Wyoming Cowboys vs. New Mexico Lobos

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., — Jay Sawvel said he doesn't look to the future.

That, Wyoming's rookie head coach said, will soon be the focus. Win. That's the only goal this Saturday in sun-drenched Albuquerque.

However, this could serve as a preview of what's to come for the redshirt first-year quarterback Kaden Anderson He gets his first career start under center. The Southlake, Texas native replaced Evan Svobodawho had major problems in the pass category this fall.

Is the QB of the future on this current roster? We will find out more about this in a few hours.

The Cowboys (1-7, 1-3) and Lobos (3-5, 2-2) begin at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on TruTV and can be streamed on MAX.

FOREPLAY:

* Wyoming wears gold pants in New Mexico today. I know this is very important for some.

* That sounds like a broken record in a good way, but it's absolutely perfect in the Duke City today. The temperatures are currently around 65 degrees and there are few clouds in the bright blue sky.

* Wyoming safety Isaac White participates in warmups. Jay Sawvel said Monday he was questionable. The senior is dealing with a nagging ankle problem. Edge rusher Sabastian Harsh is also on the field after missing the Utah State game with a knee injury.

* Javen Jacobs has rushed for 277 yards and 3 touchdowns this fall. Fellow running back NaQuari Rogers recorded 250 yards and 4 scores. Both will miss today's game, per @lenaweereider CB Bobby Arnold is also out. In 2024, he recorded 21 tackles.

FIRST QUARTER:

* Very uninspiring start for this Wyoming defense. Lobos moves directly across the field. Terrible tackling, angles, coverage etc. All bad.

*Touchdown. That was a 10-yard pitch and catch between Dampier and Ryan Davis. This was an all-too-easy 7-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 2:27. UNM cannot convert the 2-point conversion. New Mexico 6 Wyoming 0 12:33/ 1Q

* Anderson with a dime to Sargent in free play. That was the best looking deep ball I've seen in years. Nudges the UNM 18

* This combination between Anderson and Sargent was good for 47 yards. Far too often this year we've seen the defense get caught offside and the QB throw the ball out of bounds on a free play.

* Wyoming was saved by an offside call by the Lobos. Farrell was just stuffed on the 1st. More dancing in the backfield instead of throwing him in. Not having Sam Scott here at the goal line hurts

* *TOUCHDOWN* Jamari Ferrell makes her way across the finish line. Really nice answer for the visitors. This was a 9-play, 75-yard drive that lasted 3:48 minutes. So far, this offense looks very different with Anderson at the helm. Wyoming 7 New Mexico 6 8:41/ 1Q

*Wyoming's defensive front was put on ice during the first two drives. Thanks to some terrible tackling, Sanders gets into the end zone from 34 yards out. Another far too easy 8-play, 75-yard drive. New Mexico 13 Wyoming 7 5:56/ 1Q

* With TK King out with a concussion, Keany Parks comes back with a great 54-yard return. So far, defense in this case is optional. Wyoming's drive begins at UNM 45.

* Chris Durr with an incredible one-handed grab on the sideline. This was an unwise move to say the least. Pokes is now facing a 4th and a 1st place at 15th

* *TOUCHDOWN* Anderson rolls left and hits John Michael Gyllenborg in the end zone. That's a 15-yard touchdown. Pokes answers again. Bring balls to the playmakers. Wyoming 14 New Mexico 13 2:02/ 1Q

* Pokes eventually force a 3-and-out. Secondary with great coverage of the Lobo ownership. Officers verified that Dampier was out of line of sight before firing this incompletion.

* Great hitting from the New Mexico punter. This Wyoming drive starts at the Lobos' 35-yard line. Wyoming 14 New Mexico 13 1:12/ 1Q

* Anderson nearly hits Sargent on a deep ball in the end zone. Couldn't hold out.

*This catch by Jaylen Sargent in the end zone is currently under review. If there's a catch, Pokes with three touchdowns on his first three drives today in ABQ. If not, 3rd and 6 from the Lobos' 31st.

* The right side of the Pokes line just opened up a big hole for Ferrell at 3rd and 6. That's a gain of 23 yards. UW ball at the 7 as we come back from break. Wyoming 14 New Mexico 13 END of 1st quarter

SECOND QUARTER:

* *TOUCHDOWN* Anderson marches all alone into the end zone from seven meters away. Three drives, three touchdowns for this offense. This was a four-play, 35-yard drive aided by a shanked punt. Wyoming 21 New Mexico 13 2:55 p.m./ 2Q

* Lobo's answer. Dampier with the 18-yard naked boot for six. This was a 9-play, 69-yard drive that lasted 3:27 minutes. New Mexico also gets the 2-point conversion. We are all tied up. Wyoming 21 New Mexico 21 11:22/ 2Q

* New Mexico already has 222 yards of total offense on just four drives (88 passing, 134 rushing). Wyoming also has 160 yards through three. Wild game.

* *TOUCHDOWN* What a throw from the new QB1. He hit Sargent just 68 yards away. That was a beauty. Pokes with the immediate answer on the 3-play, 79-yard drive. Hoyland is also now the school's all-time leading scorer. Wyoming 28 New Mexico 21 9:54/ 2Q

* New Mexico imposes two penalties on this trip. Listen, the punt team is coming.

* A beautiful punt from Rodriguez. This one managed 75 yards. It should have been shot down at 1. But that wasn't the case. Pokes Drive starts on the 25th

* Fia with the snap over Kaden Anderson's head. That's a loss of 16. I thought these snap problems were a thing of the past…

* Wyoming will punt for the first time today with 6:45 left in the first half. Fia with a bad snap and a hold. Wes King also hit with a hold. Ugly stuff right there.

* Jaylen Sargent has 127 receiving yards on just three catches, including the 68-yard touchdown

* Wyoming's defense is leaking like a sieve. Dampier with a 40-yard, untouched trip to the end zone. New Mexico now has 180 rushing yards, for a total of 302. Wyoming 28 New Mexico 28 5:20/ 2Q

* *TOUCHDOWN* Welcome back, Harrison Waylee. The senior blows directly through the hole and into the red paint. Pokes again with the answer on this 7-play, 75-yard drive. What a game this is. Wyoming 35 New Mexico 28 1:57/ 2Q

* Wyoming has 305 total yards of offense, 197 through the air and 108 rushing. Anderson is 9 of 12 for 197 yards through the air. He also threw two touchdown passes in his first career start.

* New Mexico responds with a 75-yard touchdown run from Sanders. This Wyoming defense was awfully awful this afternoon. That’s now a total of 383 yards of offense for the Lobos. We're tied again. This was a two-play, 81-yard drive that lasted 15 seconds. Wyoming 35 New Mexico 35 1:36/ 2Q

* Lobos rushed for 510 yards today. Seems crazy? This UNM team stormed to a MW-high 568 against the Cowboys in that unforgettable 2016 meeting in this building.

THIRD QUARTER:

* Great 4th and 1st attempt here. Svoboda at QB

* Svoboda stopped with a loss of one. New Mexico takes over at 37th. Big stop for the Lobos

* New Mexico scores a field goal and takes the lead. The Lobos now have 305 rushing yards (Dampier 101, Sanders 204). New Mexico 38 Wyoming 35 9:29/ 3Q

* Caden Barnett forcefully tackles a New Mexico lineman. Wes King lies on the ground and appears to be grabbing his knee.

* Kaden Anderson just got smoked and stood up and talked trash to the guy who hit him. He's a tough kid. Wyoming will punt instead of attempting a 4th-and-1 at midfield

* Wyoming's defense is finally stopped. New Mexico 38 Wyoming 35 5:02/ 3Q

* Kaden Anderson has some piss and vinegar with him. He gets involved with a UNM defender again. Lobos is also hit by unsportsmanlike behavior. UW ball at UNM 35

* Anderson was just picked off at the 8-yard line for a botched flea attempt. Thrown straight into double cover. Wasn't open. Flags everywhere. This one is slowly getting tired. Anderson gets an unsportsmanlike. This also applies to a Lobo. UNM Ball on the 8th

* Wow. Dampier with an 85-yard touchdown run. Second-longest TD run in school history. Longest for a QB. This defense was hot trash. To make the misery worse, Harsh is on the ground. New Mexico 45 Wyoming 35 0:40/ 3Q

* That's now 398 yards for the Lobos. Truly incredible. Ashton Jeanty is also in the hole.

* Waylee now has 3,000 career rushing yards. Today, after the final 36-yard run, it's at 142. With a quarter to go, the Pokes are down 10.

FOURTH QUARTER:

* John Hoyland missed a 40-yard field goal just right. Pokes needed points there. New Mexico 45 Wyoming 35 1:02 p.m./ 4Q

* *TOUCHDOWN* Wrook Brown with the pick-six. Jumps this route perfectly and grabs the ball with ease. Hits from 29 meters away. This is Brown's sixth career pick, third this season. A field goal would have been nice too, right? New Mexico 45 Wyoming 42 12:55/4Q

* Lobos will sting here. That's exactly what the doctor ordered. Can Anderson get this team into the end zone for the first time this second half?

* Stop me if you've heard this before… Anderson to Sargent with a deep ball. That's bullshit for 39. QB1 got hit throwing, or it could have been six.

* TE John Michael Gyllenborg, DE Sabastian Harsh and OG Wes King, all starters, are out due to injury

* WR Jaylen Sargent is now also injured after throwing in that 39-yard pass. Pokes ball at UNM 18. New Mexico 45 Wyoming 42 7:40/ 4Q

* Anderson just found Durr all alone in the end zone. There was a reason for it. Stevenson tagged with a private investigator. Ball now on the 26th. Second and goal

* *TOUCHDOWN* Anderson fires a strike to Justin Stevenson for the 27-yard touchdown. What a throw. Pokes takes the lead. Wyoming 49 New Mexico 45 4:44/ 4Q

* *FUMBLE* Tyce Westland with the strip sack. He also gets the loose ball back. Pokes ball at 49 Wyoming 49 New Mexico 45 2:42/ 4Q

– The 50 Greatest University of Wyoming Football Players