Kickers Deliver in Prime Debut
August 31, 2025 | Football
BOULDER – Colorado head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders emphasized all offseason that special teams would no longer be an afterthought. On Saturday, his kickers delivered in emphatic fashion.
Newcomer Buck Buchanan set the tone immediately, drilling the opening kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. He went a perfect five for five on touchbacks, the first Buff in the Coach Prime era to do so in a single game.
"Our special teams, as I told you, would be special," Sanders said. "They didn't get a kickoff return."
On the scoring side, Alejandro Mata was as steady as ever. The senior went 2 for 2 on field goals (42, 29) and knocked through both of his extra points. Last season, Mata earned All-Big 12 honorable mention after hitting 12 of 15 field goals and a career high 55 PATs, finishing with 96 points. Dating back to last season, he has now made two or more PATs in 12 straight games and has connected on 79 consecutive PATs since the 2023 campaign.
"Mata was Mata," Sanders added with a smile. "So special teams were special."
Not to be overlooked, punter Damon Greaves, whom Sanders affectionately calls Mate, also turned in a career day. The junior averaged 45 yards on five punts, a personal best, with three pinning opponents inside the 20. He added two punts of 50 plus yards and forced two fair catches, helping flip the field multiple times.
Together, the trio gave Colorado a true third phase spark, showing that Sanders' preseason message is becoming reality: special teams are no longer just a box to check, they are a weapon.
The Buffs will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 6, against Delaware at 1:30 p.m.
Newcomer Buck Buchanan set the tone immediately, drilling the opening kickoff into the end zone for a touchback. He went a perfect five for five on touchbacks, the first Buff in the Coach Prime era to do so in a single game.
"Our special teams, as I told you, would be special," Sanders said. "They didn't get a kickoff return."
On the scoring side, Alejandro Mata was as steady as ever. The senior went 2 for 2 on field goals (42, 29) and knocked through both of his extra points. Last season, Mata earned All-Big 12 honorable mention after hitting 12 of 15 field goals and a career high 55 PATs, finishing with 96 points. Dating back to last season, he has now made two or more PATs in 12 straight games and has connected on 79 consecutive PATs since the 2023 campaign.
"Mata was Mata," Sanders added with a smile. "So special teams were special."
Not to be overlooked, punter Damon Greaves, whom Sanders affectionately calls Mate, also turned in a career day. The junior averaged 45 yards on five punts, a personal best, with three pinning opponents inside the 20. He added two punts of 50 plus yards and forced two fair catches, helping flip the field multiple times.
Together, the trio gave Colorado a true third phase spark, showing that Sanders' preseason message is becoming reality: special teams are no longer just a box to check, they are a weapon.
The Buffs will be back in action on Saturday, Feb. 6, against Delaware at 1:30 p.m.
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