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BOULDER, CO - SEPTEMBER 16, 2023: Head coach Deion Sanders of the Colorado Buffaloes walks on the field as players warm up before a game against the Colorado State Rams at Folsom Field. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
BOULDER, Colo (CC) - The Sanders clan needed an insane interception in the end zone by Colorado safety Trevor Woods to end a psychological thriller that lasted two overtime periods tonight as the Buffaloes stampeded back to defeat Colorado State, 43-35 before a sold-out crowd at Folsom Field.
Shilo Sanders had an 80-yard pick-six and also forced a key fumble for a turnover.
Shedeur Sanders led the Buffs on a 98-yard drive to tie this heated rivalry game 28-28 late in the fourth quarter, without Travis Hunter their superstar two-way player, who was taken to the hospital after a late hit that drew a flag for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Buffs rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to go to 3-0 on the season.
A Sanders touchdown pass plus a 2-point conversion tied the game with 32 seconds remaining.
The youngest Sanders footballer came in to the game as the hottest passer in college football and has experienced a meteoric rise to the top of the NFL draft boards. But he struggled in the first half due to a relentless but penalty-prone CSU defense.
Sanders' first interception of the season came early in the first quarter off a tipped pass down field.
The Rams then drew first-blood in this heated football fight after a career-long 50-yard field-goal by Jordan Noyes.
But the score was taken off the board by head coach Jay Norvell's decision after a roughing-the-snapper penalty gifted CSU an automatic first down deep in CU territory.
Soon after having his interception overturned, CU's Shilo Sanders scored on an 80-yard pick-6 at the 8:09 mark.
The Rams responded with a flea-flicking 30-yard touchdown pass by senior wide receiver Tory Horton to tight end Dallin Holker with 7:12 to go in the first.
Horton also had 16 catches for 133 yards plus a touchdown in the game.
A Hunter fumble resulted in a 40-yard CSU defensive touchdown, courtesy of Ron Hardge III with 6:16 to go in the period that put the Rams up 14-7.
Xavier Weaver, CU's leading receiver coming in to this game, scored after squeezing a 24-yard rope from Sanders just two plays after Hunter was shaken up on a late hit that seemed to fire the Buffaloes up.
There was lots of action after the whistle during the electrifying first period between the in-state rivals. The score was 14-14 after the mini-shootout quarter.
After stalemate drives, the Rams began to pepper CU with crossing routes underneath the high-shell coverage for efficient yards receiving after their catches.
CSU scored first in the third quarter after a 16-play drive was capped by a 15-yard Nicolosi-Fowler to Louis Brown touchdown.
Then the Rams matriculated the ball down the field including an outstanding one foot in, one foot out toe drag swag catch by Horton.
It took the heroics from the CU quarterback and offense to overcome Horton's great performance in this game.
GAME PADS:
Tonight was the first game in this rivalry that featured two African-American head coaches.
Shedeur Sanders came in to Colorado's third game of the season leading all FBS quarterbacks in passing yards per game. He had 903 passing yards plus 6 touchdowns against zero interceptions.
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