Colorado 37, Wyoming 20

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September 20th – Boulder          Colorado 37, Wyoming 20

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Ralphie VII made her debut in style, leading the Buffs onto the field before the second-largest Folsom Field crowd in 17 years (53,422), with the Buffs going on to defeat Wyoming, 37-20.  Quarterback Kaidon Salter more than did his part, returning to the starting lineup after sitting out the loss to Houston the previous weekend. Salter passed for 304 yards and three touchdowns, completing scoring passes of 29 yards to Omarion Miller, 68 yards to Sincere Brown, and 47 yards to Joseph Williams while also running for 86 yards and a 35-yard touchdown run on 11 carries.

“Every chance that I got today, I tried to take advantage of the opportunity,” Salter explained. “And I know that I got big guys out there, big playmakers, and if I throw it up, it’s 75/25 their way.”

Overall, the Buffs had 497 yards of total offense, including 193 yards on the ground. Wyoming did not go quietly, keeping the game close throughout much of the evening, but the Cowboys were never closer than two scores after the Buffs took a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter.

“Kaidon Salter came back and played his butt off,” Coach Prime said of his starting quarterback. “He had a couple of downs, but the majority were ups, which overshadowed the downs, and he made some plays that a quarterback is going to  have to do off script. And he made it happen. The timing was impeccable, and he made some big throws, some big runs, especially the run at the end. That’s the guy we wanted to see, and we’re seeing him at his best. I’m glad you’re getting the chance to see him shine. He hasn’t reached that potential yet, but he’s getting more and more comfortable with everything.”

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Game Story … Wyoming took the opening kickoff, and in three plays gained three yards … but got a first down on a pass interference call on third-and-seven. Three more plays, though, gained only one yard, and the Cowboys punted the ball away.

On CU’s first possession, Kaidon Salter returned to the starting lineup at quarterback, and immediately had an impact, scrambling for a 17-yard gain and a first down on third-and-eight. But, then Salter gave back what he had gained, suffering a 14-yard sack two plays later. A ten-yard completion to Omarion Miller got some of the yardage back, but the Buffs still had to punt.

The Wyoming offense then went three-and-out … except for the Buffs again being called for pass interference on a third-and-16 incompletion. Then the Wyoming offense then went three-and-out … except for the Buffs being called for a third pass interference penalty, this time on third-and-seven. Then the Wyoming offense went three-and-out … mercifully not throwing the ball on third-and-five.

Taking over at their 15-yard line after the Wyoming punt, the Buff offense went to work. After a four-yard run by Dekalon Taylor, Kaidon Salter hit Omarion Miller for 18 yards and a first down. Three runs later, including a two-yard keeper by Salter on third-and-one, and the Buffs had a first down near midfield. An 11-yard run by Salter, followed two plays later by a nine-yard completion to Dre’lon Miller, set up the Buffs at the Wyoming 29-yard line as the first quarter came to a close.

After two plays netted zero yards, the CU offense faced a third-and-ten. Not a problem, with Salter hitting Omarion Mille for a 29-yard touchdown to complete the 13-play, 85-yard drive. Colorado 7, Wyoming 0.

On the Cowboys’ first play from scrimmage after the kickoff, Wyoming quarterback Kaden Anderson was sacked by Arden Walker and Keaten Wade for a nine-yard loss. At that moment, Wyoming for the game had zero total yards, with no pass completions, but three first downs – all on third-down pass interference calls.

On the next play, however, running back Samuel Harris took off for a 50-yard gain, setting the Cowboys up at the CU 34-yard line. Completions of nine yards and 13 yards gave Wyoming a first-and-goal at the Buff eight yard line. The Cowboys would progress no further, though, settling for a 28-yard field goal by kicker Erik Sandvik. Colorado 7, Wyoming 3, with just under ten minutes remaining in the half.

Less than two minutes of game clock later, it was 14-3.

A nine-yard completion from Salter to Micah Welch gave the Buffs a first down at their 31-yard line. Two plays later, Salter connected with wide receiver Sincere Brown for a 68-yard touchdown.

After a quick three-and-out from the Wyoming offense (aided by a holding penalty), the CU offense set up shop at their 33-yard line. A 16-yard completion from Salter to Dre’lon Miller quickly put the ball near midfield, with a nine-yard completion to Hykeem Williams two plays later giving CU a first down at the Wyoming 38. Three more plays netted only three yards, with the Buffs maintaining possession on a pass interference call against the Cowboys on a fourth-and-seven incompletion.

Given new life, the Buff offense quickly took advantage. A 19-yard completion from Salter to Omarion Miller was quickly followed by a one-yard touchdown run up the middle by running back Simeon Price. Colorado 21, Wyoming 3, with just over three minutes remaining before halftime.

Wyoming moved the ball to midfield on its next possession before stalling, punting the ball back to the Buffs with just over a minute left in the quarter. The Buffs, even with a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty against the Cowboys, were not able to mount a threat, punting the ball away with nine seconds before the break.

Halftime score: Colorado 21, Wyoming 3

An eight-yard run by running back Micah Welch opened CU’s first series of the second half (with fellow running back Simeon Price going out with an injury on the play). A 20-yard run by quarterback Kaidon Salter on the next play gave the Buffs a first down at the Wyoming 47-yard line. On the next play, Salter hit wide receiver Joseph Williams for a touchdown to complete the three-play, 75-yard drive.

They Wyoming offense, stymied for much of the first half, found its rhythm quickly on its first possession of the second half. The Buffs needed three plays to cover 75 yards … the Cowboys needed four. A 41-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kaden Anderson to Eric Anderson quickly silenced the Family Weekend crowd. Colorado 28, Wyoming 10, with less than three minutes gone in the third quarter.

A 46-yard kickoff return by freshman wide receiver Quentin Gibson gave the Buffs the momentum back, at least momentarily. A three-and-out and a punt later, the CU offense was off the field.

A nice punt by Damon Greaves pinned the Cowboys back at their eight-yard line, but it didn’t make much of a difference. Three plays later, including a 32-yard completion from Kaden Anderson Chris Durr, Jr. gave the Cowboys a first down near midfield. Six plays later, Wyoming had a first down at the CU 20-yard line. The next three plays, though, netted only one yard. With 3:30 remaining in the third quarter, Cowboy kicker Erik Sandvik made it a 28-13 game, with a 38-yard field goal.

A 12-yard completion from Salter to Hykeem Williams gave the Buffs a quick first down to open CU’s next drive. Another completion to Williams for five yards, then a six yard run by Micah Welch gave the Buffs another first down at the Wyoming 45-yard line. A long run by Welch was going to give CU great field position in the red zone, but instead of getting a game-clinching touchdown, the Cowboys forced a fumble, recovered by Wyoming at its one yard line.

After two one-yard runs to end the third quarter, Wyoming faced a third-and-eight at its own two-yard line to open the fourth quarter. There, Buff defensive lineman Arden Walker tackled Wyoming quarterback Kaden Anderson in the end zone for a sack, making it a three-score game at 30-13.

A 20-yard return by Quentin Gibson on the free kick set the Buffs up at the CU 42-yard line. Two plays in, Kaidon Salter hit senior wide receiver Terrell Timmons, Jr. for an 18-yard gain. A facemask penalty on the play gave CU a first down at the Wyoming 21-yard line. The next three plays netted only five yards, leaving the Buffs with a fourth-and-five at the Cowboy 16. Looking for a 20-point lead, kicker Alejandro Mata missed his first field goal attempt of the season, with his 34-yard attempt blocked by the Wyoming defense.

Not giving up the fight, the Cowboys methodically moved the ball down the field. Playing a bend-but-don’t break defense, the Buffs surrendered yards in exchange for a running clock. Wyoming scored on a seven-yard pass from Kaden Anderson to Chris Durr, Jr. to complete a 13-play, 80-yard drive. The only bad news for the Cowboys was that the drive took up 6:49 of fourth quarter clock. Colorado 30, Wyoming 20, with 4:32 left to play.

Needing a strong possession on offense to close out the game, the Buff offense gave its fans just that. A ten-yard run by Kaidon Salter and a 12-yard completion to Terrell Timmons all but ended Wyoming’s hopes of a comeback, but the Buffs were not done. After the two-minute timeout, Kaidon Salter closed out the scoring with a 35-yard touchdown run.

Final score: Colorado 37, Wyoming 20

“I’m not happy with the finish”, Coach Prime said. “I’m happy with the results, but I’m not happy with the finish. I told our young men too much, haha and hehe on the sideline when we got the lead. And hats off to the opposition. I mean, they did a wonderful job getting back in that game and playing their butts off with a no-quit attitude.”

CU finished with 497 yards of total offense, including 193 yards on the ground. Through the air, nine different players caught a pass, led by Omarion Miller’s six catches for 88 yards and a 29-yard touchdown. Six Buffs carried the ball, led by quarterback Kaidon Salter who finished with 86 yards on 11 carries, with a 35-yard touchdown run in the final minutes to seal the victory.

“I don’t like how we didn’t kill a gnat with a sledgehammer towards the end”, said Coach Prime of his team, which allowed the Cowboys to control much of the second half. “We’re better than that. We’re more decisive than that, we’re tougher than that. So, you know, we have to do this. We’ve got a good team when we’re doing what we’re supposed to do, and we’re executing both offensively and defensively. We’re married as one.”

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Game Notes … 

— Colorado upped its all-time record against Wyoming to 25-2-1, CU’s best winning percentage against any team with more than four games in the series. The Cowboys 20 points, though, represented only the second time in the 28 games in the series in which Wyoming produced 20 points in a game (Wyoming defeated CU, 20-14, in 1982, one of its two victories in the series);

— Attendance for the game was 53,442, the 18th-highest in Folsom Field history and fourth highest in the last 17 seasons;

— Ralphie VII made her debut against Wyoming, after Ralphie VI retired after showing an unwillingness to run. With the victory over Wyoming, CU raised its record to 6-0 when Ralphie made her debut prior to the opening kickoff. Only Ralphie II lost on her first run, and she ran in the second half of the 1978 season finale when Ralphie I opened the game with her final run;

— The official kick time for the game was 8:25 p.m., with an official end time of 11:52 p.m. Only four games in CU history have ended after midnight;

— Kaidon Salter completed 18-of-28 passes for 304 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions and added 86 yards
rushing on 11 carries for another touchdown.

• It was the just the fourth 300-yard passing, 80-yard rushing game in CU history, joining:
  ○ Craig Ochs vs. Oklahoma State, 10/28/2000, 21-32-336-1-0, 11-93-2
  ○ Steven Montez at Oregon, 9/24/16, 23-32-333-3-2, 21-135-1
  ○ Sefo Liufau vs. Washington State, 11/19/16, 27-41-345-0-0, 23-108-3
• It was also just the second game in CU history with the combination of 300 passing yards, 80 rushing yards, 3 passing touchdowns and 1 rushing touchdown, joining Montez totals above;
• It just the 13th game in CU history where a player had passed for three or more touchdowns and added a rushing
  touchdown, and first since Shedeur Sanders at Texas Tech on November 9, 2024.

— Arden Walker got a safety, the first safety credited to a player since Anthony Perkins in 2010, almost 15 years to the day
on September 18, 2010. Walker had six tackles in total, with 1.5 sacks and a pass breakup. He raised his career sack total to eight at CU and 11 overall in his career. His eight career sacks put him in the career leaderboard at CU, tied for 57th.

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