By ROBERT CESSNAFIRST QUARTER
Nowhere to run: Texas A&M quarterback Jerrod Johnson was stopped on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line by Colorado middle linebacker Marcus Burton and strong safety Benjamin Burney.
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Rare conversion: CU opponents had converted just 1 of 17 third downs inside the red zone before Johnson picked up 8 yards on third-and-6. That got A&M to the 1-yard line and led to its first touchdown.
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Risky move: CU converted fourth-and-1 at its own 24 on a quarterback sneak that jump-started a 14-play, 66-yard drive that netted a field goal.
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Unusual 12th Man: CU running back Rodney Stewart had to dodge the field umpire on a 13-yard run.
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Key stat: CU quarterback Tyler Hansen had eight of his team's 11 rushes, but half of them were sacks.
SECOND QUARTER
Not your typical quarterback: The 200-pound Hansen finished off an 8-yard run by lowering his shoulder into 288-pound A&M defensive tackle Eddie Brown, which drew "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd.
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Full extension: CU sophomore wide receiver Markques Simas made a diving 47-yard catch to set up the Buffaloes' first score. A&M free safety Jordan Pugh was called for pass interference, but it didn't stop Simas, who ended up with seven catches for 135 yards -- both career-high efforts.
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Seeing the light: A&M's Cyrus Gray read his blocks perfectly en route to a 99-yard kickoff return, silencing a rowdy CU crowd that had just been energized by two big plays -- Simas' long catch and a 13-yard touchdown run by Stewart, who left two would-be tacklers behind.
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A reason to celebrate: A&M freshman defensive end Spencer Nealy read a screen pass, knifed through three blockers and nailed Demetrius Sumler for a yard loss. The celebration by the emotional Nealy looked like he was trying to stomp out a forest fire, which amused the crowd.
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High stepping: A&M running back Christine Michael sent several members of the CU dance team scurrying for safety after he was pushed out of bounds following a 27-yard run.
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Key stat: CU had the ball 10 minutes, 16 seconds in the quarter but was outscored 14-10.
THIRD QUARTER
Live from Folsom Field: CU was at the line of scrimmage and ready to snap the ball at its own 31-yard line when the game was halted with 12 minutes, 18 seconds left in the third quarter because there was a TV crew in the end zone.
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No hometown call: CU's fans and its coaching staff were livid when A&M defensive back Steven Campbell wasn't given a late-hit penalty for his push on Stewart after a 31-yard run that ended right in front of the Buffaloes' bench.
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So close: A good rush by A&M's Matt Featherston forced an ill-advised pass by Hansen that floated to A&M linebacker Jonathan Stewart, who couldn't make the catch.
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Hung out to dry: CU's Stewart lost 4 yards on a clothesline tackle by Von Miller that also drew plenty of boos, though it wasn't a horse-collar tackle.
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Key stat: CU's two drives covered 129 yards in 19 plays.
FOURTH QUARTER
It's mine: A&M's Jeff Fuller outjumped CU's Jimmy Smith for a 36-yard catch that set up a 6-yard touchdown run by Michael for a 28-21 lead.
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Can't hang on: CU's Curtis Cunningham had a rare chance for an interception by a defensive tackle when linebacker Shaun Mohler hit Johnson just as he threw the ball. Cunningham, who was only a few yards away, got both hands on the ball but couldn't make the tough catch.
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First one a killer: A&M didn't have a turnover until an interception by CU free safety Anthony Perkins with 1:31 left. Perkins came up with the easy theft because of pressure by linebacker B.J. Beatty.
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Last-ditch effort: A&M sophomore Terrence Frederick tried to catch a 24-yard punt on the run but muffed it, and CU's Burton recovered it with 23 seconds left. Frederick was returning the punt because Dustin Harris suffered an ankle injury in the first half. Frederick fair caught a punt in the second quarter.
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Key stat: A&M is 1-4 all-time in Boulder, Colo., including three straight losses.
-- Robert Cessna
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