The Buffs celebrate their 48-14 victory over the UMass Minutemen at Folsom Field. (Nigel Amstock/CU Independent)
The University of Colorado Buffaloes won their home opener in spectacular fashion, dominating the University of Massachusetts Minutemen by a score of 48-14, thanks to CU’s success in the run game.
In the 2015 home opener at Folsom Field, the Buffaloes offense exploded for 558 total yards, 390 of which came from rushing. Junior running back Michael Adkins II followed up and improved on last week’s game at Hawaii, where he ran for 90 yards on 22 carries in another impressive performance.
Adkins led the Buffaloes’ rushers with 119 yards on 19 attempts. Senior tailback Christian Powell also reached the century mark, running for 105 yards on eight carries for a 13.1 yards per carry average.
“It always feels good to hit that mark,” Powell said. “I’m thankful that I was able to do that and I’m thankful that my teammates came out and we had the successful game that we did today.”
Both players would make it into the endzone. Adkins II burst out of the backfield for a 21 yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Powell began scoring in the first quarter with a 15-yard score and ended all scoring in the third quarter with a 35-yard touchdown run.
In addition to Adkins II and Powell’s explosive performances, running back Phillip Lindsay contributed 73 yards on ten carries to go along with a two-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. He likely would have reached the 100-yard mark, but his playing time diminished as the Buffs pulled away in the third quarter.
True freshman Patrick Carr entered the game late and was still impressive, rushing for 55 yards on ten carries.
By contrast, the Buffs allowed only 147 yards on the ground to the University of Massachusetts’ rushers.
Next Saturday the Buffs will take on their in-state rivals, the Colorado State Rams, in the Rocky Mountain Showdown at Sports Authority Field in Denver. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. MST.
Contact CU Independent Football Beat Writer Justin Guerriero at justin.guerriero@colorado.edu and follow him on Twitter @TheHungry_Hippo.
