Boulder, Colo. • Isaac Wilson stepped up in the pocket and scanned the end zone, hoping he could find an open receiver while the seconds ticked down on the clock at Folsom Field on Saturday night.

Three seconds. Two seconds. One second.

The former Utah quarterback bumped into his blocking halfback — almost tumbling onto the turf — before launching the ball toward the center of the end zone.

The ball spiraled through the air as Colorado fans in the north stands screamed, “C’mon, c’mon, c’mon!” — hoping and praying the ball would result in six points. Instead? The ball met the outstretched arm of Braden Pegan, who batted it down and ended the Buffaloes’ attempts at a comeback win.

Utah (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) had officially escaped with a 27-24 win over the Buffaloes (2-4, 0-3) on Saturday night, keeping the Utes name off the lofty list of top-25 teams upset in college football this weekend.

Wilson, the former Utah quarterback, surely wanted it to go down differently. He finished the night with 18 completions for 256 passing yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

“I wanted this one bad. I wanted this one really bad,” Wilson said.

Then he thoughtfully considered his next words before landing on the phrase he wanted to say:

“Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure. So hopefully, I can keep it rolling for Colorado. We need a win. That starts with me.”

A year ago, Wilson was still donning Utah red. He started the season as Devon Dampier’s backup but then fell behind Byrd Ficklin on the depth chart.

Admittedly, Utah never felt like the right fit for Wilson.

In what was supposed to be a developmental year behind Cam Rising, Wilson was thrust into a starting role as a true freshman after Rising’s final season was cut short by multiple injuries.

Wilson finished that year with more interceptions than touchdowns. That offseason, he put his name in the transfer portal ... only to come back and see if a different offensive staff would be a better fit.

Turns out, it wasn’t.

So, yeah, Wilson felt a little extra motivation while trying to spoil Utah’s undefeated start to the season on Saturday night.

“We should be winning,” Wilson said. “That game made me so angry. I’m going into every game like that. ... There’s blood in the water, and we’re gonna go get it.”

In the first half, Utah looked like it would have an easy time against the former four-star quarterback. The Buffaloes tallied 70 yards of total offense, and Wilson threw a costly interception at the end of the second quarter.

The Buffaloes were down 13-0 at the break.

“I hate seeing zero on the board,” Wilson said. “I know the defense is relying on us. They were preaching us all week: score, score, score, score, score.

“I need to take care of the ball.”

Wilson found something at halftime. On Colorado’s opening drive of the second half, he connected with running back JaQuail Smith on a checkdown route that went for a 68-yard score.

The Buffs went on to score 10 more unanswered points, and the junior had his former team on the ropes, trailing for the first time all season.

Utah ultimately responded. Devon Dampier led a touchdown drive at the end of the third quarter, and then cornerback James “Bobo” Chenault intercepted an errant throw by Wilson.

“I like to be a perfectionist,” Wilson said of his tendency to force plays. “I like to know what everything’s happening, everyone’s going, where the ball is going to be, all the little details.

“I can make any throw on the field if you give me the chance. I just need to eliminate the [negative plays].”

Dampier and the Utes turned Wilson’s mistake into another seven points with 3:43 left in the game. Wilson still had some magic up his sleeve.

The Buffaloes went eight plays for 83 yards before Wilson found DeAndre Moore Jr. wide open for his second touchdown of the game, bringing the Buffaloes to within three points.

“Isaac is not gonna give up, man,” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “He’s not built like that. He’s not designed like that. His family raised him correctly, and the kids love him.”

Wilson got one more shot, too.

As the clock ticked under 10 seconds, the former Corner Canyon High star broke free near midfield. In an effort to gain a few more yards, Wilson pitched the ball backward to a teammate.

The problem: Wilson’s momentum carried the ball forward, and it was ruled an illegal forward pass.

“That pitch was awesome,” Sanders said. “It was just momentum. The momentum took him, and the pitch went forward.”

The result wasn’t so awesome for the Buffaloes. The penalty kept Colorado out of field goal range, and Wilson was forced to heave up his failed Hail Mary attempt.

The former Ute will have to get his revenge.

“I’m so mad and sad about that game because I wanted it so bad,” he said.

Until next time.