Cowboys Struggle to Slow Down Buffs in 37-20 Road Loss

Photo by Ian Cadena, PokesNews.com Staff

BOULDER, Colo. (SEPT. 20, 2025) – The Wyoming Cowboys could not slow down the Colorado Buffs in a 37-20 road loss on Saturday evening in front of a Sold-Out Crowd inside Folsom Field. The Pokes wrap up non-conference play with a 2-2 record, as the Buffs improve to 2-2 on the season.

"We could have let go of the rope," UW head coach Jay Sawvel said of his team's fight after falling behind 28-3 early in the third quarter. "And the next thing you know that game is like 42-3. Instead, with four and a half minutes to go we still have all our timeouts, we've got the two-minute timeout and we're in that game. You need a stop, and we didn't get that stop."

The Pokes recorded 347 yards of total offense with 182 yards throwing the air and 165 on the ground. Colorado recorded 304 yards through the air against the Cowboy defense. Colorado also rushed for 193 yards for 497 yards of total offense.

Wyoming's offense was paced by freshman running back Samuel "Tote" Harris with a career-high 126 yards. He had a career-long rush of 50 yards and is first true freshman to rush for over 100 yards since Titus Swen did so against UNLV in 2019. Wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. recorded five receptions for 50 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Kaden Anderson recorded 176 yards passing with a pair of scores

The UW defense was paced by linebacker Brayden Wilson with six tackles. Safety Andrew Johnson, defensive ends Brayden Wilson and Tyce Westland added four tackles. Wilson added a sack and tackle for loss and has 31 tackles for loss in his career.

Colorado got on the board first in the second quarter with a 29-yard yard touchdown pass from Kaidon Salter to Omarion Miller to cap a 13-play drive that lasted nearly six minutes. The Pokes responded with a 10-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a 29-yard field goal from Erik Sandvik for a 7-3 game in the second frame. Samuel Harris got the drive going with a 50-yard rush into CU territory.

The Buffs answered right back with a 68-yard touchdown pass from Salter for a 14-3 lead with under eight minutes left in the first half. Colorado added a score for a 21-3 lead at the half holding Wyoming to only 114 yards in the opening frame.

CU added another score in the early goings of the second half for a 28-3 lead. But the Pokes answered with a 41-yard touchdown strike from Anderson to Eric Richardson for a 28-10 contest. It was a four-play, 75-yard drive. The Pokes then forced a punt and added another field goal from Sandvik from 38 yards for a 28-13 game in the closing minutes of the third frame.

Salter threw for 304 yards with three touchdowns. He also rushed for 86 yards including a late score to make it a 37-20 final.

"We knew we would be better because of these two games," Sawvel said of following up a home game with Utah with a second consecutive Big 12 opponent in CU. "We knew this would be difficult and we would get exposed in certain ways if we didn't play really well. What we've learned is where we've got to get better."

The Cowboys have bye week next weekend before hosting UNLV in War Memorial Stadium on October 4 at 5 p.m. That contest will be a Stripe Out of War Memorial Stadium.