Cowboys Battle but Fall to Colorado, 37–20
The Wyoming Cowboys wrapped up non-conference play with a 37–20 setback on the road against Colorado on Saturday night. A capacity crowd inside Folsom Field watched the Buffs pull away early, as both teams evened their records at 2–2.
Head coach Jay Sawvel praised his team’s fight despite facing a 28–3 deficit early in the second half.
“We could have let go of the rope, and then it’s suddenly 42–3,” Sawvel said. “Instead, with four and a half minutes left, we’re still in it. We needed one stop and just didn’t get it.”
Wyoming finished with 347 yards of offense, nearly splitting production between the run (165 yards) and the pass (182 yards). Colorado countered with 497 yards, highlighted by 304 through the air and 193 on the ground.
Freshman running back Samuel “Tote” Harris had a breakout performance, rushing for a career-best 126 yards, including a 50-yard burst. He became the first true freshman since Titus Swen in 2019 to surpass the century mark on the ground. Wideout Chris Durr Jr. hauled in five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Kaden Anderson tossed for 176 yards and two scores.
Defensively, linebacker Brayden Wilson led the Pokes with six tackles, adding a sack and a tackle for loss. Safety Andrew Johnson and defensive ends Wilson and Tyce Westland each chipped in four stops. Wilson now sits at 31 career tackles for loss.
Colorado’s offense was steered by quarterback Kaidon Salter, who threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns, while also rushing for 86 yards and a late score.
The Buffs struck first with a 29-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter. Wyoming answered with an Erik Sandvik 29-yard field goal after Harris’ long run set up the drive. Colorado responded quickly with a 68-yard strike and added another score before halftime for a 21–3 lead.
The deficit stretched to 28–3 early in the third quarter, but the Cowboys didn’t fold. Anderson connected with Eric Richardson on a 41-yard touchdown, followed by another Sandvik field goal to trim it to 28–13. Colorado sealed things late, though, with Salter’s dual-threat playmaking keeping Wyoming at arm’s length.
Sawvel noted the tough non-conference stretch against Utah and Colorado as a learning opportunity:
“We knew this would challenge us and show where we need to get better. And we’ve learned a lot these last two weeks.”
The Cowboys now head into their bye week before returning to War Memorial Stadium on October 4, when they’ll host UNLV at 5 p.m. Fans are encouraged to take part in a Stripe Out for that matchup
.