The Colorado Buffaloes entered Saturday needing a more confident passing game after a tight opening win at Georgia Tech, and Julian Lewis supplied it before Weber State even had time to settle into the afternoon at Folsom Field.
On Colorado's first offensive snap, Lewis hit DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 66-yard touchdown. A few minutes later, Lewis found Joseph Williams for a 63-yard score, and Colorado had already put Weber State in a position where it needed to chase the game.
From my seat, the biggest development was how quickly Lewis played. The Buffs came out attacking downfield, trusting Lewis to make the reads and allowing the receivers to use their speed against Weber State's coverage.
Colorado's 52-21 win moved the Buffs to 2-0 for the first
time since 2023. Lewis completed 17 of 23 passes for a career-high 366 yards, four touchdown passes and no interceptions. He added a 3-yard rushing touchdown before halftime, accounting for five scores before leaving the game with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter.
The 52-point afternoon came with a few defensive concerns, particularly in the secondary, but Colorado showed far more life offensively than it did a week ago. Lewis played like a quarterback who could give this team an explosive passing game, while Micah Welch ended one of the program's longest rushing droughts.
Julian Lewis sets Colorado record
Lewis started the game by placing the ball where Colorado's receivers could run after the catch, and the results came quickly.
Moore's 66-yard touchdown gave Colorado the start they needed. Williams' 63-yard score pushed the lead to 14-0, and Lewis followed with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Ernest Campbell later in the quarter. By the end of the opening 15 minutes, Lewis had 212 passing yards, setting the Colorado football record for passing yards in a quarter.
His three touchdown passes in the quarter tied the school record. Lewis became the first Colorado quarterback to throw three touchdown passes in a quarter since Sefo Liufau in 2014.
Lewis remained efficient in the second quarter, as he tied another Colorado football record with four passing touchdowns in a half, becoming the first Buff to do it in the first half and the first Colorado quarterback to reach four touchdowns in a half since Cody Hawkins in 2009.
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I liked that Colorado kept attacking after the early scores. Offensive coordinator Brennan Marion asked Lewis to run the offense faster, and he was decisive throughout the first half. He hit receivers downfield and avoided the indecision that showed up in the Georgia Tech opener.
Lewis did commit his first career turnover with a fumble after a sack, which put Weber State at Colorado's 28-yard line, and finished with three sacks. Those are the plays Colorado will need to address as the schedule gets harder. However, his command of the offense and willingness to take deep throws were a positive sign this season.
Williams finished with four catches for 123 yards and two touchdowns, and Moore posted four catches for 107 yards and a touchdown. Campbell's touchdown was his only reception, but Colorado generated 278 receiving yards and four touchdowns from its three biggest vertical threats.
Micah Welch ends long rushing drought
Colorado had gone 40 consecutive games without a 100-yard rusher, a streak that dated back to Alex Fontenot's 100-yard effort at USC on Nov. 11, 2022.
Welch ended it with a 55-yard touchdown run on the first play of the second quarter.
He finished with 106 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries, averaging 9.6 yards per carry. The 100-yard game is the first by a Colorado running back during the Deion Sanders era. Welch has run well in each of the first two games, and Saturday confirmed Welch as the leader in the backfield.
Colorado finished with 180 rushing yards. Backup QB Kaneal Sweetwyne scored his first college touchdown on a 9-yard run and finished with 25 yards on four carries. Damian Henderson added 23 yards on five carries as Colorado used the depth of its backfield after the game opened up.
Colorado football secondary faces test
The biggest concern was the secondary, as the Wildcats moved the ball through the air and had multiple communication issues, as in the Georgia Tech game.
Nate Dahle passed for 244 yards and three touchdowns. Noah Kjar (son of head coach Eric Kjar) caught seven passes for 121 yards and two touchdowns. Weber State totaled 376 yards, gained 23 first downs and converted eight of 17 third downs.
I noticed Colorado's adjustment at nickel in the second half as defensive coordinator Chris Marve moved Boo Carter inside and placed Jason Stokes Jr. at outside cornerback opposite Cree Thomas. Weber State found space around the slot early, and Colorado needed a different answer.
Colorado's defense created several big plays, however. Randon Fontenette grabbed his first interception as a Buff, Jah Jah Boyd led the defense with eight tackles and forced a fumble, while Toby Anene produced a sack and forced fumble. Lamont Lester Jr. continued his strong start by recording another sack, giving him four through two games.
Colorado finished with 578 total yards, and the Buffs got a performance from Lewis that will dominate the conversation in the Big 12 after Week 2. The offense finally looked capable of creating points quickly, and Welch gave Colorado a 100-yard rusher for the first time in nearly four years.
The secondary will receive their share of attention after Weber State's passing production, but Lewis made sure Saturday belonged to Colorado's offense.
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This article originally appeared on Buffaloes Wire: Julian Lewis makes Colorado history in blowout win over Weber State
