This story has been updated to include new information.
BOULDER, Colo. – For the second straight season under head coach Deion Sanders, the Colorado Football Team is off to a 3-1 start, this time with competitive performances from Travis Hunter and Shedul Sanders in a 38-31 overtime win over Baylor University in a rainy and blustery home game.
The Buffaloes sent the game into overtime with an incredible 43-yard touchdown pass to tie the score at 31-31 with time running out. Quarterback Shedur Sanders rolled to his left on the play and threw the ball high toward the left corner of the end zone. Receiver LaJontae Wester turned in the rain to catch the ball in a cradle position with arms and elbows outstretched.
The ball fell into his basket, saving the Buffaloes from peril despite Colorado receiver Will Shepard dropping a potential touchdown pass near the end zone one play earlier.
Then, Shedur Sanders, Dion’s youngest son, led the Buffaloes 25 yards in seven plays on their first drive of overtime, capped by freshman running back Micah Welch’s 1-yard scoring run.
Baylor had chances to respond, but running back Dominique Richardson fumbled on a diving goal-line try on the final play. Colorado’s exciting two-way star Travis Hunter got in front of Richardson and induced the fumble.
Colorado fans went wild afterwards, rushing onto the field to celebrate at a sold-out homecoming game at Folsom Field. Shedur Sanders completed 25 of 41 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns. Hunter had seven catches for 130 yards.
Big plays stood out in the first half
The crowd of 52,794 went silent when the Buffaloes trailed 24-10 with 4:19 left in the second quarter. Baylor took the lead with two big plays in the second quarter. First, Jamal Bell ran a 100-yard kickoff return down the right sideline for a touchdown. Then, Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson ran a 45-yard rushing touchdown.
The latter was a one-yard play on fourth down that saw Robertson keep the ball and drive down the field to score.
But the Buffaloes responded with a big play later, cutting Baylor’s lead to 24-17 with 50 seconds left in the first half. Sanders escaped a sack on the play and threw a pass to the right side of the field that was caught by receiver Omarion Miller and nearly tackled at Baylor’s 35-yard line.
Miller kept going, though, and scored a 58-yard touchdown run. Replays showed he may have collapsed at the 35-yard mark (his left shin nearly hit the ground). The officials still ruled it a touchdown, giving the Buffaloes room to add more points in the halftime locker room.
Travis Hunter helps Colorado make a comeback
Colorado tied the score at 24-24 with an 80-yard touchdown drive with a minute left in the third quarter, a drive highlighted by two big plays by Hunter, a 46-yard catch and a 31-yard catch on third down and 15. The latter play advanced the Buffaloes to the Baylor 8-yard line, setting them up to score two plays later on Welch’s 2-yard run up the middle.
Hunter had five catches for 122 yards by the end of the third quarter, marking his fifth straight game with at least 100 yards receiving since last year. Hunter set a school record last week with four straight games with at least 100 yards receiving.
But Baylor won, 31-24.
The Bears took the lead again with 5:43 left in the fourth quarter on a beautiful pass from Robertson to receiver Hal Pressley. With cornerback DJ McKinney on the defense, Pressley caught the ball with his left hand in the left corner of the end zone. The 24-yard touchdown pass gave Baylor a 61-yard run in eight plays to take a 31-24 lead.
Baylor’s defense sacked Sanders twice on the next drive, forcing the Buffaloes to punt from their own end zone.