Clemson Freshman Davis Adds to Colorado’s Misery

James Davis walked out of the Citrus Bowl stadium with the game ball under one arm and the most-valuable-player trophy under the other.

It was pretty obvious who was the key to Clemson’s latest victory.

Davis ran for a career-high 150 yards and a touchdown, Charlie Whitehurst scrambled for a score, and the No. 23 Tigers beat Colorado, 19-10, in the Champs Sports Bowl on Tuesday, handing the Buffaloes their fourth consecutive loss.

Davis’ six-yard touchdown run with 1:38 remaining secured a fourth straight win for Clemson (8-4) and capped a disappointing season for Colorado (7-6).

The freshman’s performance also showed that the future is bright for the Tigers despite the impending graduation of their star quarterback.

“I can’t wait until he knows what he’s doing,” Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden said. “He doesn’t know what he’s doing right now. He’s a special talent.”

The Buffaloes made it close, though, something they didn’t do in their previous two games: losses to Nebraska and Texas by a combined score of 100-6.

Backup quarterback Brian White replaced starter James Cox midway through the fourth quarter and led Colorado on a 69-yard scoring drive that made it 13-10 with 5:45 to play. His two-yard touchdown pass to Quinn Sypniewski ended a streak of 14 quarters without a touchdown and gave the Buffaloes a chance.

White rolled right on third down, then threw left to Sypniewski, who was wide open in the end zone.

But Davis and Whitehurst answered, moving the Tigers 61 yards in about four minutes to put the game away. It wasn’t too surprising, considering that the duo made big plays all game.

Davis ran 28 times and eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the fourth time this season, a school record for a freshman.

Whitehurst, a senior expected to be a first-day selection in April’s NFL draft, was equally efficient and effective. He was 19 for 27 for 196 yards and threw an interception. He showed no signs of shoulder problems after having arthroscopic surgery early this month.

The Buffaloes were 7-2 at one point, losing only to Miami and Texas, and there was talk about a contract extension for beleaguered Coach Gary Barnett. But consecutive losses to Iowa State, Nebraska and Texas ended that thought as well as Barnett’s tenure in Boulder.

Barnett had survived a sordid recruiting scandal and a suspension following derogatory remarks about a female kicker who said she was raped by a teammate in 2000. But the losses ultimately led to his forced resignation nearly three weeks ago.

The school has hired Boise State Coach Dan Hawkins to replace Barnett, but defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz coached the team against Clemson.