BOULDER, Colo., — This was a must-win game for Colorado — and it showed.

Kaidon Salter and the offense rolled up 497 yards of total offense and scored three second-quarter touchdowns in a 37-20 win over the Cowboys Saturday night in front of a capacity crowd inside Folsom Field.

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Wyoming’s defense, which has given up 68 points over the previous seven quarters, allowed scoring tosses of 29, 68 and 47 yards as the Cowboys fell to 2-2 overall on the season.

“We played like crap on defense, let’s just be honest,” Jay Sawvel said postgame. “We needed to have a better performance defensively than what we had tonight.”

If that unit was “leaking oil,” like the second-year head coach said, the offense was a beater on blocks over the first 15-plus minutes, rolling up a grand total of nine yards. The Cowboys managed just three first downs in that time frame, all coming via a Colorado pass-interference call.

While most fans expressed frustration throughout the first half about this Jay Johnson led offense, one that returned more than 80% of its production from a season ago, it was, of all things, an impressive scoring drive from the visitors that sent some over the edge.

Kaden Anderson delivered a strike to wideout Chris Durr Jr. with 4:32 remaining in the regulation, cutting the Buffs’ lead to just 10.

What’s wrong with that?

It took nearly seven minutes off the clock.

Wyoming methodically made its way down the field, huddling before each snap and running the football eight times on the possession. Adding to the confusion over the lack of late urgency, this unit was even flagged for a delay of game.

Did the Cowboys wave the white flag? Was it more important to “get right” on offense than it was to make a run at this upset?

Here’s what Sawvel had to say about the 6:49 that bled off the jumbotron and became the primary focus in his press conference.

Here’s this week’s rants and raves:

 

FIRST HALF:

 

 

SECOND HALF:

 

GALLERY: Wyoming Football’s NFL Pro Day

Nearly 30 NFL franchises were on hand March 19 in Laramie to watch 10 Wyoming football players go through drills during the school’s annual pro day. Defensive standouts Easton Gibbs, Jakorey Hawkins, Cole Godbout and Deron Harrell took part in the combine-style workout. So did offensive stars Andrew Peasley, Frank Crum, Ayir Asante, Colin O’Brien and Treyton Welch. NFL personnel also got a close look at Wyoming punter Clayton Stewart.

Gallery Credit: DJ Johnson photos