Who Will Be Under Center For Cowboys in Hawaii?

LARAMIE -- A 60-pound trophy and pride.

That's what's on the line for the Cowboys in Saturday night's season finale in Honolulu.

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Coming off a third-consecutive loss, a 13-7 setback against lowly Nevada in front of more than 26,000 fans inside War Memorial Stadium, the dangling carrot of a postseason berth is no longer a reality.

How did Wyoming get in this position?

Owning statistically the worst scoring offense in the Mountain West certainly hasn't helped.

Led by quarterback Kaden Anderson, who has started all 11 games this fall, the Cowboys average just under 320 yards an outing. More importantly, that unit puts just 16.8 points per game on the scoreboard.

Out of 328 qualifying signal callers, the sophomore is ahead of only three other names -- Josh Holst of Northern Illinois, Syracuse's Rickie Collins and Carson Conklin of Fresno State -- in the Pro Football Focus rankings, with an overall score of 49 out of 100.

No one in that trio listed above is a full-time starter like Anderson.

You don't need a statistical website to demonstrate the sophomore's struggles.

Anderson has thrown for 1,948 yards while completing 56.2% of his throws. The Southlake, Texas product has also tossed a dozen touchdowns to go along with 10 interceptions. He's also lost three fumbles, accounting for 13 of Wyoming's 17 giveaways on the season.

After a 24-3 road loss to Fresno State, Jay Sawvel said despite the apparent growing pains, Anderson was keeping a positive demeanor. Quarterback is the toughest position in all of sports, Wyoming's head coach added. You can't always absorb the outside criticism.

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* Tuck's Take: Another Goal-Line Gaff Derails Pokes' Bowl Hopes

* GALLERY: Josh Allen Receives Hero's Welcome in Wyoming

* Turning Point Unsung Hero and What's Next For UW Football

* Wyoming's Offense Again Sputters in 13-7 Home Loss

* Rants & Raves: Nevada Edition

* FINAL LIVE FILE: Nevada 13, Wyoming 7

Still, the fact remains, this offense has scored just three touchdowns over the previous 13 quarters, dating back to a 28-0 blanking of Border War rival Colorado State. While this isn't all squarely on Anderson's shoulders -- Sawvel said its been a collective failure from top to bottom on that side of the ball, especially at the skill positions -- it comes with the territory.

"There's a couple things, in a big way, that we need to get fixed," Sawvel said. "And, first and foremost, we got to score points. I'm so pissed that we're not scoring points. We're going to get that addressed."

In college football, quarterback rating is measured on a scale of 1 to 100. Anderson is currently sitting at 28.1.

Will he be under center Saturday against the seven-win Rainbow Warriors?

"I've not made that decision, as far as start or start and play two," Sawvel said. "We're going to kind of see these next couple days. Obviously, you know, our offensive performance the last few weeks has just been abysmal, so there's no other way to hide that."

Could Mason Drube, the prized in-state recruit from Gillette, see his first significant minutes? The 6-foot-3, 218-pound freshman has appeared in the previous two games, completing 3-of-6 passes for eight yards and rushing for another six on five attempts.

"We feel like there's a lot of talent and (we have) a lot of trust in, and all that could be good in the future," Sawvel said. "You say, 'Hey, give him a big run and in this game,' and, certainly, that's a consideration."

Drube didn't hesitate. He says he's ready to go.

"I'd love to go do what I can do," he said on Monday. "I mean, obviously, we're out of bowl contention. I just want to go play ball and show everyone what I can do. I'll be ready for every opportunity that comes. If I don't get the start, then I'm going to be ready to go in as the backup."

How about Gage Brook?

The 6-foot-4, 231-pound sophomore has yet to see the field during his two-plus years on campus. Sawvel said he has been impressed with the progression of the Fort Collins product, including his command of not only the offense, but the huddle.

Brook, whose father, Mark Brook, was a defensive end and linebacker for the Cowboys in the early 90's, said before the Fresno State game he was confident in his abilities, even when it came to the "dual-threat" demands of the position that this team has been sorely missing this fall.

"I'd love to run," Brook said. "I mean, obviously, I haven't played football in a few years. I haven't been hit. But, man, back in high school, I loved to run the ball. So, I really hope I get a chance to do that."

Whomever gets the nod, Sawvel said, moving the ball, time of possession and, most importantly, finding the end zone, will be the only chance the visitors have against Hawaii's high-octane passing attack.

"We've got to consider all things right now, because we're the only team in the Top 25 in scoring defense in the country that doesn't have at least seven wins," Sawvel added. "So, there you go."

Kickoff is slated for 9 p.m. and will be televised on Spectrum Sports in Hawai’i and streamed on the Mountain West mobile app on cell phones only.