Tuesday, September 2, 2025 |
Photo – UW logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Wyoming Cowboys shut out the smaller Akron Zips 10-0 in the season opener on Thursday night.
Wyoming put points on the board at the 4:21 mark of the second quarter with Erik Sandivik kicking a 25-yard field goal.
Keith Kelly had the call as the Wyoming score capped off a six-play 54-yard drive. Most of Wyoming’s yardage came on a 49-yard reception by Chris Durr Jr. to put Wyoming inside Zip territory.
The Wyoming defense kept the Cowboys in control most of the game with dead accurate tackling. On the night, Linebacker Brayden Johnson flew all over the field, chalking up eight tackles and an interception. Andrew Johnson added a career-high six tackles with Evan Eller and Jones Thomas adding career-highs with five tackles.
Wyoming defenders kept Zips quarterback Ben Finley contained most of the night.
The big break came late in the fourth quarter. Starting at their own 15-yard line with 6:10 remaining, Kaden Anderson faked a handoff and hit sophomore receiver Jackson Homan for a 44-yard reception into Zip territory.
A few plays later, the Cowboys finally cashed in with a score as Durr took off on a 34-yard run on a third and four with 4:21 remaining in the game.
During a game that was built on defense, the Wyoming offense recorded 426 yards of total offense on the night with 260 yards passing and 166 yards on the ground. UW was 9-of-20 on third down.
The Pokes defense held the Zips to 228 yards total with 89 rushing yards allowed on the night. UW held Akron to 3 of 15 on third down after leading the nation last season.
In the postgame interview, Head Coach Jay Sawvel congratulated the defense for shutting down Akron in a game that was close most of the way.
The defense earned Wyoming’s first shutout win since 2017 when the Cowboys crushed Gardiner-Webb 27-0 in Laramie.
The Cowboys begin preparations to take on the University of Northern Iowa in Laramie this Saturday.
After he had few more minutes to collect his thoughts after the game on Thursday, Coach Sawvel was already planning ahead to this Saturday.
Now 1-0, Wyoming, in the coach’s words, had a “pretty daggone good” start to the season.
In other Mountain West games:
Colorado State fell at Washington 38-21.
UNLV won its opener against Sam Houston 38-21.
San Jose State loss at Central Michigan 16-14.
Air Force beat Bucknell 49-13.
New Mexico lost at Michigan 34-17.
Fresno State beat Georgia State 42-14.
Utah State beat UTEP 28-16.
