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Note: In 1971, Colorado lost only two games, to No. 1 Nebraska and
No. 2 Oklahoma. With their win over Houston in the Bluebonnet Bowl, the
Buffalos rose to No. 3 in the nation. The Big Eight finished with the
top three teams in the nation in the final AP poll.
By John Hines
Staff Writer
San Antonio Express and News
 HOUSTON-Colorado fought off three Houston touchdown bids in the second
half and used a daring maneuver by punter John Stearns to down the
Cougars, 29-17, Friday night in the 13th annual Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl in
the Astrodome.
Leading by 23-17, Colorado blunted a Houston bid at the Buffalo nine
with nine minutes remaining. However, the Cougars stiffened and Stearns
went back to punt on fourth and nine from the 10.
The snapback arrived on one bounce and Stearns, after surveying the
panorama before him, decided to run for the open spaces toward his own
left side, starting from his own end zone. He made it out to the 22
before being bumped out of bounds, and thus inspired, Colorado went on
to complete a 91-yard march, longest scoring drive in the bowl's
history.
A pass interference penalty of 32 yards put the ball on the Houston 27
and quarterback Ken Johnson sneaked over for the final yard with 3:48
left. A pass conversion attempt failed.
The second-half scoring pace slackened off but the two teams, each
possessing one of the finest backs in America, accounted for 785 total
yards.
Colorado tailback Charlie Davis, a Texan from West Columbia, set new
Bluebonnet records of 202 yards rushing and 37 attempts, while Houston's
sensational Robert Newhouse gobbled up 168 yards by 35 carries.
Among other records smashed were a combined 33 first downs by rushing
and a new attendance mark of 54,720 New Year's Eve faithful.
After Colorado's last tally, Houston struck back through the air and
Buff defensive back Brian Foster intercepted at his own 18 with 2 1/2
minutes remaining.
However, Houston still had one more threat left after holding the Buffs
and forcing them to punt. Randy Geist broke up a fourth down pass from
the nine with only seconds left.
Colorado's defense was rugged in the clutch as the Buffs tenaciously
held off three serious Houston bids with only a field goal resulting in
the second half.
Trailing by 23-14, the Coogs marched with the second-half kickoff down
to the Colorado 11. A pass to tight end Riley Odoms carried to the three
but Odom's fumbled and Lorne Richardson recovered for Colorado.
Late in the third quarter, Houston went from its own 23 to the Colorado
12 before settling for a 29-yard field goal by Ricky Terrell that cut
the gap to 23-17 with 2:10 left in the period.
Then Houston went for a game-tying bid, keeping the ball for over six
minutes and advancing from its own 35 to the Colorado nine before Cullen
Bryant and Stearns broke up successive fourth down passes, enabling
Colorado to put on its icing 91-yard drive.
The Cougars took to the air twice as much in the second half as they did
in the first, with quarterback Gary Mullins passing for 27 yards to
split end Pat Orchin and 24 to Odoms on successive plays on the field
goal drive. Left end Orchin caught six passes for 94 yards for the night
and his defensive teammate at the same position, Butch Brezina, was
named most valuable defensive player.
Colorado finishes with a 10-2 slate, while Houston winds up 9-3 and
loses its first bowl game in four appearances.
Davis edged out Newhouse in voting for most valuable offensive player.
Houston scored the first two times it had the ball and Colorado two out
of the first three times, with an interception setting up Houston's
second TD.
Colorado blitzed 70 yards in nine plays on the opening kickoff, with
Davis going the final 27, taking a pitchback from quarterback Ken
Johnson and going around left end. He got a clearing block from fullback
John Tarver at the 25 and then at the 15, center Bill McDonald knocked
out another defender as Davis cut to the right and sped into the end
zone.
The conversion kick by J.B. Dean made it 7-0 with just 3:36 gone.
In the first half, the teams ran a combined 80 plays. Colorado outgained
Houston. 261-154, with Davis accounting for 145 yards in 25 carries and
Newhouse 104 in 15. |
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Attendance- 54,720
Scoring Summary
First
Quarter
CU-
Davis 27 run (Dean kick)
UH-
Newhouse 2 run (Terrell kick)
UH-
Newhouse 3 run (Terrell kick)
Second
Quarter
CU-
Brunson 5 yard pass from Johnson (kick failed)
CU- FG
Dean 32
CU-
Davis 1 run (Dean kick)
Third
Quarter
UH- FG
Terrell 29
Fourth
Quarter
CU-
Johnson 1 run (pass failed)
Individual Statistics
Rushing
CU-
Davis 37-202, Johnson 16-81, Tarver 6-22, Branch 1-13, Stearns 1-12
UH-
Newhouse 35-168, Mozisek 11-43, Mullins 4-8.
Passing
CU-
Johnson 16-6-51
UH-
Mullins 25-11-173
Receiving
CU-
Nichols 2-28, Brunson 2-16, Masten 1-14
UH-
Orchin 6-94, Odoms 4-51, Stanley 1-28.
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