Shedeur Sanders passed for three touchdowns and two-way star Travis Hunter had a touchdown reception and an interception as Colorado routed UCF 48-21 Saturday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.
Lightning in the area delayed the start of the Big 12 matchup for about 50 minutes. The game started with the two teams exchanging interceptions on their first possessions before Sanders went to work.
Sanders was 28-of-35 passing for 290 yards with an interception. Nine of his completions went to Hunter for 89 yards and four others went to Will Sheppard for 99.
Sanders’ 23-yard pass to Hunter gave the Buffaloes (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) their first score, and his 47-yard toss to Sheppard broke an early 7-7 tie and gave the visitors the lead for good.
The Knights (3-1, 1-1) closed to within 21-14 on KJ Jefferson’s 7-yard scoring run midway through the second quarter. Alejandro Mata made two field goals to leave Colorado ahead 27-14 at halftime.
Jefferson finished 20-of-35 passing for 284 yards and two interceptions. RJ Harvey caught a 75-yard touchdown and led UCF with 77 rushing yards, but the Knights struggled to ignite their ground game.
UCF finished with a season-low 177 yards rushing, including just 34 in the first half. Harvey’s output came after he entered Saturday averaging 149.3 rushing yards per game.
Colorado essentially put the game out of reach with Micah Welch’s 1-yard plunge and LaJohntay Wester’s 10-yard touchdown reception. Those scores sandwiched Jefferson’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Townsend and left the Buffaloes ahead 41-21 entering the fourth.
Hunter intercepted Jefferson with Colorado leading 34-14 in the third.
Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig thwarted UCF’s bid for a late fourth-quarter touchdown with a 95-yard scoop-and-score following Jefferson’s fumble.
The Buffaloes matched their win total from a season ago. The loss was the Knights’ worst since a 51-22 setback at Kansas last Oct. 7.
–Field Level Media
