Turning Point, Unsung Hero and What’s Next For UW Football

LARAMIE -- Finish.

That was the rallying cry inside the home locker room all week after leaving plenty of plays -- and more importantly, points -- on the field in last Thursday's 10-0 road win at Akron.

Josh Allen certainly wasn't impressed.

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The Cowboys were abysmal on seven short-yardage opportunities in that outing, converting just 3-of-7 times when facing a third or fourth down situation with two yards or less to go. The visitors also turned the ball over on downs twice.

While that wasn't exactly the case inside a sun-splashed War Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon -- running back Sam Scott shook a would-be tackler and cruised into the end zone from 18 yards out on Wyoming's second offensive possession of the day -- the self-inflicted wounds mounted.

Erik Sandvik came up short on a 48-yard field-goal attempt on the first drive. A false start on a 2nd-and-5 at Northern Iowa's 25 didn't help matters.

Kaden Anderson and Co. mustered just seven snaps and 20 yards over the first two series of the second quarter. A 15-yard sack aided in the misery. A delay-of-game call also backed the Cowboys up.

Between those drives, Matthew Schecklman and the Panthers' offense finally found its rhythm, marching 90 yards on 11 plays and taking 6:34 off the game clock.

They did receive plenty of help, though.

Instead of a three-yard loss on an inside handoff, defensive tackle Jayden Williams was penalized for a hold. Five snaps later -- on a 3rd-and-10, no less -- linebacker Evan Eller was flagged for a late hit. Instead of getting off the field, UNI was in business at the Cowboys' 26.

"You think that was a late hit?" Eller joked postgame. "That should've been a fourth-down stop."

It wasn't.

The visitors weren't done taking advantage of mistakes, either.

Cornerback Dainsus Miller was the latest guilty party, hit with a pass-interference call in the end zone on play No. 10. Harrison Bey-Buie would plow his way past the white stripe on the next snap, putting the Panthers on the board with 7:25 remaining in the half.

Jay Sawvel famously called the officiating in last season's loss to San Diego State "horse s---." He was reprimanded by the Mountain West Conference for that comment. Wyoming's second-year head coach learned his lesson, saying all questions Saturday about referees would be met with a "no comment."

Good idea.

When the dust settled, the Cowboys were flagged 13 times for 115 yards.

"We had fewer penalty yards than nine of our 12 opponents a year ago," he said with a shoulder shrug. "We had 40 yards of penalties in the first game and I think we were under 50 yards of penalties eight times a year ago."

Wyoming eventually broke the 7-7 tie with 1:13 remaining in the second quarter. A wide-open tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, flailing his arms frantically just inside the brown-and-gold paint, hauled in a six-yard touchdown toss from Anderson, capping an 8-play, 45-yard drive.

It appeared the Cowboys would take a one-score lead into the break.

Jaden DaCosta had other plans.

After a quick three-and-out from the defense, the sophomore safety got a piece of a Noah Pettinger punt with just 26 ticks remaining. The Portland State transfer did the dirty work while wideout Bricen Brantley hauled in the floater inside the Panthers' 40.

It was the first punt block for this program since 2022.

Sandvik would drill the second field goal of his young career, this one from 40 yards out, extending what would be an insurmountable lead.

Wyoming added two more touchdowns in the second half -- a 21-yard third-quarter toss to Chris Durr Jr. and an 18-yard scamper from rookie running back Samuel "Tote" Harris -- and this new-look defense, once again, took care of the rest, limiting UNI to just 66 yards of total offense over the final two frames.

"I thought it was a good team win today," Sawvel said. "The fact that special teams contributed, offense did their part and what we needed to do and defense played really, really well. So, when you look at it, it's just a well-rounded win."

Wyoming 31, Northern Iowa 7

UNSUNG HERO

Ben Florentine quietly has been racking up the sacks.

With 5:37 remaining in the first half, the 282-pound nose tackle bullied his way into the backfield and dropped Schecklman for a 10-yard loss. The Panthers wouldn't gain another yard on that drive.

Wyoming's offense responded with a 45-yard drive on eight plays, culminating with a Gyllenborg touchdown.

Florentine, an Orange County, Calif., product, registered a third-down sack in last Thursday's blanking in Akron. He also took down John Mateer in the 2024 season finale at Washington State.

Three straight games with a sack. Three straight wins for the Cowboys.

Coincidence?

QUOTABLE

"Against a defense like that, which had a shutout last week against an FBS opponent, there were multiple times we were getting behind the sticks and behind schedule. It's hard to do that against a talented team."

-- Northern Iowa head coach Matt Stepsis on his offense being called for six penalties and allowing a pair of quarterback sacks and tackles for loss.

"Any team that comes to The War is going to have to deal with playing two teams: The altitude and us."

-- Wyoming WR Chris Durr Jr. on the lightning-fast tempo Wyoming's offense played with early in this win over Northern Iowa. 

"It's just such an honor to come out here and play in front of all these fans. I never played significant snaps in front of a fanbase like this, where they are cheering for me, instead of me being at an away environment. So, it's such a cool opportunity and I'm just super grateful for it."

-- Wyoming linebacker Evan Eller on playing in front of more than 25,000 fans Saturday inside War Memorial Stadium.

"The energy from the fans and sideline, even our own offense -- every time the defense made a play -- would come down and celebrate with the defense. So, I mean, I loved it. It's a blessing to play in Laramie, to be honest."

-- Wyoming cornerback Tyrese Boss on the environment during this home opener. 

"I think, being 0-2 is not very fun. Being 2-0 is a lot more fun. But, I would say, you know, we're just taking it one week at a time. We're happy to go 1-0 this week, and we're going to celebrate it tonight. Then next week, we have a big opponent coming here. That's just our approach."

-- Wyoming tight end John Michael Gyllenborg drawing a laugh from the media when asked what it feels like to win the first two games of the 2025 season.

WHAT'S NEXT?

It's a rivalry rewind next Saturday in Laramie when the Utah Utes pay a visit to War Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2010. This much-anticipated matchup was put on hold back in 2020 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This series dates all the way back to 1900. That was a 15-0 Wyoming victory in Salt Lake City. The Cowboys held a 14-6 advantage in the series throughout the 1950's and 60's. Utah got the last laugh, winning 10 of the last 11 meetings before leaving for the Pac-12 and eventually landing in the Big XII Conference. The Utes lead the overall series, 51-32-1. The visitors cracked the Top 25 after a dominating opening-night victory inside the Rose Bowl. FCS foe Cal Poly fell 63-9 today inside Rice-Eccles Stadium. Kickoff between the Pokes (2-0) and Utes (2-0) is set for 6 p.m. and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players