Sports

Wyoming Defense Fights, but Utah Pulls Away Late

Written by Chase Horsley on September 15, 2025

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Wyoming opened the season 2-0 for the first time since 2023, the same year the Cowboys stunned Texas Tech 33-31 in double overtime. But Saturday, the momentum stalled as the Cowboys fell to Utah.

The Utes, looking to start 3-0 for the third straight year, leaned on a dominant ground game to wear down Wyoming’s defense.

The Cowboys’ defense held strong early, giving up just three points in the first half on a 43-yard field goal from Dillon Curtis. Utah racked up 272 total yards before halftime — 160 on the ground and 112 through the air — but failed to fully capitalize. Curtis missed three other field-goal attempts, leaving the Utes with just a 3-0 lead at the break.

Utah quarterback Devon Dampier went 14-for-25 for 112 yards with 57 rushing yards in the first half. Wyoming quarterback Kaden Anderson was 4-for-11 with 58 yards.

Head coach Jay Sawvel pointed to missed execution as a turning point.

“We had a chance to get off the field right there at the end of the third quarter, get out of the third quarter with it 10-nothing, and give up a third-and-21 play into a coverage that should never have happened. That’s inexcusable.”

The second half belonged to Utah. Dampier opened with a 23-yard scramble, setting the tone for an offense that finally broke through. On third-and-goal, NaQuari Rogers powered in the first touchdown of the game, pushing the lead to 10-0 with 10:53 left in the third quarter.

The Utes added two more scores, including a highlight play when Dampier fumbled near the 20, scooped the ball up and fired a strike to Larry Simmons for a 24-0 lead.

Wyoming finally got on the board in the fourth quarter on a 15-yard rushing touchdown from Terron Kellman. Sawvel opted to go for two, but the try failed. Utah sealed the win late when Hunter Andrews scored on a 10-yard touchdown run.

“To win this game, we had to be plus in turnovers — we weren’t. We had to win conversion downs — we didn’t. And we had to be efficient and effective offensively and control some clock, and we didn’t do that either.” Sawvel said.

Dampier finished the night 27-of-41 for 230 yards and two touchdowns, adding 86 rushing yards. Anderson closed at 12-of-23 for 108 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Despite the loss, Sawvel praised his team’s mindset.

“I love coaching this football team. They’re going to win a lot of games. But we’ve got to get better. There’s no such thing as a moral victory tonight, but I appreciate the spirit and intentionality of everybody.”

The Cowboys dropped to 2-1 and now face another major test against Colorado and head coach Deion Sanders. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. at Folsom Field in Boulder.