Boulder, Colo. — Under picture-perfect skies and in front of a lively “whiteout” crowd, the Colorado Buffaloes found their rhythm on both sides of the ball to secure a 37-20 win over the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday night at Folsom Field.
With fans dressed in everything from Gen X throwback jeans to college-student summer attire, the evening had the unmistakable buzz of fall football. Making her debut run, Ralphie VII, the Buffaloes’ new live mascot, kicked off the energy in Boulder — taking over for the now-retired Ralphie VI (Ember), who’s happily enjoying life on the ranch.
But neither team started the game with a sprint. The first quarter was a defensive stalemate, ending in a scoreless 0-0 tie as both teams felt each other out.
Offense Ignites in Second Quarter
The action picked up in the second quarter as Kayden Salter settled in at quarterback for Colorado following a rotation of signal-callers to start the season. Salter opened the scoring with a 29-yard touchdown strike to Omarion Miller, putting the Buffs on the board.
Wyoming responded with a methodical 10-play drive, though they had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Erik Sandvik to make it 7-3.
The Buffaloes countered swiftly. After breaking the pocket, Salter flipped a short pass to Steven Brown, who did the rest — racing 68 yards for another touchdown. Moments later, Sean Price capped an 8-play, 67-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing score, giving Colorado a 21-3 advantage with just minutes left in the half.
Third Quarter: Big Plays Continue
Colorado came out of the locker room hot again. Joseph Williams hauled in a 47-yard touchdown pass from Salter just one minute into the second half, stretching the lead to 28-3.
Wyoming, to their credit, didn’t fold. Quarterback Keenan Anderson connected with Eric Richardson for a touchdown, and Sandvik added a 38-yard field goal, trimming the deficit to 28-13.
Fourth Quarter: Defense Seals It
The Buffaloes’ defense set the tone early in the fourth with a safety, pushing the score to 30-13. Anderson then hit Chris Durr for a 7-yard touchdown pass with just 4:32 remaining, keeping the Cowboys in striking distance at 30-20.
However, Salter responded once more — this time with his legs — capping a 75-yard drive with a 35-yard touchdown run, putting the game out of reach and sealing the 37-20 final.
Stat Leaders and Takeaways
Salter led the charge for Colorado with an impressive dual-threat performance, going 18-of-28 for 304 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, while also rushing for a game-high 86 yards and a score.
Anderson led Wyoming with 276 yards passing on 11-of-25 attempts and 2 touchdowns, while S. Harris ran for 126 yards on 19 carries, providing a consistent ground threat.
Despite seven fumbles, the Buffaloes only lost one, keeping momentum on their side thanks to explosive plays and timely defense.
Looking Ahead
Colorado (now 2-2) will aim to build on this win when they host BYU next week, while Wyoming heads into a bye week before returning home to face UNLV on Oct. 4.
