Colorado can't pull off another miracle after losing Travis Hunter, other stars to injury

BOULDER, Colo. – Coach Deion Sanders and his Colorado football team almost pulled off another miracle here Saturday night against Kansas State.

Just three weeks after they needed a Hail Mary touchdown pass to beat Baylor, this time they overcame a 14-point deficit in the second half to retake the lead late in the fourth quarter. But big lapses on defense doomed them in the end of a 31-28 loss at Folsom Field.

The loss stops a three-game winning streak that had the Buffaloes gunning for the Big 12 title. The question now is how bad the fallout will be, because they didn’t just lose the game.

They also lost two-way star Travis Hunter, who left the game in the second quarter with a shoulder injury and didn’t return.

His future status is unclear, as is his promising candidacy for the Heisman Trophy.

In his absence, Kansas State hogged the ball and scored on their first three offensive possessions without Hunter on the field at cornerback – two touchdowns and a 48-yard field goal.

The Buffs still took the lead briefly late in the fourth quarter, 28-24. But they surrendered it right back with a defensive lapse at the end – a three-play, 84-yard touchdown drive that put the Wildcats up for good with 2:14 remaining, culminating with a 50-yard touchdown pass from KSU quarterback Avery Johnson to receiver Jayce Brown.

KSU running back DJ Giddens rushed for 182 yards on 25 carries. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed 34 of 40 passes for 388 yards and three touchdowns with one interception.

Colorado-Kansas State game marred by injuries

The loss means the Buffs finish the first half of the season with a 4-2 record, the same record they had at this point last year before finishing 4-8. But they’re still 2-1 in Big 12 Conference play heading into a road game next Saturday at Arizona (3-3).

No. 19 Kansas State improved to 5-1 in front of 53,972 at Folsom Field – a game that started shortly before 10:30 p.m. ET and was often marred by play stoppages because of player injuries. 

By losing Hunter, Colorado essentially had to go without two of its best players – its best receiver and its best cornerback. Colorado’s other top receiver, Jimmy Horn Jr., also limped out of the game in the second quarter and didn’t return. Then in the fourth quarter, Colorado receiver Omarion Miller had to be helped off the field with an injury after reeling in a completion that gained 51 yards.

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders then threw an interception on the very next play near the goal line when the Wildcats led 24-14. But he led the Buffs back on his next series, a 72-yard touchdown drive that cut KSU’s lead to 24-21 with 6:44 left.

Travis Hunter’s replacement makes big play

The player who replaced Hunter at cornerback was Auburn transfer Colton Hood, who helped the Buffs take lead after that with a big play on fourth down. He intercepted a tipped pass from Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson and nearly ran it back for a touchdown. Yet he couldn’t quite make it and ended up racing 59 yards to the Kansas State 17-yard line. The Buffaloes scored two plays later with a an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shedeur Sanders to receiver LaJohntay Wester.

That helped put the Buffs up 28-24 with 3:12 left. In response, Kansas State struck back and took the lead on that wild three-play drive that covered 84 yards to put the Wildcats up 31-28.

Travis Hunter injured in first half vs. Kansas State

The Wildcats led 14-7 at halftime after Hunter came out of the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter. The game was tied 7-7 when it happened and apparently came when Hunter took a helmet to the shoulder from Kansas State safety Daniel Cobbs on a 14-yard catch.

Kansas State then quickly took advantage of Hunter’s absence on defense by mounting a 60-yard touchdown drive to take a 14-7 lead with 1:52 left in the first half. The Wildcats then scored again on their next possession after halftime, stretching their lead to 21-7 with Hunter still sidelined with the injury.

On the latter drive, Kansas State chewed up 7:58 of game clock and went 81 yards on 16 plays, capped by a 1-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Brown.

Hunter finished with three catches for 26 yards and one tackle on defense before being replaced on defense by Auburn transfer Colton Hood. Hunter also threw a block on Colorado’s only touchdown of the first half – a 25-yard catch by fellow receiver LaJohntay Wester in the first quarter.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

(This story was updated to add new information.)