Buffs win field position battle, Damon Greaves’ performance shows fans why

Damon Greaves celebrates pinning Georgia Tech at their one-yard-line in the Buffaloes' season opener. (Photo by Christian Blanco/Sko Buffs Sports)

In the Colorado Buffaloes' 31-7 win over the Delaware Blue Hens on Saturday, punter Damon Greaves had a masterful performance, repeatedly pinning the opposing offense deep in their own territory. 

The Kansas transfer registered 251 yards on five punts, good for an average of 50.2 yards per punt. Greaves’ longest was a field-flipping 67-yard punt with two additional punts that pinned Delaware inside the five, one of which checked up at the one-yard line. 

“I feel like I’m in a good spot,” Greaves said postgame. “But I’m onto next week now.”

Greaves was quick to thank his punt team for their efforts.

“I want to shout out my punt team and my snapper,” Greaves added. “Without those guys, I’m not able to execute to the best of my abilities.”

 Without their hustle and body control, neither of those punts would have been placed in the fortuitous locations they were. 

Punting and the field position battle as a whole are two incredibly underrated parts of a team’s success. Today, it was a spark to the defense as it set them up in a position to attack and gave Delaware’s offense a near-vertical uphill battle if they wanted points.

“I think it brings upon a good energy and puts the defense in a really strong position,” Greaves continued. “That’s my role, just go out there and pin them as deep as I can.”

It wasn’t just Greaves’ teammates who were fired up by his work. Buffs head coach Deion Sanders issued game balls to all of the specialists after the game to recognize their performance.

“You can count on them, they’re going to do their jobs,” coach Deion Sanders said postgame. “That’s the kind of expectation we desire with all our Buffs.”

Kickoff specialist Buck Buchanan was included in this group as he allowed no kick returns for the second straight week.

“Buck as well,” Greaves said. “The impact that he’s had on the game has been quite incredible.”

Greaves has served as a fuel to the fire of his teammates in his first two games at CU. While his impact isn’t as widely talked about as that of other positions, the Buffaloes have an Aussie superpower at their disposal and he looks to continue as a sparkplug for this roster as the season ramps up.

“You’ve got to understand how much the guys are energized,” Sanders continued. “This kid is unbelievable and the whole team believes in him.”