QB Sanders, Hunter aid Buffs hold off N

Aug 30, 2024, 12:03 AM ET

STONE, Colo.– Shedeur Sanders was simply trying to be the good guy and get his teammate a late touchdown. It almost backfired.Sanders tossed for 445 backyards and 4 touchdowns– three to Travis Hunter– and Colorado started Year 2 under coach Deion Sanders by holding off FCS power North Dakota State 31-26 on Thursday night.But it was the pass Shedeur Sanders didn’t require to toss that raised some eyebrows.With 1:41 left and a number of run plays all that were necessary to run down the

clock, Sanders tried to link deep with LaJohntay Wester. He underthrew the pass and it ended up incomplete to stop the clock.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Deion Sanders’fatherly advice: say goodbye to Mr. Nice Guy.”Shedeur’s such a great kid,

sometimes it costs him

, “the coach stated.”That’s his character. I’m like,’Begin, Dawg, not right now. It’s not time to be the hero right now. It’s time to put this game away.'” North Dakota State got the ball back with 31 seconds left. As time ended, Cam Miller released a pass from his own 47 that was

caught by Tyler Terhark 4 yards short of completion zone. “You ever seem like you won but you didn’t win?”stated Deion Sanders, whose team was a 10 1/2 -point favorite.” Let’s proceed from that.

I’m going to attempt my best to hold back my anger. But we got a’W ‘so I’m happy.”The methodical play of the Bison in the first half helped keep Heisman Prize enthusiastic Sanders and the Colorado offense on the sideline. But once Sanders was out there, he went to work.Jimmy Horn Jr. had seven catches for 198 yards and a score, and Hunter hauled in seven passes for 132 yards.Hunter’s acrobatic, 3-yard TD with a defensive back curtained on him gave Colorado a 31-20 lead with 7:57 left.

He commemorated by spinning the ball and doing a dance. Hunter still had that much energy despite playing all

game at cornerback, too.The play of Hunter captured the attention of NBA great LeBron James, who wrote on social networks:”GUY TRAVIS HUNTER IS RIDICULOUS!!!!! WOW. “Like Sanders, Hunter is discussed in Heisman conversations.Sanders completed 26-of-34 passing with an interception.

He has actually tossed for 955 lawns and 8 TDs in 2 openers at Colorado(he had 510 backyards last season at TCU).”It was cool,”Sanders stated about his big night

.”However every incompletion, it injures me inside a little bit.

I’m delighted for the win, however [there are] certainly circumstances because game I personally could’ve handled better.”This version of the Buffaloes ‘offense looked a great deal like last season, with a scary passing game but practically no ground attack. Colorado was outrushed 157-59 on Thursday night. The revamped offending line quit only one sack, but Sanders spent quite a bit of time scrambling.The Colorado defense remains a work in development under new defensive coordinator Robert Livingston. Miller scored on a 20-yard scramble to make it 31-26 with 2:19 left. His pass on a two-point conversion was incomplete.”There’s nothing great about losing,”Miller stated.”However I do feel like offensively and defensively, this is going to provide us a lot of self-confidence.” New North Dakota State coach Tim Polasek had his group on the cusp of an upset. The Bison led 20-17 at halftime with Miller orchestrating the offense to near excellence. He finished with 2 rushing TDs and tossed for another.

The Bison revealed a national audience precisely why they are ranked No. 2 in the FCS preseason polls.”The distinction in the game boils down to they made a couple of more plays than we did,”Polasek stated.”I truly think that.”