‣ CFB 2026 Regular Season, Week 1 - Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia
(0-0, 0-0 B12) Colorado Buffaloes at Virginia Cavaliers (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
CU | 6 | 0 | 3 | 14 | 23
UVA | 7 | 21 | 7 | 0 | 35
Cavaliers' run game, eccentric defense smothers Primetime's Buffaloes in Xavier's debut
The message from head coach James Xavier to his defense: make their feel your presence.
Safe to say, his defense came correct in their season debut under defensive coordinator Brandon Fisher, tuning up a team total of eight sacks - one of which caused a fumble that was rumbled back for a touchdown - in the team's 35-23 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes.
The team sustained coverage sacks all throughout the game while their edge rushers - Chase Morrison and Jewett Hayes - terrorized the Buffaloes' offensive line all game long. "Coach said he wanted pressure, so we turned up on them," commented Morrison, jubilant on the way to the best game of his collegiate career thus far. "We wanted to be a point of emphasis for our team. It felt like we delivered today."
The offense ran the ball and ran it hard, letting starting runningback Donte Hawthorne tote the rock an impressive 26 times on the game. He ran the ball into the endzone for three touchdowns from the redzone this game. He is notably in for transfer running back Bennett Galloway, who is reportedly still working his way back from a torn pectoral he suffered during training camp.
Quarterback Anthony Colandrea handled the passing game well, only missing four pass attempts the whole game. Unfortunately, two of those pass attempts ended up being interceptions, including one ran back for a touchdown by Colorado safety Savion Riley.
"That wasn't my proudest moment," he said, still managing to throw for 263 passing yards and connected with wide receiver Jaden Gibson for a touchdown. "It's still an adjustment period, I tried to scramble out and do too much. I'll learn to do better."
This was Coach James Xavier's first win as a college head coach, and certainly one he won't forget for a long time.
"You never forget moments like this, coaching against a man as revered as Deion Sanders," said Coach Xavier. "He told me to soak it in and enjoy the moment and I plan to do just that."
The team travels to the Lonestar state next week to face off against the University of Houston.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Donte Hawthorne, 1-yard run (Jawan Hocker kick) [3:57]
Omarion Miller, 62-yard pass from Dominiq Ponder (2-PT conversion failed) [2:27]2nd Quarter
Donte Hawthorne, 4-yard run (Jawan Hocker kick) [5:45] Chase Morrison, 29-yard returned fumble [Jawan Hocker kick) [4:19] Donte Hawthorne, 3-yard run (Jawan Hocker kick) [0:34]3rd Quarter
Robert Bowank, 21-yard field goal [3:43] Jaden Gibson, 7-yard pass from Anthony Colandrea (Jawan Hocker kick) [0:56]4th Quarter
Elic Ayomanor, 60-yard pass from Dominiq Ponder (Robert Bowanko kick) [9:50] Savion Riley, 45-yard returned interception (Robert Bowank kick) [6:39]Player Stats
QB Anthony Colandrea: 24-29, 265 passing yards, touchdown, 2 interceptions QB Dominiq Ponder: 18-23, 273 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, fumble HB Donte Hawthorne: 26 carries, 93 rushing yards, 3 touchdowns HB Noah Vaughn: 6 carries, 34 receiving yards HB Dallan Hayden: 7 carries, 22 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 15 rushing yards WR Jaden Gibson: 10 receptions, 103 receiving yards, touchdown TE Dom President: 5 receptions, 47 receiving yards WR Triston Ward: 4 receptions, 56 receiving yards WR Elic Ayomanor: 7 receptions, 125 receiving yards, touchdown WR Omarion Miller: 5 receptions, 110 receiving yards, touchdown DE Chase Morrison: 6 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, fumble recovery, touchdown DE Jewett Hayes: 6 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 3 sacks CB Dre Walker: 3 tackles, tackle for loss CB Colton Hood: 5 tackles, tackle for loss, interception FS Savion Riley: 8 tackles, tackle for loss, interception, touchdown CB D.J. McKinney: 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
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HB Jadarian Price, Sr » 18 carries, 49 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 15 receiving yards (W 21-14 at Wisconsin)
WR Jeremiah Smith, Jr » 3 receptions, 61 receiving yards (W 39-25 vs Ball State)
QB Jayden Maiava, Sr » 23-31, 231 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 2 interceptions (L 28-24 vs Fresno State)
QB Avery Johnson, Sr » 15-24, 229 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, 10 carries, 60 rushing yards (W 27-20 at East Carolina)
WR Barry Jackson Jr. (Cincinnati): (43-42 W vs Boston College) - 11 receptions, 248 receiving yards, 4 touchdowns
WR Isaiah Horton (Miami): (49-28 L at South Carolina) - 8 receptions, 212 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns