By james art 
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Jay Sowell had his game face on at 9:45am
Wyoming’s first coach strode stoically down the hallway outside the hotel’s conference rooms as he waited for the players to come down for a pregame dinner and discuss last-minute details.
an hour later Caden Anderson laughed with his teammates as he strolled through the lobby as the buses warmed up to take the Cowboys to University Stadium.
After walking the field with a fellow quarterback Evan Svobodaputting the pads on in the away dressing room and taking snaps from the launch centre Nofoafia Tulafono during warmups, it was time for Anderson to lead the team to victory.
The 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman stood tall in the pocket all afternoon and calmly shredded defenses during the Pokes’ dramatic 49-45 win over New Mexico on Saturday.
Anderson finished 20 for 29 passing for 342 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in the memorable first start of his career.
“It’s so exciting,” Anderson said of the performance. “I’m not going anywhere for sure, so the future is bright.”
The Pokes (2-7 overall, 2-3 Mountain West) have endured some agonizing losses and injuries this season.
Anderson returned the joy.
Harrison Whaleyinspired by the young QB, danced on the field before the game and sang “Ragtime Cowboy Joe” after rushing for 170 yards and a touchdown.
“I like Caden,” said Whaley, who is making his season debut after missing the first eight games with a knee injury. “Before the game even started, he was really excited and he was like, ‘We’re going to go out and win this, I’ve got your back, you’ve got my back.’
“Even during the game he’s super excited. I’m not going to lie, I’ve never met a quarterback that talked a lot until I met him. On the other hand, he’s from Texas and he was really rooting for Quinn Ewers when he was in high school, so he’s used to it.”
Anderson handled the pressure of the Texas lights well Friday night after following Ewers, the Longhorns’ star quarterback, to South Lake Carroll Prep.
The UW staff continued to recruit Anderson when some bigger schools backed off after he suffered a serious knee injury. In his redshirt year, he was still recovering as Andrew Peasley led Pokes to nine wins, and Svoboda started in place against Ewers in Austin.
“Evan Svobodalove the kid to death,” Sawvel said after making the emotionally difficult coaching change and then notching his first win as a head coach. “He’s going to be a major factor in our program now and in the future. Kaden’s feel for everything has become especially apparent over the past few weeks, and today a lot of it is paying off. …
I’m proud of the way Caden played today.
At the break the score was tied 35-35. Anderson went 10-for-13 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns during a torrid first half.
After the Lobos scored a touchdown on the game’s first drive, Anderson responded with a 47-yard punt to Jaylen Sargent on third-and-12, which resulted in a 1-yard touchdown Jamari Ferrell.
UW was without Sam Scottwho rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown against Utah State but did not make the trip due to injury.
“Jamari definitely stepped up,” Whaley said of Ferrell, who had 89 yards rushing. “Coach asked me a few days ago if I wanted to start and I said no, let Jamari start because Jamari looked good in practice and he went out and did what you’re supposed to do. I’m glad they let him start.”
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Later in the first quarter, Chris Durr Jr made a spectacular one-handed catch worthy of a SportsCenter “Top 10” look. On the next snap, Anderson used the play to deliver a dime to the tight end John Michael Gyllenborg for a 15-yard touchdown on fourth down.
“He did a really good job of keeping us in plays,” Sowell said of Anderson. “Obviously he was accurate on some key throws to Sargent, which I thought was great. I thought he was accurate on some third balls to Chris Durr in critical situations. His management of things was really good.”
Anderson ran for a 7-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter and threw a 68-yard touchdown to Sargent to give UW a 28-21 lead with 9:54 left in the first-half fireworks show.
A high snap and two holding calls temporarily chilled the Pokes offense and led to a 40-yard touchdown run by Devon Dampier to tie the score.
Waylee capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys a brief 35-28 lead.
Eli Sanders broke free for a 75-yard touchdown to pull the Lobos even though the UW defense allowed 383 total yards in 30 minutes.
“In practice, he can really throw the ball and he can put it on the money,” defensive end Tice Westland said of Anderson. “It’s good to see our offense do what it’s capable of.”
New Mexico shut down the Cowboys in the third quarter and took a seemingly commanding lead on an 85-yard touchdown run by Dampier, the longest ever by a Lobo quarterback, right after Anderson threw an interception.
“I think if there could be one reproduction, it would be the interception of the second flicker of fleas. We threw him into double coverage,” Sauvell said. “But there’s so much to build on with this guy, so we’re excited.”
Officials reviewed the hit to Anderson’s helmet on the turnover play, but ruled linebacker Moso’oipala Tuitele not guilty of targeting. Both Anderson and Tuitele were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
“I need to calm down a little bit for sure,” Anderson said. “After that interception, I said to myself that I will not speak again. Then I started playing better. I need to keep my head in the game and stop talking so much. …
“I definitely have some fire in me. I think it kind of comes from my dad.”
Anderson’s father, Ronnie, passed away from brain cancer in 2020. He would certainly be proud of the fight his son and the Pokes family had in the fourth quarter.
Vruk Brown returned an interception 29 yards for a touchdown to cut the deficit to 45-42.
Anderson threw a touchdown pass to Durr, who was taken off the board by an offensive pass interference call on Isaiah Stevenson.
After the refs finished marking the 15-yard penalty, Anderson connected with Stephenson for a 27-yard touchdown with 4:44 remaining.
“I literally told him this is coming to you, stay level-headed, we need you right here,” Anderson said. “I knew I was going to him right away. That was great.”
Westland came up with a Dampier strip and a fumble recovery to end the Lobos’ plans for a last-minute comeback.
The Sawvel player’s face turned into a winning smile as he found Anderson for a hug in midfield.
“It’s almost like he’s a natural,” Whaley said of Anderson. “He’s a guy who just jokes around and it’s a tough game and he’s having a good time. He will certainly be something special.”
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