Black Friday marked the ultimate regular-season recreation for Colorado. Whereas the Buffaloes stay in competition for a spot within the Massive 12 Championship Recreation — however want just a little assist from groups like Arizona State, BYU, and Iowa State to get there — Friday’s finale in opposition to Oklahoma State may be the ultimate time Colorado takes the sector forward of December 9.
The day Heisman ballots are on account of be turned in by voters.
As such, Friday’s recreation in opposition to 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 file (7-2 in convention play), they usually now await outcomes on Saturday to see if they will earn a spot within the Massive 12 Championship Recreation, and provides Hunter but 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 expertise on the defensive facet of the soccer, from his route recognition to his closing expertise on the throw itself:
Hunter’s interception gifted the Buffaloes a brief area early within the first quarter, and Colorado capitalized on the sector 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:
After all, 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 identified 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 just a little school soccer historical past as properly:
With the common season full, Hunter finishes the 12 months with 82 receptions for 1,036 yards and 11 touchdowns, including one other speeding landing alongside the best way. On the defensive facet of the soccer, the Colorado standout snared 4 interceptions this season.
In the meanwhile these 11 receiving touchdowns rank Hunter third in all of faculty 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 another probability to impress voters, relying on how different groups in competition for a spot within the Massive 12 Championship Recreation fare on Saturday. Colorado can get into the Massive 12 Championship Recreation if outcomes break their manner Saturday.
But when this was Hunter’s closing argument, it was nearly as good because it will get.
