Black Friday marked the ultimate regular-season recreation for Colorado. Whereas the Buffaloes stay in rivalry for a spot within the Large 12 Championship Sport — however want somewhat assist from groups like Arizona State, BYU, and Iowa State to get there — Friday’s finale towards Oklahoma State is likely to be the ultimate time Colorado takes the sphere forward of December 9.
The day Heisman ballots are resulting from be turned in by voters.
As such, Friday’s recreation towards the Cowboys was maybe Travis Hunter’s closing argument for Heisman voters.
And the two-way star delivered maybe the right summation of his candidacy.
Hunter caught 10 passes for 116 yards and three touchdowns on the offensive facet of the soccer, and added an early interception within the recreation on the defensive facet of the ball, as Colorado routed Oklahoma State by a remaining rating of 52-0. The blowout victory sees the Buffaloes end their common season with a 9-3 report (7-2 in convention play), they usually now await outcomes on Saturday to see if they will earn a spot within the Large 12 Championship Sport, and provides Hunter but yet another crack at impressing the voters.
But when Friday was his final probability, it was fairly the hassle from Hunter. This interception early within the recreation highlighted his abilities on the defensive facet of the soccer, from his route recognition to his closing abilities on the throw itself:
Hunter’s interception gifted the Buffaloes a brief subject early within the first quarter, and Colorado capitalized on the sphere place with a one-yard plunge from Micah Welch.
Colorado had a 14-0 lead late within the first quarter when Hunter reached the tip zone for the primary time on the afternoon, hauling on this quick throw from Shedeur Sanders for an 11-yard landing:
Hunter’s second TD of the sport got here early within the second quarter, on a scramble-drill play with Sanders. Be aware of how Hunter works himself open within the entrance of the tip zone, in excellent sync along with his quarterback for the quick landing:
In fact, it might not be a recreation from Hunter with out one true highlight-reel second. That got here on his third landing reception of the sport, this effort that comes with Hunter falling in the long run zone, with a defender draped throughout him:
As Hunter has been recognized to do, he flashed a Heisman Trophy pose in celebration, maybe providing an exclamation level on his prolonged closing argument from Boulder this afternoon.
That exclamation level made somewhat faculty soccer historical past as nicely:
With the common season full, Hunter finishes the yr with 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns, including one other speeding landing alongside the way in which. On the defensive facet of the soccer, the Colorado standout snared 4 interceptions this season.
For the time being these 11 receiving touchdowns rank Hunter third in all of school soccer. He’s additionally seventh within the nation in receiving yards, and fifth in receptions.
Will that add as much as a Heisman? We won’t know for a couple of extra weeks, and Hunter would possibly nonetheless get yet another probability to impress voters, relying on how different groups in rivalry for a spot within the Large 12 Championship Sport fare on Saturday. Colorado can get into the Large 12 Championship Sport if outcomes break their method Saturday.
But when this was Hunter’s closing argument, it was nearly as good because it will get.
