Video: Colorado runs out of time

A half hour after time had expired on its last-ditch comeback attempt, Colorado was still trying to piece together what happened in the final chaotic seconds of a 28-20 season-opening football loss to the University of Hawaii late Thursday night.

“It was crazy,” a dejected CU coach Mike MacIntyre said.

Quarterback Sefo Liufau‘s pass to Phillip Lindsay took the Buffaloes inside the six-yard line but having already exhausted their timeouts, the clock ran out before Liufau could spike the ball to halt time and set up a chance to tie the game.

While the UH players rejoiced and a hardy Aloha Stadium crowd of 19,511 jumped in the aisles, the Buffaloes looked at the clock and then one another.

“I’ll have to look at it on film before I say anything about that … well the referee dropped the ball and then their (Hawaii’s) guy grabbed the ball and we couldn’t ever spike it,” MacIntyre said. “That’s what it looked like to me, but I’ll have to find out when I watch the film later.”

UH coach Norm Chow said, “I’m glad they used (up) their timeouts.”

The Buffaloes exhausted their timeouts with 2 minutes, 51 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to stop the clock on a Hawaii possession and took over the ball with 1 minute 56 seconds remaining at the CU 39.

Receiver Nelson Spruce said, “We were supposed to spike it and kill (the clock). But we couldn’t get it set up. One of their players kicked the ball. I’m not saying it was their fault but we were ready to go.”

Liufau said, “He (the official) bobbled the ball, but we don’t want to be in that position. I place no blame on the official.”

The officiating was done by a mixed crew from the Big 12 and Mountain West conferences.

The loss was made more painful for the Buffaloes by the fact that they lost four games by five points or less in the 2-10 season of 2014.