NOVEMBER 4, 2024|
Photo – UW Cowboy logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
Tied with New Mexico at 35 apiece at the half, Wyoming scored 14 points in the fourth quarter for the Cowboys second win of the season. Wyoming 49 – the Lobos 45 was the final score.
The Cowboys, with redshirt Freshman quarterback Kaden Anderson at the helm, churned out a season-high 604 yards—262 rushing and 342 passing. Despite the offensive output, a defensive play sealed the win in the end. With 2:54 remaining in the game and New Mexico driving at their 49 yard line, Lobos quarterback Damien Dampier was sacked and fumbled the ball into the hands of Wyoming’s Defensive End Tyce Westland.
Keith Kelly and Kevin McKinney had the call as the Cowboys recovered the fumble and held on for the remaining five plays for the win, their second of the season.
Wyoming is now 2-7 on the season, 2-and-3 in Mountain West play as they head into a bye week and get ready for the Border War on Friday, Nov. 15th. With the loss at home, the Lobos are now 3-6 overall, 2-3 in the league.
Saturday’s game also featured the return of Harrison Waylee, who was sidelined in August with an injury. The 5-10, 212 pound senior running back rolled for 170 yards, his fifth 100-yard game as a Cowboy.
The game started with back-to-back touchdowns. The Lobos scored first but failed to convert a two-point conversion. Wyoming drove back down the field and scored on a Jamari Ferrel touchdown run.
Ferrel rushed for 89 yards on the day. The scoring continued. The Lobos scored on a 34-yard rushing touchdown. Wyoming responded, scoring late in the first quarter.
Gyllenborg finished the game with the one touchdown and 38 yards. Gyllenborg also laid a big block at the start of the second quarter which cleared the way for a seven-yard touchdown run by quarterback Anderson.
The scoreboard stood at Wyoming 21, New Mexico 13, but the scoring was only beginning.
Three minutes later, the Lobos tied up the game 21 apiece with a Dampier touchdown run and a successful two-point conversion.
The Cowboys struck back quickly. In a little more than a minute, Anderson connected with a deep 68-yard pass to Jaylon Sargeant.
The tug-of-football-war continued. New Mexico charged back. Dampier tied the game at 28-apiece with a 40-yard touchdown run.
But here comes Wyoming. Waylee got into the scoring column with a touchdown that he ran late in the second quarter.
The extra point was good, but with 1:51 remaining in the first half, the Lobos scored on two quick plays, including a 75-yard rush up the middle for a touchdown and an extra point conversion to tie the game at 35 apiece.
The Lobos would take a 38-35 lead at the 9:29 mark of the third quarter with a field goal. As the third frame came to a close, Dampier struck with an 85-yard run for a touchdown as New Mexico took a ten-point lead, 45-35.
The mood was turning grim for Wyoming fans. John Hoyland missed a field goal. Then with 12:55 remaining in the final quarter, junior Rook Brown intercepted Dampier for a clutch pick-six.
The Cowboys weren’t finished yet, though. The score was 45-42. On the clock, 12:55 remained.
The Wyoming defense shut down the explosive Lobos offense, allowing just five plays. The Cowboys got the ball back at their own 12-yard line with 10:35 on the clock. Wyoming drove downfield to the New Mexico 8-yard line. Penalties, including a 15-yard interference penalty, pushed the Cowboys back to the 27-yard line. On second-and-goal clutch throw, freshman quarterback Anderson stayed cool and hit Justin Stevenson for the deep touchdown throw.
The score was 49-45 with 5:51 remaining and the Cowboys held on for their second win of the season.
In the locker room after the big win, the Cowboys were singing “Ragtime Cowboy Joe.” After weeks of frustration and close losses, Head Coach Jay Sawvel was relieved with the big conference win ahead of the Border War in two weeks.
Wyoming is coming into a bye week. No game on Saturday. The Cowboys return to action, their spirits and their energy rejuvenized, with a trip to Fort Collins to take on Colorado State at 6 p.m. in a Friday night under the lights game on November 15th.
