Utah Notebook: You Again? Dampier Has Been Ultimate Thorn

LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel shook his head and sighed last July in Las Vegas when the name Devon Dampier was mentioned.

The then New Mexico quarterback did a number on the Cowboys during a November meeting in Albuquerque, rushing for 207 yards on just 12 carries. He also broke touchdown runs of 18, 40 and 85, respectively.

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Still, it was a Dampier fourth-quarter interception that changed the entire complexion of that game. Nickel corner Wrook Brown stepped in front of a short pass over the middle and returned it 29 yards for the touchdown, cutting the Lobos' lead to just three.

Kaden Anderson would follow that up with a 29-yard scoring strike to Justin Stevenson and the visitors would escape University Stadium with a 49-45 victory.

"He's a great player," Sawvel said at Mountain West Media Days. "I wish we were done with him."

They aren't.

NORTHERN IOWA GAME COVERAGE VIA 7220SPORTS:

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* LIVE FILE: Wyoming Cowboys vs. Northern Iowa Panthers

* Gear Up For Game Day: Northern Iowa

Dampier, now the signal caller at the University of Utah, will lead the No. 20 Utes into War Memorial Stadium this Saturday night for a rivalry revamp between these two old rivals.

Ironically, the wideout who caught that game-winning touchdown pass, Stevenson, also transferred to Utah this offseason.

Wyoming's second-year head coach hasn't changed his tune one bit about Dampier, especially after watching the film from Utah's first two games of the season. The junior is completing nearly 80% of his passes (second in all of FBS) and has already thrown for 398 yards and five touchdowns in easy wins over UCLA and Cal Poly.

He's added 112 more on the ground and found the end zone one time with those electric wheels.

"That's the most frustrating thing, defensively, when you play against a quarterback like this," Sawvel said. "It's hard enough to put yourself always in the right spot to where you feel like, OK, we've got this play stopped. Then, all of a sudden, it's the unscripted things that he can do that just break a play down or break a defense down, and can keep a drive going."

Dampier didn't only torture Sawvel and Co. last fall, he almost helped visiting New Mexico claw back into a game in Laramie back in 2023. Relieving starter Dylan Hopkins, the Phoenix native tossed two touchdowns and rushed for 71 yards on just six carries.

The Lobos trailed 22-9 when Dampier entered the game. Wyoming held on, 35-26.

"He's improved in every way from a couple years ago," Sawvel said. "You know, obviously now he's got far more weapons and a far better offensive line than what he has ever had."

Scary thought.

Dampier was sacked just five times behind that New Mexico line a season ago. That was the best mark in the country. Now, he has a pair of All-American tackles -- Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu -- protecting him.

"They've got a quarterback in Devin Dampier that I don't think we've stopped ever," Sawvel continued, adding his defense needs to "build a fence" around the elusive playmaker. "They also have an incredibly good offensive line with two outstanding offensive tackles that are as good as what you're going to find anywhere in the country.

"They don't have a weakness."

Here's some other news and notes from Sawvel's weekly press conference:

* "Kaden Anderson is fine," Sawvel said Monday. Wyoming's starting quarterback took a vicious hit from an untouched cornerback blitz late in the third quarter, leaving the sophomore on the turf, writhing in pain. You can read all about Anderson's condition right HERE.

* Potential redshirt year coming for Jake Wilson? The 6-foot-5, 245-pound sophomore tight end underwent offseason surgery in August when a cyst was discovered in his knee. Sawvel thought he could be ready to play as early as Week 2. That didn't happen. The Texan developed an infection, according to the head coach, and though he is on the mend, no timetable has been set for his return.

* Sawvel said it was a successful recruiting weekend for his Cowboys and you, the fan, once again have so much to do with that, he added. Five prospects were on campus. One has already verbally committed. Two others joined the party after watching the Cowboys knock off Northern Iowa, 31-7, in front of more than 25,000 in attendance. "It's a big deal," Sawvel said, referring to the atmosphere. "I think anybody that ever has a question about what the importance of Wyoming football is to the state of Wyoming, just show up on Saturday," he said.

* Wyoming fans got their first look at Samuel Harris' burst last Saturday when he zoomed into the end zone from 18 yards out. The true freshman who goes by the nickname "Tote," capped his afternoon with 61 yards on eight carries. "He's got, you know, legit top-end speed and his vision and quickness are very good, as well," Sawvel said of the 5-foot-11, 187-pound running back from Cibolo, Texas. "He's going to do nothing but continue to improve and get better."

* The biggest improvement is supposed to come between Week 1 and 2. Did that happen for the Cowboys in this win over FCS Northern Iowa? Pro Football Focus says, yes. So does Sawvel, especially when it comes to defensive tackle Jayden Williams (two tackles), running back Terron Kellman (seven carries, 87 yards) and Anderson (17-of-23, 167 yards, two touchdowns). He was also impressed with the special-teams unit. Jaden DaCosta blocked a second-quarter punt that eventually allowed Erik Sandvik to boot through a 40-yard field goal at the horn.

* Kickoff in Laramie Saturday between the Cowboys and Utes is slated for 6 p.m. Mountain Time. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

* As of Sunday afternoon, there were 3,500 tickets remaining for this rivalry matchup, according to a source familiar with the situation.

* The Roaring Repeater Podcast will air again this Tuesday with Jared Newland, special guest Ryan Thorburn and myself in our Cheyenne studios. Make sure to watch our social media feed, where we'll be asking you, the fans, for any questions you may have before the home opener.

* As always, make sure you are following us on social media: Facebook and X. Also, have you downloaded our totally free app yet? You can do that right HERE. You can also sign up for our daily newsletter right HERE. Catch up on all the latest Wyoming football news right HERE.

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