STANFORD, CA – NOVEMBER 14: Stanford wide receiver Michael Wilson (4) catches a 14-yard pass in the third quarter against Colorado’s Curtis Appleton (30), Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
The return of quarterback Davis Mills wasn’t enough for Stanford to get its first win of the season as the Cardinal fell to Colorado 35-32 Saturday at Stanford Stadium.
Mills rejoined the team on Friday after he was held out of the season-opening loss at Oregon and put in isolation because of an inconclusive COVID-19 test. He was 31 of 56 passing for 327 yards and a touchdown, plus two 2-point conversions as Stanford tried to complete a massive comeback.
The Cardinal (0-2, 0-2) scored 16 straight points in the final nine minutes. It forced a Colorado punt and got the ball back on its 8-yard line with 10 seconds left, but a series of laterals couldn’t move the ball forward on the final play.
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: A pass intended for Stanford's Austin Jones (20) is broken up by Colorado's Joshua Gustav (33), in the fourth quarter, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford quarterback Davis Mills (15) celebrates his third quarter rushing touchdown against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford quarterback Davis Mills (15) looks for a receiver during the team's home opener against Colorado in an empty Stanford Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford's Bryce Tremayne (81) holds off Colorado's Isaiah Lewis (23), Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, during the Cardinal's fourth quarter rally at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford's Michael Wilson (4) is tackled by Colorado's Akil Jones (36), Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, during the Cardinal's fourth quarter rally at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford quarterback Davis Mills (15) throws a touchdown pass to Scooter Harrington (80) during the fourth quarter against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford's Scooter Harrington (80) is mobbed by teammates after scoring a fourth quarter touchdown against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford's Tucker Fisk (88) celebrates a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter that shrinks Colorado's lead to 35-32, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford's Tucker Fisk (88) celebrates a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter that shrinks Colorado's lead to 35-32, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford's Tucker Fisk (88) celebrates a two-point conversion late in the fourth quarter that shrinks Colorado's lead to 35-32, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford quarterback Davis Mills (15) hands off to Austin Jones (20) for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford's Michael Wilson (4) catches a pass deep against Colorado's Nate Landman (53), Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, during the Cardinal's fourth quarter rally at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Colorado's Jaren Mangham (1) is hoisted by teammate William Sherman (78) after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Colorado quarterback Sam Noyer (4) throws a touchdown pass to Brendan Rice in the third quarter against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford quarterback Davis Mills (15) passes in the second quarter against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford wide receiver Scooter Harrington (80) makes a first down reception on the first scrimmage play of the game against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford wide receiver Scooter Harrington (80) gets a first down on the first scrimmage play of the game against Colorado's Nate Landman (53) and Derrion Rakestraw (3), Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Colorado quarterback Sam Noyer (4) rushes for a 7-yard touchdown against Stanford's Treyjohn Butler (8) and Malike Antoine (3) in the second quarter, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Colorado's Dimitri Stanley (14) scores on a 55-yard pass against Stanford's Malike Antoine (3) and Noah Williams (9) in the first quarter, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Colorado's Dimitri Stanley (14) celebrates his 55-yard touchdown with Jarek Brousard (23) in the first quarter against Stanford, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford's Malike Antoine (3) intercepts a Colorado pass in the first quarter, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford quarterback Davis Mills (15) rushes for a first down in the second quarter of the team's home opener against Colorado in an empty Stanford Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford takes the field in an empty Stanford Stadium for their delayed Pac-12 home opener against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: With more trees than people in the stands, Stanford finishes warming up before their Pac-12 home opener against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
STANFORD, CA - NOVEMBER 14: Stanford quarterback Davis Mills (15) throws looks for Austin Jones (20) in the fourth quarter against Colorado, Saturday, Nov. 14, 2020, at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
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Cardinal receiver Connor Wedington, who also missed the opener because of contract tracing protocols, had a game-high eight catches for 77 yards and a 2-point conversion.
But Stanford couldn’t recover after Colorado (2-0, 2-0) scored touchdowns on three straight possessions to start the second half, taking a 35-16 lead on the first play of the fourth quarter. Jarek Broussard, who ran for 187 yards in the opener, had 121 yards on 27 carries for the Buffaloes, who went 2-0 for the fifth straight season.
After running for 193 yards against the Ducks, Stanford running backs Austin Jones and Nathaniel Peat were held to 30 yards on 14 carries on Saturday.
Jet Toner, who missed all four of his field goal attempts last week, connected from 48, 33, and 28 yards Saturday, but those were the only points for the Cardinal in the first half.
After scoring just 14 points in seven trips inside the Oregon 35 last week, Stanford again stalled in the red zone against the Buffaloes and trailed 14-9 at halftime.
The Cardinal lost a home opener for the first time since 2007, though it was far from a typical home game. Instead of fans, Stanford played in front of nearly 300 cardboard cutouts, and 470 trees that were placed around the field and will be replanted throughout the Bay Area after the season.
There were also nearly 300 cardboard cutouts features famous Stanford alumni, former players and coaches, and family members of current players.
