Big Eight Roundup : Colorado Runs Past Overmatched Fresno

Colorado gained 508 total yards, but Coach Bill McCartney saw something else.

The Buffaloes, leading by only 7 points at halftime, scored 5 touchdowns in the second half and overpowered Fresno State, 45-3, Saturday at Boulder, Colo.

“Our defense controlled the game,” McCartney said. “We kept constant pressure on the quarterback, and that was the key. We would have had a shutout without that bad snap (on a punt).

“Offensively, we weren’t hitting on all cylinders. We weren’t in sync at times. We made some progress, but we’re not there yet. We did run 45 plays in the first half, though, and I felt we would wear them down in the second half.”

Colorado’s superior size and speed were obvious from the outset. The Buffaloes, abandoning their traditional wishbone for a power-I had 446 yards on the ground and held to a total of 177.

Colorado struck for two quick second-half scores by on a 74-yard reverse by Jeff Campbell and Eric Bieniemy’s 35-yard run to break the game open. Three more touchdowns followed the final quarter.

Bieniemy ran 22 times for 118 yards.

“We were simply manhandled in the second half,” Fresno State Coach Jim Sweeney said. “Their defense has no weaknesses.

“The difference in the game was the play of (Colorado quarterback Sal) Aunese. When we appeared to have him stopped, he would always get a first down somehow.”

Aunese rushed for 72 yards and passed 35 yards to Mike Pritchard for Colorado’s first score.

Fresno State (1-1) scored on Steve Loop’s 24-yard field goal.

Missouri 35, Utah State 21--Junior halfback Smiley Elmore rushed for 187 yards and 2 touchdown as the Tigers downed the Aggies at Columbia, Mo.

The Tigers broke a 21-21 deadlock with 8:41 left in the game on Elmore’s 2-yard run that capped a 99-yard, 19-play drive.

Freshman halfback Charles Quint scored for the Tigers on an 8-yard run minutes later.

Utah State, which rallied from a 21-7 deficit, scored on touchdown pass plays of 13, 50 and 20 yards by quarterback Brent Snyder.

Baylor 27, Kansas 14--Charles Perry ran 13 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 1:36 left and the Bears overcame the Jayhawks at Lawrence, Kan.

Baylor (2-0) scored again on Anthony Ray’s 5-yard run with 20 seconds left after Gary Joe Kinne intercepted a Kansas pass.

Iowa State 30, Tulane 13--Jeff Bauer’s fumble recovery in the end zone on the second half kickoff broke a 13-13 tie and Joe Henderson scored a touchdown on a 5-yard run as the Cyclones beat the Green Wave at Ames, Iowa.

Todd Wiggins gave Tulane (1-1) a 13-10 lead with a pair of field goals in the second quarter, but one of Jeff Shudak’s three field goals got Iowa State even at halftime.