WACO, Texas — Two weeks ago, Julian Lewis threw for 212 yards in one quarter, more than any Colorado quarterback ever had. On Saturday at McLane Stadium, he threw for 75 in a half and spent the second one watching Isaac Wilson.
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Lewis went 11-for-16 before the break, and none of his completions went for more than 15 yards. He was sacked three times. Colorado had seven first-half possessions and scored three points — those points coming on a drive set up by a pass thrown by receiver Joseph Williams.
Wilson played the entire second half of Saturday’s 23-13 loss at Baylor.
It has been a September of extremes. In the opener at Georgia Tech, he was 14-of-27 for 124 yards, and the biggest of those completions came last: a 20-yard touchdown to tight end Charlie Williams with 37 seconds left to clinch a 14-13 win. A week later he threw for 366 yards and four touchdowns against Weber State. At Northwestern, he threw his first two college interceptions.
And through four games, he is 61-of-95 for 733 yards, six touchdowns and two picks.
Deion Sanders didn’t lay the change at Lewis’ feet. He said it was about the moment.
“We just needed a change. We needed inspiration in that time, some kind of way,” Sanders said.
He also said the view from the outside is incomplete. “We’re on the headset, and it’s a lot of things you guys don’t know,” he said. “A lot of things that you’re not privy to. We don’t want you be privy to.”
Sanders drew a line between his two backups. Going to true freshman Kaneal Sweetwyne, who relieved Lewis in the Weber State rout, is “more of a long-term” move, he said. Wilson, the Utah transfer with seven career starts, is the one who can “come in and clean it up.”
What that means for next Saturday against Texas Tech is undecided.
“Now we’ve just got to reassess everything and see where we’re going,” Sanders said.
Asked whether better quarterback play would put Colorado in a position to win these games, he widened the lens. “We need better play at a few positions,” he said, “not just them.”
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Hard knocks
DeAndre Moore Jr. was flattened over the middle in the second quarter and stayed down for a while. He waved off the cart, Sanders said, but did not return to action.
“He’s a warrior,” Sanders said. “I mean, he was down there like, ‘You’re not bringing out a cart. You’re not bringing out a cart. I’m getting up, walking off.’ And I admire that from him so much.”
Linebacker Tyler Martinez also went down, and Sanders’ first thought was about his eligibility. The fifth-year senior is “so valuable to the team,” he said, that his mind went to whether Martinez could get a medical redshirt.
Liona Lefau, who plays next to Martinez, took it harder.
“It’s hard losing Tyler for sure,” Lefau said. “I’ve got to go out there without my brother next to me.”
Return to sender
Damon Greaves punted eight times for a 49.5-yard average, with a long of 58. Baylor brought a lot of that distance back.
Jayden McGowen returned seven punts for 130 yards, including runbacks of 36, 27 and 21 yards. The 21-yarder set up a Baylor field goal. Colorado netted about 33 yards per punt. Baylor, with Palmer Williams booming four inside the 20, netted about 45.
Greaves said he hit the ball well and credited Baylor’s return team. As for the coverage: “Few little things to clean up,” he said.
The Buffs’ best return of the day, a 32-yarder by Boo Carter, came back on a holding penalty. Two Colorado kickoffs went out of bounds, handing Baylor the ball at its 35 both times. It’s the latest entry on a season-long list that includes a kickoff return for a touchdown at Georgia Tech and a muffed punt against Weber State.
Baylor’s kicker was a Colorado kid. Rhett Armstrong, a sophomore from Monument who played at Palmer Ridge High, made all three of his field goals for Baylor, including a 54-yarder with 4:28 left that made it a two-score game.
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