• Pokes Shut out Rams for first time since 2010

The Wyoming Cowboys put together the best performance of the season thus far in a dominant 28-0 victory over Colorado State in the 117th edition of the Border War inside War Memorial Stadium in front of a sold-out crowd on Saturday. It marks the second shutout of the season for the Brown and Gold marking the first time since 1966 that the Pokes have recorded two shutouts in a single season.

“I’m really happy for our players,” UW head coach Jay Sawvel said postgame.  “I’m really happy for everybody associated with our program. I’m really happy for our alumni. I’m really happy for our fans. It’s a great night for the Cowboys. We have character. There are guys that have a high level of character. I knew we’d be ready to play. We didn’t worry about what they were, if they’d be at their best. We didn’t worry about them. We worried about us. Our players for 340 days, or whatever it was, had to look at an empty trophy case. They had to look at a trophy case where that boot was supposed to be, and it wasn’t.”

“Any time you play the way we did and shut a team out and get three takeaways in the process, it’s great,” Sawvel said. “That was a great defensive effort. We can be pretty good on that side of the ball. Offensively, I thought we were pretty good through the course of the first half. We had a large total play advantage. In the second half, you get in that mode where you’re sitting on it.”

Wyoming recorded 372 yards of total offense in the contest with 212 yards rushing and 160 yards through the air. Wyoming held Colorado State to 305 yards and allowed only 94 yards on the ground. The Cowboys forced three turnovers in the contest all coming via interceptions.

The Pokes were led by quarterback Kaden Anderson with 154 yards passing with two scores on 16-of-24 passing. Wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. recorded seven catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. Running back Sam Scott recorded 68 yards rushing with a score.

The UW defense was led by linebacker Evan Eller with seven tackles and a sack. Cornerback Tyrese Boss along with linebacker Brayden Johnson each added six tackles. Desman Hearns, Markie Grant and Jones Thomas all recorded interceptions in the contest.

The Cowboys struck first on a one-yard rush from quarterback Landon Sims in the first quarter. It was part of a 12-play, 67-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes. The Pokes added to the tally to open the second quarter with a 22-yard pass from Anderson to Michael Fitzgerald II for a 14-0 lead. The score was set up by an interception by Hearns, as it marked his second of the season and fifth of his career.

The Pokes added another tally in second quarter this time Anderson finding Durr Jr. in the endzone from nine yards. It marked the second score off turnovers in the contest, as Thomas added his first career interception.

Wyoming would take a 21-0 lead into the half holding Colorado State to only 63 yards of total offense in the first half.

The Cowboys opened the second half with another score for a 28-0 lead. This time it was Scott finding paydirt from 37 yards for his second score of the season. The Cowboys would cruise on to the win and the shutout.

Quarterback Jackson Brousseau was 10-of-18 for the Rams with three interceptions for 99 yards. Tommy Maher caught five catches for 52 yards. The nation’s leading tackler Owen Long recorded 10 tackles.

The Cowboys hit the road next week for a trip to San Diego State for a 5 p.m. MT start on the CBS Sports Network.