The Lobos’ offense seemed to get back to form against the University of Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday, Nov. 2. There was a standout performance on the offensive side of the ball from running back Eli Sanders, who accumulated 205 yards rushing and two touchdowns while averaging 12 yards per carry.
Unfortunately, there are no moral victories in football; you either win or you lose. Despite the great display of offense, the defense could not do its job. The Lobos ended up losing 49-45.
The Lobos came out aggressive in the first quarter with a fast-paced offense. On the Lobos’ first drive, they advanced all the way down the field, finding the end zone in only two minutes and 27 seconds. They went for two but failed.
Wyoming immediately answered back on its first drive, taking a 7-6 lead. That lead didn't last long, as the Lobos struck right back thanks to a 34-yard touchdown run by Sanders.
The Lobos’ defense could not stop the Cowboys on their next drive, as Wyoming found the end zone again. The red-hot Lobo offense took the field and came to a standstill as it was forced to punt.
Special team issues have been a recurring problem for the Lobos in the past few weeks, and they continued in this game as a terrible punt gave Wyoming great field position. That wrapped up the first as the Lobos trailed 14-13.
Wyoming came out and scored a touchdown on the first play of the second quarter to extend its lead to 8. When the Lobos’ offense took the field again, it was able to move the chains and get down the field. It capped off the drive with an 18-yard touchdown run by Devon Dampier.
The Lobos tried their hand at another 2-point conversion which they succeeded on, tying up the game. Wyoming made sure the game wasn’t tied for long, as quarterback Kaden Anderson connected on a 68-yard-deep ball to Jaylen Sargent for a score.
After back-to-back punts by both teams, the Lobos responded accordingly, tying the game up again as Dampier ran the ball in from 40 yards out. Each team scored a touchdown in the final two minutes of the second quarter, keeping the game tied at 35 going into halftime.
In the third quarter, the Lobos’ defense held Wyoming's offense scoreless. The Lobos’ offense seized the opportunity that its defense provided and scored 10 points in the quarter to take a solid lead into the fourth.
Up 45-35 with one more quarter to go, things were looking good for the Lobos. The Lobos’ defense got yet another stop, which resulted in Wyoming sending out its kicking unit. Wyoming missed the kick and the Lobos took over possession in decent field position.
It looked like the Lobos were going to run away with the game. Instead, on the very next play, Dampier threw a pick six, which kept the game within 3 points for Wyoming.
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That pick took the life out of the Lobos as the offense couldn’t get anything going and the defense crumbled under pressure. After another Wyoming score, the Lobos’ offense tried to put together a go-ahead touchdown drive. But Dampier got strip-sacked by Wyoming defensive end Tyce Westland, which Westland also recovered.
The Lobos turned to their defense for one stop to give their offense one more opportunity, but after another Cowboy first down, the game was sealed.
The Wyoming Cowboys came into the game 1-7 on the year. Though in football it’s any given game, some might say the Lobos could have overlooked their opponent. But Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall disagreed with that idea.
“Record means nothing to me. Our team knew it. We prepared, so there's no chance — 0% chance — that they were overlooked,” Mendenhall said.
The Lobos will look to come back in their next game as they face another Mountain West opponent, the San Diego State University Aztecs, on Friday, Nov. 8.
Rodney Prunty is the sports editor for the Daily Lobo. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on X @rprunty05
