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Colorado football can't pull off a miracle comeback against Kansas State

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Colorado football can't pull off a miracle comeback against Kansas State

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

Just three weeks after needing a Hail Mary touchdown pass to beat Baylor, this time they overcame a 14-point second-half deficit and retook the lead late in the fourth quarter. But serious defensive errors ultimately doomed them to a 31:28 defeat at Folsom Field.

The loss ends a three-game winning streak in which the Buffaloes were aiming for the Big 12 title. The question now is how bad the consequences 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 did not return.

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

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

Towards the end of the fourth quarter, the Buffs still had a brief lead at 28:24. But in the end, they gave it up with a defensive blunder – a three-play, 84-yard touchdown drive that gave the Wildcats the lead for good with 2:14 left and a 50-yard touchdown pass from KSU quarterback Avery Johnson peaked at 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.

The game between Colorado and Kansas State is marred by injuries

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

No. 19 Kansas State improved to 5-1 in front of 53,972 fans at Folsom Field, a game that began just before 10:30 p.m. ET and was marred by frequent stoppages of play due to player injuries.

By losing Hunter, Colorado was essentially 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 did not return. Then, in the fourth quarter, Colorado receiver Omarion Miller had to be carried off the field due to injury after completing a completion that gained 51 yards.

Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders then threw an interception near the goal line on the very next play as 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 successor plays a big role

The player who replaced Hunter at cornerback was Auburn transfer Colton Hood, who then gave the Buffs the lead 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. But he didn't quite make it, eventually rushing 59 yards to the Kansas State 17-yard line. The Buffaloes scored two plays later with an 11-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Shedeur Sanders to receiver LaJohntay Wester.

That helped give the Buffs a 28-24 lead with 3:12 left. In response, Kansas State fought back and took the lead on this wild three-play drive that spanned 84 yards and gave the Wildcats a 31-28 lead.

Travis Hunter was injured in the first half against Kansas State

The Wildcats led 14-7 at halftime after Hunter left the game with a shoulder injury in the second quarter. The game was tied 7-7 at the time and apparently came about when Hunter hit Kansas State safety Daniel Cobbs in the shoulder with a helmet on a 14-yard catch.

Kansas State then quickly took advantage of Hunter's absence on defense by launching 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, extending their lead to 21-7 while Hunter was still sidelined with the injury.

On the latter drive, Kansas State managed 81 yards on 16 plays with 7:58 to play, capped by a 1-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Brown.

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

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: [email protected]

(This story has been updated to add new information.)

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