Another Big 12 headache

Last weekend, Eastern Washington University got a taste of Big 12 Conference-style football finesse.

This afternoon, the Eagles will sample the league’s power when they square off against Colorado University in a 12:30 p.m. matchup at Folsom Field in Boulder, Colo.

While most of the challenges presented by the Buffaloes differ from those faced against pass-happy Texas Tech, one remains the same.

“We’re up against another really good and well-coached Big 12 team,” first-year EWU head coach Beau Baldwin said of the Buffs (1-0), who opened last Saturday with a 38-17 win over Colorado State. “They’re a lot more balanced on offense and have some really good running backs.

“This should be a more physical game than last week, just because of their nature of play. It’s not going to be like last week when we were geared up, primarily, to stop the pass.”

Texas Tech threw the ball 58 times in last Saturday’s 49-24 home win over the Eagles (0-1), who are playing up against a Football Bowl Subdivision school for the second consecutive week. But Colorado is much more married to its ground game, having run the ball 36 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns against CSU.

“We had to protect the pass last week,” junior free safety Kevin Hatch said. “This week we have to be ready to go hard nose and play the run, because Colorado is a lot more balanced.”

Darrell Scott, a 6-foot-2, 215-pound freshman, led the Buffaloes in rushing last week with 54 yards and one touchdown on 11 carries, while sophomore Demetrius Sumler, a 5-10, 220-pounder, churned out 41 yards on 10 carries. Sophomore quarterback Cody Hawkins ran for two touchdowns and threw for another.

“I don’t know that we’re really better suited against the run than against the pass,” Baldwin said of his veteran defense, which includes an all-senior line. “I just think we have good leadership and good players up front who make everybody behind them better.

“No matter what we face, it’s all going to start with those guys up front again. They did a great job last week, and I hope they do a great job this week.”

Colorado’s defense also presents different challenges than Tech’s, which stayed basic with most of its schemes.

“Colorado changes things up more,” Baldwin said. “They play more man coverage in the secondary, and they bring a little bit more pressure than Tech. They’re a little tougher to prepare for.”

Which means Eastern junior quarterback Matt Nichols spent some extra time in the film room this week, trying to better digest the various blitzes and coverages CU employs.

“They might not have as good of athletes as Tech, but they do a lot more on defense,” said Nichols, who threw for 335 yards and a touchdown last week. “They run five or six different blitzes and seven or eight different coverages just trying to confuse you.”

Quick kicks

CU coach Dan Hawkins has suspended two offensive linemen, including junior Devin Head, a starting guard, for today’s game for violating unspecified team rules. … The Eagles have some players nicked up, but Baldwin said he expects most of regulars – with the possible exception of senior fullback Alexis Alexander (knee) – to answer the bell this afternoon.