ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — In his very first career start, Wyoming redshirt freshman Kaden Anderson made his presence known on the field with three touchdowns and 342 offensive yards. In their second win — and first road win — of the season, the Cowboys took down the University of New Mexico Lobos 49–45.
Wyoming’s offense was unusually active in Albuquerque this evening with 604 total yards. The Cowboys were 9–15 in third down efficiency as well, while the Lobos were 4–10 at third down.
This is thanks to the stepping up of Anderson and the long-awaited return of running back dynamo Harrison Waylee, who himself ran for 170 yards over 27 carries. At the same time that Waylee made his return, wide receiver Tyler King and running back Sam Scott, among others, had to sit the game out due to injury.
The only critique Wyoming Head Coach Jay Sawvel could muster for Anderson during the game was his tardiness on a few key throws, he told TNT Sports broadcasters during the game.
“He’s been really good so far executing plays and keeping the ball in play,” Sawvel said.
Sawvel also spoke very highly of Waylee, who made his season start today after a long recuperation period following a knee surgery he underwent in August.
The injury that necessitated the operation was sustained during training camp, so Waylee, who rushed for 947 total yards last season, didn’t get to see the field once up to now. Sawvel said that the whole world should know what Waylee means to the Cowboys.
Anderson’s clinic tonight came at the cost of quarterback Evan Svoboda, who was on the field mere minutes tonight and contributed negative yards.
Even when Svoboda is getting those minutes and playing his best, however, he has not had a night like Anderson did tonight with Wyoming. Anderson threw for 208 yards in just the first half, which is more than Svoboda has had in a whole game at any point this season.
That sluggish throwing did come back to haunt Anderson once after half-time, though, when he threw an interception. He simultaneously caught an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for pushing a defender.
The Lobos series gained from that interception led to an 85-yard touchdown rush, but the Cowboys would come back with a pick 6 of their own the next quarter. That interception would come from nose tackle Wrook Brown and is easily the defensive highlight of the game.
This game, which will surely be remembered as the crowning moment of the Cowboys’ season, was also a big night individually for a lot of the Cowboys’ offensive players.
As aforementioned, Anderson got his first career start and had an excellent performance doing so; Wyoming kicker John Hoyland became the highest-scoring player in Cowboys history; Waylee made his return and scored a touchdown; wide receiver Jaylen Sargent, in for the absent King, received for 186 yards and scored a touchdown; and running back Jamari Ferrel rushed for 89 yards and got a touchdown of his own.
Redshirt freshman Justin Stevenson had his own moment in the limelight with a touchdown as well, making tonight a fortuitous one for all the redshirt freshmen out there.
The Cowboys ascend to a 2–7 record with just a few more games to go in their season. Both of those games were against Mountain West opponents, but tougher opponents are yet to come.
The Cowboys next face their famous rival, the Colorado State University Rams, in the Border War Nov. 15 in Fort Collins, Colorado. Later this month, the Pokes are set to face the nationally ranked Boise State and Washington State. To see the remainder of the Cowboys’ schedule, visit the University of Wyoming Athletics website.
