Colorado Buffaloes Top UCLA Bruins 20-10

Isaiah Oliver took a punt return 68 yards with less than six minutes remaining to lead the Colorado Buffaloes to a 20-10 home victory over the UCLA Bruins on Thursday night.

Colorado Buffaloes Top UCLA Bruins 20-10

The game featured a combined 25 penalties for 224 total yards, as well as two blocked kicks and five turnovers. Nevertheless, the Buffaloes secured their first winning season since 2005 while handing the Bruins their fourth consecutive loss. The final penalty of the game came on a UCLA offside penalty that gave Colorado a first down as it was trying to run out the clock.

Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau finished 19 of 30 for 143 yards with two picks and no touchdowns. UCLA QB Mike Fafaul had 184 yards on 15 of 29 passing with one TD (the Bruins’ only trip to the end zone) and one interception.

Fafaul replaced starting QB Josh Rosen, who Bruins Coach Jim Mora confirmed will be sidelined for the season because of a shoulder injury. Fafaul threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Darren Andrews to tie it 7-7 in the first quarter.

UCLA kicker J.J. Molson made a career-long 48-yard field goal for a three-point lead before he missed his following two attempts. Molson was replaced by Andrew Strauch in the fourth quarter, but he fared no better and missed a 36-yard attempt.

Colorado kicked two field goals before the punt return for a touchdown.

The Bruins have now dropped to 3-6 overall and are 1-5 in the Pac-12 Conference while the Buffaloes remain in first place in the South Division at 7-2,5-1.

UCLA owns the all-time series record with Colorado, 9-2. The Bruins won last year’s game in Pasadena, 35-31.

The No. 21 Buffaloes will next visit the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 12, while the Bruins will host the Oregon State Beavers that same day.

BOULDER, CO – NOVEMBER 3: Tight end Austin Roberts #88 of the UCLA Bruins avoids a tackle attempt by defensive back Isaiah Oliver #26 of the Colorado Buffaloes during a game at Folsom Field on November 3, 2016 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)