Colorado Loses Late Lead In 38-31 Loss To Arizona

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - As the losses mount, they're certainly not getting any easier for Colorado.

Jared Baker ran for a career-high 207 yards and scored three touchdowns, helping Arizona overcome a late deficit to down Colorado 38-31 Saturday night.

"I told them we've all got to find a way to reach down in our soul, our mind, our heart, our spirit and find a way to take another step," Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre said. "That one definitely hurt."

The Buffaloes were in front 24-17 in the third quarter before being overtaken in the fourth when they were outscored 21-7.

"It stinks," said quarterback Sefo Liufau. "We just have to go out there and finish a game."

It was the 14th consecutive loss for Colorado (3-4, 0-3 Pac-12) in league play, tying the school record.

Baker scored untouched on runs of 79 and 45 yards and then was uncovered when he hauled in a 25-yard pass from Anu Solomon to break a 24-all tie in the fourth quarter.

"The run game was very devastating," Buffaloes linebacker Rick Gamboa said. "We weren't executing like we were earlier in the game and it just started hurting us."

That play capped a 94-yard drive and followed a 97-yard drive sparked by backup QB Jerrard Randall, who came in and reeled off three long runs himself before handing off to Baker, who tied it at 24 with his 45-yard run up the middle.

Randall again led the Wildcats (5-2, 2-2 Pac-12) out of the shadow of his own end zone but was shaken up on a 7-yard keeper to the Colorado 25. Solomon, who was ineffective over the second and third quarters, re-entered the game and found Baker wide open with 9:17 remaining for his third TD.

Randall ran 11 times for 81 yards and scored from a yard out with 4:40 left to make it 38-24, which proved the difference when Sefo Liufau found Shay Fields over the middle for a 30-yard touchdown with 2:19 remaining.

The Buffs tried an onside kick but Arizona safety Will Parks recovered. They held on fourth down but Arizona downed the punt at the 6 and Colorado couldn't get very far with just 38 seconds to work with.

The Buffaloes had to rely on a raw group of linebackers to slow down the Wildcats with Addison Gilliam (leg) and Kenneth Olugbode (leg) out. Last week, junior Ryan Severson injured his right ankle in his first career start, leaving the task Saturday night to freshmen Rick Gamboa and Grant Watanabe.

Gamboa has started the last month in place of Gilliam, but this was Watanabe's first start, and he recorded a big sack of Solomon in the first half.

Baker burst through a big hole, shot past a surprised secondary and outran defenders for a 79-yard touchdown that gave Arizona a quick 10-0 lead less than five minutes in. But the Buffs replied with a 72-yard touchdown strike from Liufau to Fields moments later to keep it close.

Liufau was 27 of 42 for 340 yards, two TDs and no interceptions. Solomon was 22 of 37 for 283 yards, two TDs and no interceptions and Randall completed all three of his throws for 42 yards.

- DENNIS GEORGATOS, Associated Press

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