This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There's understandable excitement in Boulder this weekend after Steven Montez, the Pac-12's offensive player of the week, threw four touchdown passes in a 41-38 win over Oregon.
Montez stepped in for injured starter Sefo Liufau in one of the toughest places to play in the Pac-12 at Autzen Stadium, and transcended his experience for the Buffaloes.
"I was expecting him to play well," coach Mike MacIntyre said. "Did I think he would break record for any Colorado quarterback? I don't know. But he played well enough to win the football game."
Montez did more than required, setting a school record with 468 yards of total offense in his first start. MacIntyre anticipates starting him next week against Oregon State, an opponent against which Colorado is favored by two touchdowns.
But while a freshman passer helped lead them, Colorado is quietly guided by experience: The team boasts a conference-best 56 upperclassmen.
On the game-winning touchdown, junior Bryce Bobo made the catch. Senior defensive back Ahkello Witherspoon made the game-sealing interception of Dakota Prukop.
In his fourth year over the Buffs, MacIntyre is enjoying his most experienced team ever, which helped push CU over the top in only the third Pac-12 win in his 28 conference games there.
"We used to have the most underclassmen, so I'd rather have this problem," MacIntyre said. "They've grown up, been through a lot and kept working. We've been able to retain our players, in an age of transfers and looking for the easy way out, our young men have stayed. It shows you how we treat them and retain them academically and socially. But we've still got a long way to go."
Shaw upset about no-call
From his halftime interview on Saturday against UCLA to Tuesday morning, Stanford coach David Shaw hasn't cooled down all that much.
He still would like the Pac-12 to take a second look at the hit that knocked out his receiver, Francis Owusu, and penalize UCLA defender Tahaan Goodman for targeting resulting in a suspension for next week. Shaw said he had been in touch with league officials about it, and called the hit — which had helmet-to-helmet contact — a no-brainer example of a penalty.
Officials decided it was not targeting after film review, citing that Owusu had taken steps and was therefore not defenseless.
"One player had the ball, another player lead with his helmet into that player's helmet, and that should be a penalty," he said. "In order to make this game as safe as we can make it, on order to follow our words — because we all say that — we should mean it."
The Pac-12 has seen many instances of targeting in the early portion of the season, to the point where director of officiating David Coleman released a video citing nine separate targeting calls. The video didn't cover the two targeting calls in the Utah-BYU game which occurred back-to-back.
Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said last week initially the NCAA had seen a decrease in dangerous hits after the targeting rule was implemented a few years ago. Scott said he wasn't sure what the increase this season means — if anything — yet.
"We agree the first three weeks we have seen more," he said "It's still early in the season. We'll see how the trend goes."
Browning efficient for Washington
Sophomore quarterback Jake Browning knows how to do a lot with a little.
Through UW's 4-0 start, the second-year starter is averaging only 226 yards per game passing, No. 8 in the league. And yet with those passes, Browning has 14 touchdowns (2nd most in Pac-12) against only two interceptions, the fewest among conference quarterbacks who have started four games. Pro Football Focus graded him as the eighth-best quarterback in the country a third of the way through the season.
"I think he's doing a good job," "He's playing with pretty good command out there. … I think he really understands what we're trying to get done, the little tweaks in the gameplan, there's less uncertainty. And he's throwing the ball pretty well."
Twitter: @kylegoon -
Pac-12 power rankings
1 • Stanford (3-0)
Bruins made McCaffrey's supporting cast beat them, and Cardinal succeeded
2 » Washington (4-0)
Jake Browning has 14 touchdowns to only two picks for undefeated Huskies
3 » Utah (4-0)
Tim Patrick was added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list with 385 yards, five touchdowns
4 » UCLA (2-2)
Late stumble at home hurts, but Bruins played a solid defensive game
5 » Colorado (3-1)
Mike MacIntyre improves to 3-25 in league games, but more wins could be coming.
6 » Arizona State (4-0)
ASU scored 41 second-half points on Cal, led by Manny Wilkins' rushing threat.
7 » California (2-2)
The league's best offense is paired with its worst defense.
8 » USC (1-3)
Sam Darnold appeared to be a promising switch, throwing for 256 yards in his first start.
9 » Oregon (2-2)
Forced throw by Dakota Prukop at the finish spoiled a chance for Ducks to stay in the game.
10 » Arizona (2-2)
Brandon Dawkins made admirable late effort, but not enough of a passer for Wildcats to soar.
11 » Oregon State (1-2)
Down big, the Beavers at least clawed back — but they need a faster start.
12 » Washington State (1-2)
Bye came at a good time to help settle off-field issues with police.