Colorado State’s freshman wide receiver gave Wyoming an unexpected opportunity just before halftime by mishandling an end-around exchange with quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi. If the handoff had gone smoothly, it likely would have added six more points to the scoreboard.
The Rams were poised to capitalize on Wyoming’s failed fourth-down attempt deep in their territory. Instead, senior defensive end DeVonne Harris recovered the fumble.
Crisis averted.
However, it was really just a delay of disaster.
Jay Johnson’s offense, down by 14 points, had a chance to chip away at what seemed like an insurmountable lead on their first drive of the third quarter. Unfortunately, they mismanaged that opportunity in just 2:35, failing to capitalize on a 25-yard connection between Kaden Anderson and Jaylen Sargent.
They also struggled to convert on third downs, finishing just 3-of-14 in that crucial aspect of the game.
CSU quickly took advantage of the situation. After a 32-yard run by senior running back Avery Morrow, Fowler-Nicolosi hit Maher with a perfectly thrown 53-yard touchdown pass, sending the over 36,000 fans at Canvas Stadium into a frenzy.
“He has really put in the effort and shows a natural talent for route running,” said CSU head coach Jay Norvell, referring to the deep corner route that extended his team’s lead to 24-3. “That’s not an easy route to execute. When Tory (Horton) went down—we used to rely on him for a lot of plays—other players have been stepping up to fill that role.
“Tommy really excels at running that route.”
And he certainly does.
The 5-foot-10, 170-pound player from California faced no resistance off the line, sprinting past Wyoming’s nickel corner Wrook Brown, who could only helplessly swipe at the ball as Maher crossed the goal line.
“I think at times, we defeated ourselves in certain situations,” said Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel. “We didn’t maintain enough blocks early in the second half, which was the most disappointing aspect.”
Despite forcing five punts on the Rams’ last six possessions, Wyoming’s placekicker Jordan Noyes missed a 57-yard attempt early in the fourth quarter.
Even with an advantage in field position—averaging starting drives at their own 32-yard line during the second half—Wyoming managed only one touchdown, a 1-yard run from Anderson, and totaled just 156 yards.
“This is probably the toughest loss I’ve experienced in all my years of playing football,” said a visibly upset Anderson after the game. “Personally, it really hurt. A lot.”
Final score: Colorado State 24, Wyoming 10.
UNSUNG HERO
DeVonne Harris has been giving it his all.
The senior edge rusher played in his fifth Border War on Friday night despite suffering a serious elbow injury in the season opener against Arizona State. This was more than just a hyperextension; it was significant damage. Nevertheless, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Minnesota native found a way to return to the field.
Harris recorded a season-high six tackles against Colorado State, including one behind the line of scrimmage and three solo stops. He also recovered a fumble at the goal line just before halftime.
Wyoming was missing defensive ends Braden Siders and Sabastian Harsh for the 116th meeting between these rival teams. Harris stepped up yet again.
However, he had no interest in celebrating after the game.
“It hurts,” he said. “It hurts to lose this final game. We’ll come back on Monday ready to prepare for Boise and aim to finish the year strong.”
QUOTABLE
“As a coach, it’s incredibly fulfilling. I keep thinking back to my own college experiences. Our football team reminds me of my time at Iowa, where everyone fought for one another. They didn’t care about accolades or stats; they just wanted to support their teammates. That kind of commitment is hard to find in football nowadays.”
— CSU head coach Jay Norvell addressing local media after securing his first victory over Wyoming since arriving in Fort Collins in 2022.
“It was a strange situation. There were a lot of people around, and I thought pressure was coming. I shouldn’t have changed the play. It was just a rookie mistake—I need to improve.”
— Wyoming QB Kaden Anderson discussing his decision to switch to a run play on a 3rd-and-6 at the 50-yard line with 2:36 left in the third quarter. Running back Sam Scott was stopped for no gain, leading to a punt.
“It’s the worst feeling ever. I just feel awful, you know? I let down Bert (Jordan Bertagnole), Connor (Shay), and Shae (Suiaunoa)—all the seniors. This was their last game against these guys, and as you could see, they rushed the field after beating us. We were 2-7, and this rivalry means everything to me. I feel like I let those guys down, and it’s hard to look them in the eye because we all want to end on a high note as seniors.”
— Wyoming offensive guard Jack Walsh sharing his emotions after the loss in the Border War.
“It’s a tough lesson for many in the program. I feel for our seniors; we’ve held that boot for the past three years, and now we don’t have it. To the underclassmen, I would say, look across the field at what that looked like. You’ll see it all offseason in the weight room and in everything we do. We need to improve significantly in many areas.”
— Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel commenting on CSU players running to the visiting sideline to claim the Bronze Boot, a prized traveling trophy awarded to the game’s winner.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty and his Heisman campaign will visit next Saturday for the home finale at War Memorial Stadium. The 5-foot-9, 215-pound junior has rushed for an impressive 1,734 yards and scored 23 touchdowns for the 8-1 Broncos. For context, Wyoming’s entire offense has scored 25 times this season. Jeanty also has a receiving touchdown to his credit. Spencer Danielson’s team averages nearly 270 rushing yards per game, ranking second in college football. Meanwhile, Wyoming’s defense has allowed 660 rushing yards in just the past two games and is ranked No. 117 out of 133 FBS teams, giving up an average of 201.2 yards per game. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m., and the game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
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