Will Sheppard of the CU Buffs kept the faith with a big touchdown catch against UCF

ORLANDO – Some days the bears beat you. But Shedeur Sanders didn't let Will Sheppard tell him the Bears beat him.

“I told him, ‘This is the week, bro. “This is the week,” CU senior quarterback Sanders recalled after an impressive 48-21 win at UCF on Saturday night. “'It has to happen this week.'”

It happened on the Buffs' third drive of the ballgame. A week after Sheppard, a transfer from Vanderbilt, dropped a potentially game-winning pass late in the fourth quarter against Baylor at Folsom Field, CU's signal caller looked in the direction early. And looked deeply.

On third-and-15 at the Knights' 47-yard line, Sanders dropped back, stepped left and fired a shot across the UCF secondary and into the path of Sheppard, who hit a post path inside from the right hash mark for the goal Line.

Sheppard positioned himself in front of UCF defender Antione Jackson and extended his body to complete the catch. He rolled the ball into the end zone, giving the visitors a 13-7 lead with ten seconds left in the first quarter.

“I tried not to put too much pressure on myself at the end,” said Sheppard, who finished with four grabs for 99 receiving yards, including his first touchdown as a Buff. “I just know who I am and why I’m here and why I came here.

“And I think (Saturday) proved that and showed that. And (Sanders) having that confidence and the confidence to keep coming back and throwing me the ball and taking those chances, knowing that I'm going to get it done in (moments) like that – that just gives me a little bit more confidence. “

This trust proved contagious. Sheppard immediately jumped up from his goal post, silencing the Knights students whose taunts were clearly within earshot.

It was Sheppard's first game at CU with at least 90 receiving yards and his first as a college player since he threw for 107 yards against Florida last October as a member of the Commodores.

“He just got off to a slow start,” Sanders said of his goal. “(I told him), 'Don't beat yourself up about it…it happens to everyone.' Because I know what type of player he is – I know (when) he feels, and (when) he's actually in his rhythm, and when he feels comfortable, no one can stop him because he's against the best corner ( of the country) in practice every day, throughout his time (here).

“So that was the message to him all week. “It’s just your game.” “It’s your week” … and the opportunity came. And I thought, 'Hey, this is it.' Well, you've got to grab this.' Then he made a play.”