Wyoming QB Kaden Anderson Shines in Starting Role
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., -- Nerves? What nerves?
Kaden Anderson connected on 20-of-29 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns Saturday afternoon in a 49-45 road victory over New Mexico. He added another score on the ground from seven yards out on the first play of the second quarter.
The redshirt freshman, who was making his first-career start under center, led the Cowboys on four consecutive touchdown drives.
Has this team finally found its quarterback?
If this performance is any indication, that answer is an obvious one.
"It was fun, man," Anderson said postgame, flashing a wide grin. "I was just out there having fun, playing ball. It was a really great time."
Not for the Lobos.
The 6-foot-4, 221-pound Southlake, Texas product completed five of his first seven throws. The fifth was a perfectly placed 15-yard heave into the end zone that was hauled in by tight end John Michael Gyllenborg. That roll-out toss came on a 4th-and-2. It gave the Cowboys a brief 14-13 lead late in the first quarter.
On the ensuing offensive possession, Anderson reined in the shotgun snap, looked to his left and unleashed a long ball down the east sideline. Jaylen Sargent, his favorite target on this day, caught it in stride as he breezed past New Mexico safety Bryson Taylor.
The end result? A 68-yard touchdown.
Sargent capped his career day with 186 yards on six catches.
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"I think that he did a really good job of keeping us in plays," Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said. "And, obviously, he was accurate on some key throws to Sargent, which I thought was great. I think he was accurate on a couple third-down balls to Chris Durr Jr. in critical situations. You know, his command of things was really, really good."
How rare was this outing?
The last time a Wyoming signal caller threw for more yards was when Cam Coffman did it against New Mexico back in 2015. He finished with 366 in a 38-28 loss to the Lobos. Since, this program has featured just four 300-plus yard performances.
Andrew Peasley was the last to accomplish that feat. It came in last year's home finale against Hawaii. He torched the Rainbow Warriors for 319. That was also the last time the Cowboys scored 35 first-half points.
They did it again Saturday.
The sixth touchdown of the day served as the dagger.
After being called for a pass interference on the previous play, wideout Justin Stevenson reeled in a 27-yard strike from Anderson with 4:44 remaining in regulation. That score gave Wyoming a four-point advantage. That's where it remained, too.
"He can really sing the ball. He can put it on the money," said defensive end Tyce Westland, whose fourth-quarter strip sack sealed the win. "It's nice to see our offense doing that. That's what it's capable of doing. That was really good to see."
Harrison Waylee made his 2024 debut in Albuquerque. The senior running back missed the first eight games with a knee injury he suffered late in fall camp. A grin creased his face when asked about his impressions of Anderson.
Let's just say energy wasn't an issue.
"Before the game even started, he's just real amped up," Waylee said. "He's like, 'We're gonna go out there and go win this. I got your back, you got my back' and all this and that. Even during the game, too, he was just super hyped.
"I ain't gonna lie, I've never met a quarterback that talks a lot. I mean, then again, he is from Texas and he did back up (University of Texas QB) Quinn Ewers when he was in high school. So, you know, him taking over, he's just used to this."
Anderson didn't just talk to his featured back, either.
He went nose-to-nose with 6-foot-4, 250-pound edge rusher Moso'oipala Tuitele after tossing an interception late in the third quarter. A nearby official attempted to break it up. Anderson got his money's worth.
Flags flew.
Both players were hit with unsportsmanlike conduct penalties.
"I have to calm down a little bit, for sure," Anderson admitted. "After the interception, I told myself, I'm not going to talk anymore. So, that's when I started playing better. I just got to keep my head in the game, and I got to stop talking as much."
He certainly left an impression on his head coach.
"There is so much to build on with that guy," Sawvel said. "So, we're excited ... I'm proud of the way Kaden played today."