Devon Dampier threw three touchdown passes, two to Braden Pegan, and No. 11 Utah survived Colorado's second-half comeback for a 27-24 win Saturday night in Boulder.
The Utes improved to 6-0 after losing a 13-point halftime lead and then rebuilding a 10-point cushion in the fourth quarter. Colorado cut that margin to three with 1:21 remaining and got the ball back, but its final possession ended with an incomplete pass toward Joseph Williams in the end zone.
Dampier completed 24 of 41 passes for 278 yards with two interceptions. Pegan caught eight passes for 86 yards, including the touchdowns that restored Utah's lead late in the third quarter and extended it with 3:43 left in the fourth.
An interception gives Utah room
James Chenault Jr. made the defensive play that created Utah's last scoring opportunity. With the Utes ahead 20-17, he intercepted Isaac Wilson and returned the ball 30 yards to Colorado's 22-yard line.
A sack pushed Utah backward before Dampier found Creed Whittemore for 25 yards. Dampier then connected with Pegan from six yards out. The sequence turned a narrow lead into a 27-17 advantage and gave Colorado two scores to chase.
Wilson answered with an 83-yard touchdown drive. His 48-yard completion to DeAndre Moore Jr. brought Colorado to the Utah 4, and Moore later caught a two-yard scoring pass. Utah's next possession ended in a punt, leaving the Buffaloes one more opportunity to change the result.
Colorado erases the halftime gap
Utah had controlled the scoring before intermission. Dampier hit Hunter Andrews for an eight-yard touchdown on the opening drive, and Dillon Curtis added field goals of 27 and 29 yards for a 13-0 halftime lead.
Colorado scored 17 straight points in the third quarter. Wilson's 68-yard touchdown pass to running back JaQuail Smith started the comeback, and DeKalon Taylor's 18-yard scoring run put the Buffaloes ahead 14-13. After Naeten Mitchell intercepted Dampier, Elliott Arnold's 32-yard field goal stretched the lead to four.
Utah responded before the quarter ended. Whittemore's 43-yard catch helped move the Utes downfield, and Dampier found Pegan for a 16-yard touchdown with 1:06 remaining. Utah led 20-17 entering the fourth.
Wayshawn Parker finished with 98 rushing yards on 23 carries for Utah. Whittemore caught three passes for 88 yards, supplying two long completions on drives that ended with Pegan touchdowns.
Wilson, playing against his former school, completed 18 of 30 passes for 256 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Smith added 73 rushing yards to his long touchdown reception. The Buffaloes fell to 2-4, while Utah left Folsom Field with its unbeaten start intact.
