The good news for the Colorado Buffaloes is that they didn’t give up 50 or more points in their first game in three weeks. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to save their season.
A 29-22 loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers takes the Buffs out of bowl contention and effectively ends their season with two games left. Despite that, numerous fans and media members walked away feeling more positive about the future of Deion Sanders‘ team than they have all year, thanks to the fight they showed and the emerging stars.
Here are the four players who stood out in Colorado’s frustrating loss to West Virginia.
QB Julian Lewis
One of the primary reasons Colorado fans woke up this morning a little more hopeful about their team is Lewis. Once the true freshman got his feet underneath him in his first start, he looked like a veteran commanding the offense behind a makeshift offensive line. Lewis’s poise and ability to create in the pocket were a bit unexpected, but his arm talent was on full display. This game is not even close without Lewis under center, and it’s a promising sight for the Buffs.
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DT Brandon Davis-Swain
Davis-Swain has been an on-and-off player for the Buffaloes’ front-7, but on Saturday, he had his best game of the season. The sophomore defensive tackle was a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the field, racking up four tackles, including a sack. His forced fumble was a turning point that kept the Buffaloes in the game, down 9-0 after a failed fourth-down conversion.
WR Joseph Williams
While Omarion Miller was Colorado’s top wideout, Williams was not far behind. The sophomore emerged early in the season as a deep threat, but he’s continued to develop his game to work within the numbers. The Tulsa transfer appears to be developing a connection with Lewis, which, if given time, could turn into a special duo for Colorado.
S Tawfiq Byard
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If you just looked at the stat sheet, you’d have no idea that Byard was forced to miss the first half due to a targeting penalty against Arizona. There’s no question that Byard likes to hit people, but his presence on the defense made an incredible impact to open the second half. The sophomore safety was part of their midseason renaissance, and he’ll play a significant role in the team’s future.
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Morgantown, WV – The West Virginia Mountaineers (42-15) rallied and scored five runs to force a Morganton regional game seven with a 9-5 win over the Kentucky Wildcats (33-22) Sunday night.
Kentucky starting pitcher Ben Cleaver never found his rhythm in his 14th start of the season. He beaned leadoff hitter, junior Armani Guzman, walked consecutive Mountaineer hitters to load the bases, and hit senior Sean Smith to bring in the game’s first run. Senior Matthew Graveline followed with an RBI sacrifice fly, then reloaded the with his third walk of the inning and it would end the junior’s afternoon.
Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione handed the ball to Ira Austin, and on the 1-1 pitch, senior Brodie Kresser hit an RBI single to centerfield for a 3-0 WVU lead.
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In the bottom of the frame, two errant throws put two aboard for the Wildcats before loading the bases after West Virginia starting pitcher David Hagan issued consecutive walks for Kentucky’s first run of the contest. Then, freshman Braxton Van Cleave worked the opposite field with an RBI single to left field to pull the Wildcats within one, 3-2.
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Kentucky tied the game in the second after Jayce Tharnish hit the gap in left centerfield for a one out double and moved to third on a ground ball from sophomore Tyler Bell before senior Luke Lawrence hit an RBI single back up the middle.
West Virginia reclaimed the lead in the third. Gaveline hit a leadoff to centerfield and moments later, Kresser smacked a one-out single to left field and senior Ben Lumsden hit the top of the left field wall for an RBI single. Junior Tyrus Hall grounded to third to bring a run across and Guzman capped a three-run third with an RBI single to right field for a 6-3 Mountaineer lead.
Kentucky responded in the bottom of the frame after junior Ethan Hindle received a four-pitch leadoff walk, Van Cleave lined a single to left field, placing runners at the corners, and senior Carson Hansen brought in a run with a fielder’s choice to short to close within two, 6-4. WVU sophomore reliever Joshua Suriagao pitched a third of the inning before Sabins turned to senior Carson Estridge, who recorded the final two outs of the inning.
Kentucky took the lead in the fourth when Bell sparked the Wildcats with a leadoff home run. Then, Lawrence doubled to left field, and Hindle lined an RBI single to left field before Van Cleave delivered another RBI for the 7-6 advantage.
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West Virginia loaded the bases in the sixth with one out, but the bottom of the order did not bring a run across, ending the inning with consecutive strikeouts.
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In seventh, Kentucky added some cushion to its lead and did the damage with two outs on the board. Tharnish lifted the 2-2 pitched just over the right field wall for a two-out solo home run, then Bell blasted his second solo shot of the afternoon for a 9-6 Wildcats’ lead.
In the ninth, West Virginia loaded the bases on an Kentucky error, a walk, and a single from junior Tyrus Hall. Then, Guzman received a four-pitch walk to bring in a run, Kelly got the Mountaineers within one with a sacrifice fly and a balk tied the game before senior Paul Schoenfeld blasted a two run home run to give the Mountaineers an 11-9 lead.
West Virginia reliever Ben McDougal entered the game in the fifth and closed the game out for the Mountaineers for the 11-9 decision.
West Virginia and Kentucky will meet for a trip to the Super Regionals on Monday. Time and TV is to be determined.
It’s do-or-die time for West Virginia and Wake Forest as they face off in an elimination game this afternoon in the Morgantown regional.
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If you can’t watch or listen to the game or you just want to keep up with everything that’s happened in today’s game, we’ve got you covered. Below, we will provide live updates and have the starting lineups posted for you.
GAME THREAD
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TOP 1 (WF)
Three up, three down for the Deacs. Dawson Montesa records two punch outs on 13 pitches.
BOT 1 (WVU)
Troy Dressler tops Montesa’s first trip to the mound by getting three outs on just seven pitches. Hard contact by Armani Guzman and Paul Schoenfeld, just at ’em balls.
TOP 2 (WF)
West Virginia’s starting lineup
1. RF Armani Guzman — .301 2. 2B Gavin Kelly —.379 3. CF Paul Schoenfeld — .344 4. DH Sean Smith — .315 5. C Matthew Graveline — .286 6. SS Matt Ineich — .299 7. 1B Brodie Kresser — .287 8. LF Ben Lumsden — .241 9. 3B Tyrus Hall – .275
SP Dawson Montesa
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Wake Forest’s starting lineup
1. CF Javar Williams — .343 2. RF Luke Costello — .309 3. 1B Kade Lewis — .361 4. 3B Dalton Wentz — .306 5. C Matt Conte — .275 6. LF Boston Torres — .312 7. DH Andrew Costello — .244 8. 2B Matt Schaaf — .325 9. SS JD Stein — .270
CHELYAN, W.Va. — A West Virginia Turnpike worker was injured Saturday after falling out of a tollbooth that was hit by a truck.
State police said it happened Saturday morning at about 9:16 when a truck carrying steel I beams, driven by Cameron Huntington, 28, of Colorado hit a southbound tollbooth near Chelyan.
John Terry, 61, of Gallagher, was working the tollbooth and fell out the window after contact from an I beam caused the booth to rock.
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The tollbooth fell to the right striking a vehicle in the next lane.
Troopers said there were no serious injuries.
Huntington was ticketed for failure to maintain control of his truck.
