide receiver Sincere Brown gave the Buffs their first first down, with a nine-yard completion to Isaiah Hardge giving the Buffs another first down two plays later.

Next, on third-and-five at the CU 44, Salter completed yet another nine-yard pass for a first down, this time to Joseph Williams, gave the Buffs another conversion. Then, after a 21-yard run by Salter put the Buffs in the red zone. After a four-yard run by Dekalon Taylor, Salter finished off the drive with a nine-yard touchdown run. Colorado 7, Delaware 0, with 5:33 to play in the first quarter.

Three runs by Delaware went for 19 yards to open the next drive, but midfield was as far as the Blue Hens would go. On fourth-and-seven at the CU 47, a Nick Minicucci pass fell incomplete, giving the ball back to the Buffs.

The Buff offense next set off on another 12-play drive, but this time only netted a field goal. A nine-yard completion from Salter to Joe Williams on third-and-five kept the drive alive to start. On the first play of the second quarter, a four-yard completion from Salter to Simeon Price on third-and-two at the Delaware 27 gave the Buffs a fresh set of downs. A seven-yard run by Price, and a six-yard completion to Taylor gave the Buffs a red zone first down at the Delaware 14. Three more plays, though, netted four yards, with Buff kicker Alejandro Mata making it a 10-0 game early in the second quarter.

After the CU defense forced a three-and-out, the Buffs looked to move in for the kill … with a freshman quarterback. Julian Lewis made his debut as a Buff by handing off the ball to Simeon Price for a 24-yard gain. Two completions from Lewis to freshman wide receiver Quentin Gibson netted 14 yards and another first down. A two-yard run by Price on fourth-and-two gave the Buffs a first down at the Delaware 35, but from there the Buffs went backward, with a sack of Lewis forcing a punt.

An exchange of punts ensued, with the Blue Hens taking over at their 20-yard line with 3:27 left in the first half. On the first play from scrimmage, Nick Minicucci hit wide receiver Jake Thaw for a 45-yard gain to the Buff 35-yard line. Six plays later, Minicucci hit wide receiver Jo Silver for a touchdown. Just like that, it was a game again. Colorado 10, Delaware 7, with only 45 seconds to play before halftime.

It appeared that the Blue Hens were going to go into halftime down only three points, 10-7, with plenty of momentum. As it turned out, though, the next time the Delaware offense took a snap, it was a 24-7 game.

Enter senior quarterback Ryan Staub.

Two incompletions opened the drive, but then on third-and-ten, Dekalon Taylor took off on a 23-yard run, giving the Buffs new life. On the next play, Staub hit wide receiver Joe Williams for a 31-yard gain to the Delaware 21. After spiking the ball to stop the clock with 16 seconds to play, Staub hit Dekalon Taylor for a 21-yard touchdown with nine seconds to play.

Halftime score: Colorado 17, Delaware 7

But … Staub wasn’t done. On third-and-six to open the third quarter, Ryan Staub connected with wide receiver Sincere Brown for a 71-yard touchdown. What was a tight game at 10-7 with less than a minute to play before halftime, was now a 24-7 game just over a minute into the third quarter.

The Blue Hens were now down three scores, but were not giving up the fight. An 11-play drive ensued, including a fourth-down conversion near midfield. The Blue Hens made it as far at the Buff six-yard line, but there, on fourth-and-one, running back Viron Ellison, Jr., was stopped for no gain, leaving the Blue Hens with a six minute drive but no points.

An 11-yard run by Ryan Staub got the ball outside the shadow of the CU goalposts, with a 36-yard completion to Sincere Brown giving the Buffs a first down near midfield. Instead of going in for the kill, though, the Buffs thereafter went backwards, punting the ball away to the Blue Hens.

A 44-yard punt by Buff Damon pinned the Delaware offense at their one yard line, but a 13-yard run by Jo Silver gave the Blue Hens some breathing room. The next three plays, though, netted three yards.

Setting up to punt from their 17-yard line, Blue Hen punter dropped the snap, with his punt partially blocked, giving the CU offense the ball at the Delaware 17-yard line.

A pass interference penalty gave the Buffs a first-and-goal at the nine, but again, the CU offense failed to take advantage … at least initially. A sack of quarterback Ryan Staub pushed the ball back to the Delaware 22-yard line. A 40-yard field goal by Alejandro Mata was good … but a penalty for leaping over the line took the points off the board, but gave the Buffs a first down at the Delaware 11. On second down, running back Micah Welch scored from ten yards out. Colorado 31, Delaware 7, with 14:13 to play in the game.

The remainder of the game, which had been fairly penalty- and mistake-free, devolved into a series of mistakes by both teams.

A 67-yard completion from Nick Minicucci to wide receiver Ja’Carree Kelly would have given the Blue Hens a first-and-goal at the CU six-yard line … but Kelly fumbled the ball as he was tackled, with linebacker Jeremiah Brown recovering the ball at the Buff eight yard line.

An eight-yard run by Simeon Price and a nine-yard run by Dekalon Taylor got the next Buff drive off to a good start, but the Buffs then holding penalty and a sack brought a quick end to the drive.

Delaware again moved the ball … but then again turned it over. After crossing midfield, Blue Hen quarterback threw an interception to Buff defensive back RJ Johnson, giving the ball back to the Buffs.

Three plays, a sack, and two yards later, though, the CU offense was again off the field. Taking over at their 20, the Blue Hens were again successful at moving the ball, going 69 yards in 12 plays. Again, though, Delaware came up empty. The Buffs forced a fourth down once the Blue Hens got as far as the 11-yard line. Trying to get to double digits in points – and beat the spread – Delaware opted for a field goal attempt on fourth-and-goal at the CU 11. A 28-yard field goal attempt by kicker Nate Reed went wide, however, keeping the score 31-7 with just over two minutes to play.

Five plays later, including three kneels, the fourth quarter mercifully came to an end.

Final score: Colorado 31, Delaware 7

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This post, about the Delaware game, from the 2025 Season, is filed under Article.
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