Corner Canyon High graduate Isaac Wilson threw for 256 yards and two touchdowns as Colorado fell 27-24 to No. 11 Utah on Saturday, Oct. 17.
Wilson, the former Utah quarterback now starting for the Buffaloes, rallied Colorado from a 13-0 halftime deficit at Folsom Field in Boulder. He completed 18 of 30 passes with two interceptions and added 41 rushing yards on seven carries.
"I'm so mad and sad about that game because I wanted it so bad," Wilson said in the Colorado athletics postgame recap.
Colorado's offense managed just 70 yards in the first half. Wilson threw an interception late in the second quarter, and the Buffaloes went to the locker room scoreless.
Everything changed after halftime. On Colorado's opening drive of the third quarter, Wilson completed a short pass to running back JaQuail Smith, who broke free for a 68-yard touchdown. Minutes later, running back DeKalon Taylor scored on an 18-yard option run to give Colorado a 14-13 lead, according to the Colorado recap. Utah trailed for the first time all season.
Utah quarterback Devon Dampier answered with a touchdown pass to Braden Pegan late in the third quarter. Cornerback James Chenault then intercepted Wilson, and the Utes converted the turnover into another Dampier-to-Pegan score. That pushed Utah's lead to 27-17 with about three minutes remaining.
Wilson was not done. He drove Colorado 83 yards in eight plays, hitting wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 2-yard touchdown with 1:21 left. A 48-yard completion to Moore set up the score, cutting the deficit to 27-24.
Colorado got the ball back one final time. Wilson scrambled 17 yards up the middle and pitched to Quanell Farrakhan Jr. for 15 more. Officials ruled the pitch an illegal forward pass after review, pushing Colorado out of field goal range. Wilson's Hail Mary on the final play fell incomplete when Pegan batted it down in the end zone.
Wilson's journey from the Canyons School District to Boulder took a winding route. At Corner Canyon High in Draper, he set the Utah state record for total offense as a senior with 5,901 yards and led the Chargers to the 2023 Class 6A state championship. He earned 2023 Deseret News Mr. Football and Gatorade Utah Football Player of the Year honors, as first reported by The Salt Lake Tribune. His brother Zach Wilson plays quarterback for the New Orleans Saints.
Isaac Wilson committed to Utah out of high school but was thrust into a starting role as a true freshman in 2024 after Cam Rising suffered season-ending injuries. He finished that year with 11 interceptions and 10 touchdowns. After falling behind Dampier and Byrd Ficklin on the depth chart in 2025, he entered the transfer portal and signed with Colorado in January, according to KSL Sports.
Colorado head coach Deion Sanders praised Wilson's fight after the loss. Sanders said there was "no give-up" from his players or staff, according to the Colorado recap.
Colorado (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) travels to Oklahoma State on Saturday, Oct. 24. Utah improved to 6-0 and 3-0 in conference play.
