Tuck’s Take: Panic Button? You’re Kidding, Right? It’s Early

AKRON, Ohio -- Unfazed.

That would be the best way to describe Wyoming quarterback Kaden Anderson's demeanor as he stood outside the visiting locker room Thursday night, surrounded by a hoard of reporters and microphones.

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"Man, I'm just super pumped for the guys to start off 1-0," he said, heaping the defense with a majority of the praise after pitching a shutout in a 10-0 victory inside soggy InfoCision Stadium. "I mean, that's awesome. It was a great team win."

The sophomore chose to focus on the positives in this one, starting with wideout Chris Durr Jr. who turned a simple screen pass late in regulation into a 35-yard touchdown scamper. Jackson Holman, another sophomore receiver, sparked that final drive, reeling in a 44-yard long ball near midfield.

Sam Scott was the workhorse for this veteran offensive unit, carrying the ball 29 times. The senior capped his night with a career-best 132 yards.

Anderson joked that he takes his offensive line out to dinner on Thursday nights when he doesn't get sacked. His wallet is about to get much lighter. That front five kept him upright -- though some of that credit needs to go to the signal caller himself -- on 36 pass attempts.

"Pretty up there," the Texan said with a smirk, referring to the hefty bill that will surely follow.

The smiles, laughs and light-hearted nature of this postgame press conference was telling. The "alpha" running this unit is also a master at perspective. Wyoming traveled more than 1,300 miles and came away with a road win. That, Anderson added, was the lone goal.

That feat, you might recall, was only reached three times last season.

He certainly hasn't forgotten.

While that group did roll up 426 yards of total offense -- 266 through the air and another 166 via the running game (This team eclipsed the 400-yard mark just twice all of last season, by the way) -- lack of production and miscues in key moments can't be ignored.

There was a turnover-on-downs at Akron's 31-yard line with 11 ticks remaining in the first half. Scott got stuffed at the line, facing a loaded box. It was the second time in the first 30 minutes Wyoming failed to pick up a first down with less than two yards to go.

That stop likely cost points.

Early in the fourth quarter, the visitors clinging to a 3-0 lead, Scott again ran into the teeth of the defense on third and fourth down inside the 10-yard line. He needed three yards -- the same amount he eventually lost.

The play calls were unimaginative, predictable. The Zips new-look defense wasn't fooled one bit.

That stand certainly kept the Cowboys off the scoreboard, giving life to a team that, up to that point, had yet to even eclipse the 100-yard mark in passing.

Starting left tackle Nate Geiger was flagged for a false start three times. Center Jack Walsh was also penalized once for pre-snap movement. Seven yellow hankies hit the turf, the white hat ultimately pointing in Wyoming's direction.

Anderson threw what appeared to be a costly pick late in the third inside his own territory. The attempt was batted in the air and eventually hauled in by linebacker Markus Boswell at the 39-yard line.

Six snaps later, Ben Finley repaid that favor by tossing an interception of his own. Brayden Johnson stepped in front of a seam route two yards deep in the end zone, thwarting what would be the Zips' lone legit scoring opportunity of the night.

Anderson started his night 5-of-5, connecting on short passes and letting his playmakers do the heavy lifting. Then came an extended lull, filled with off-target tosses. He closed the first half with just nine completions on 20 attempts, including a stretch of seven misfires on nine pass plays.

Wyoming punted on its first four drives of the night, battling a steady drizzle and blustery conditions that made this opener feel more like a late October defensive slugfest.

Did it ever cross Anderson's mind that this would turn into a here-we-go again moment?

"Hell no," he quipped. "The way the defense was playing, I knew the defense was going to get us the ball back. I knew we were going to win the game. There's no doubt in my mind. When we got that first field goal, I said, 'Alright, we're going to win.'

"I mean, I'm so proud of the defense. They seriously won that game."

That can't always be the case, though.

Why the inconsistencies?

Jay Sawvel pointed to technique and mechanics. He said Anderson needed to settle down a bit. Penalties, Wyoming's second-year head coach added, didn't help matters, either.

Hey, it's early.

Don't forget to give the guys on the other side of the ball a little credit, too.

"I think you get better. That's the goal," Sawvel said. "We have a lot to build off of. It's ugly. We won 10-0. It's ugly, right? That's a whole lot better than a pretty looking loss."

Those, as you know, add up.

The Cowboys dropped five games last year -- Idaho, San Diego State, San Jose State, Utah State and Boise State -- by 10 points or less. The year prior, those close calls often landed in the win column. Six of them -- Texas Tech, Appalachian State, New Mexico, Fresno State, Colorado State and Toledo -- to be exact.

These types of victories take grit and leadership -- 'Cowboy Tough,' you might call it -- something this program lacked in spades last fall.

"It feels good. It's regular," a confident Durr said with a shrug and a grin, referring to leaving northeast Ohio with a win. "You know, we ain't done much yet. Talk to me about Week 7 or Week 8. We'll be better."

While you might be gnashing teeth -- and panic buttons -- after this latest narrow victory and how it played out, the guys in this celebratory locker room don't seem to share your early anxiety.

"Not every win is pretty. It's not all, you know, flowers and rainbows," Anderson added. "I'm just really happy we got the win, and I just have to keep encouraging these guys, keep them lifting them up. Tonight's offense, it's not how we truly want to play, but I'm just happy we got away with the win."

Enjoy your dinner party, boys.

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