BOULDER, Colo. -- Long after all his teammates left the locker room last night, West Virginia kicker Pat McAfee lingered. A group of reporters waited to hear his comments on his missed 23-yard field-goal attempt in overtime of a 17-14 loss to Colorado.

McAfee declined to discuss how his kick banked off the left upright, sending the No. 21 Mountaineers (1-2) to a second consecutive road loss for the first time since 2003, but coach Bill Stewart was quick to sympathize with his senior kicker.

"I'm so proud of special teams except for that one play," he said. "That's going to haunt that one kid forever."

As for the emotional anguish of the entire squad, he said: "The guys have hurt hearts, cracked hearts. Can you imagine playing in that game and losing?"

After McAfee staggered off Folsom Field, Colorado (3-0) moved the ball into position for Aric Goodman to drive home a 25-yard field goal before a delighted crowd of 51,883, many of whom stormed the field.

After falling behind, 14-0, in the opening four minutes, 50 seconds, West Virginia's defense was stout against a powerful Buffaloes' rushing game which yielded a freshman-record 166 yards from Rodney Stewart.

Behind 148 yards on 19 carries by quarterback Pat White and 133 yards on 26 carries by Noel Devine, the Mountaineers' offense outgained Colorado on the ground, 311 yards to 187, but, in crucial short-yardage situations, the Mountaineers fell short. White failed to convert on a fourth-and-inches sneak at one point, and Jock Sanders was stopped for a 2-yard loss on a third-and-one from the Colorado 4 in overtime.

Stewart refused to second-guess the decision to call Sanders' number. but White and Devine had carried the load from the Buffaloes' 25, using quick bursts to gain yardage.

The Mountaineers, seeking redemption after a baffling, 23-3 loss to East Carolina, find themselves in unfamiliar territory.

"It feels like the worst thing in the world right now," said defensive back Quinton Andrews.

"It's tough to swallow right now. It will be tough, especially for guys who've been here a couple years and are not used to losing two games in a row. I guess our reaction will define our character."

The first meeting between the Buffs and Mountaineers started on an ominous note on the third play from scrimmage, when Mountaineers' linebacker J.T. Thomas did not get up after making a tackle.

For several anxious minutes, the rest of the West Virginia team kneeled while trainers attended to Thomas and other medical personnel rolled a stretcher onto the field.

Finally, Thomas stood, followed by his relieved teammates.

On the ensuing play, the Mountaineers gave up a 23-yard pass play. Ellis Lankster broke up a pass on the next , preventing a touchdown.

That, however, was the end of the defensive highlights of the drive as the Buffaloes continued to move against the Mountaineers' defense..

They capped the nine-play, 83-yard drive with a 38-yard touchdown pass from Cody Hawkins, son of Colorado coach Dan Hawkins, to wide receiver Josh Smith, who had plenty of room.

Three plays later, Bradley Starks fumbled after a catch, and Colorado recovered, scoring five plays later for 14-0 lead with 10:10 left in the first quarter.

Just when it appeared that the Buffaloes would romp to a demoralizing lead, White broke loose for 44 yards.

Three plays later, he waited out of the shotgun, then broke left for six yards, sailing untouched into the end zone for the Mountaineers' first rushing touchdown this season.

It also moved White into a tie for ninth on the NCAA career quarterback rushing list with 40 touchdowns.

With 4:49 left in the third quarter, he made it 41, dashing up the middle, then to his left for a 39-yard touchdown run that tied it, 14-14.