Buffs Notes: Run Game Stays Solid; Young Defenders Contribute Vs. WSU

PULLMAN, Wash. — For the third straight week, the final score overshadowed a solid effort by the Colorado Buffaloes' running game.

The Buffs finished with 179 yards on the ground in Saturday's 41-10 loss to Washington State, their second-highest total of the season and their third game in a row with at least 150 on the ground.

CU ran for 168 last week against Oregon and had 159 yards rushing two weeks ago against Arizona.

Saturday's effort by the Buffs was spearheaded by an 11-carry, 105-yard effort from sophomore Alex Fontenot, the second 100-yard game of his career. The Buffs also got 42 yards on eight carries from freshman Jaren Mangham.

"We've been running the ball for the past few weeks," CU head coach Mel Tucker said. "We've been very efficient running the football. That's what we want to be able to do. Fontenot runs the ball hard. He gets tough yards, yards after contact. He's got burst, he's got acceleration. We're creating some space for him in the run game. That's really been three, four weeks in a row we've been able to do that."

The Buffs ran the ball with success early. On a first-quarter drive that saw them go 68 yards to the WSU 7-yard line, wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. — who had a 6-yard touchdown run on a direct snap later in the game — had a 7-yard run on third down on the drive and Mangham picked up 16 yards on three carries.

But after getting a first-and-goal from the WSU 10, the Buffs threw three straight passes, with two of them falling incomplete, and CU then had to settle for a field goal.

The run game again helped CU get to the red zone in the second quarter. Two Fontenot runs picked up 25 yards and Mangham added 12 on two carries to get CU to the 18-yard line — only to see the drive come up empty three plays later on an interception in the end zone.

It left CU with just three points to show for two trips to the WSU red zone in the first half.

"Offensively, we were able to run the ball but we weren't able to finish drives," Tucker said. "Our passing game was inconsistent. It's frustrating because we need to be able to score points. We need to be able to finish drives. We have to play complementary football."

Fontenot now has 568 yards rushing this season on 114 carries, a healthy 5.0 average.

YOUNG DEFENDERS SHOW UP: After a rough start — three touchdowns on WSU's first three possessions — Colorado's defense settled in and had a solid showing. The Buffs allowed just one WSU field goal on its next five drives and gave CU a chance to get back in the game.

"The scores haven't reflected this in the past couple of games, but I feel like we're making some improvements defensively," Tucker said. "We've got a lot of young players out there. We've got a lot of freshmen, not just on the back end, but on our front. A lot of new faces. We've got some guys out there really getting some playing time. Jamar Montgomery, Jash Allen, really for the first time. We've been developing those guys in practice and they're to the point now where we're putting them in the game. That's going to help us. We need all these guys to be ready to go in there and produce."

Montgomery, a true freshman outside linebacker, and Allen, a junior college transfer inside linebacker, both received some significant snaps. Montgomery finished with two tackles and a batted-down pass while Allen was credited with a tackle and a quarterback hurry.

Two other true freshmen, cornerback K.J. Trujillo and safety/nickel Mark Perry, also got significant time. Trujillo started his third straight game and finished with two tackles and two pass breakups while Perry made his first career start and recorded four tackles.

BUFFS BITS: Also making his first career start was senior offensive lineman Jack Shutack, who took over for Casey Roddick at right guard … Getting their first collegiate playing time were redshirt freshman quarterback Blake Stenstrom (1-for-3 for 12 yards and an interception) and true freshman defensive back Tarik Luckett, who was credited with one tackle … Davion Taylor was credited with two tackles for loss and three more stops for no gain.

Contact: Neill.Woelk@Colorado.edu