Bou Knows Offense: 'He Had a Handle On Everything'

LARAMIE -- Ryan Yarborough was honored Saturday night inside War Memorial Stadium, the former All-American wide receiver celebrated for his recent induction into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Marcus Harris was also in attendance. The 1996 Biletnikoff Trophy recipient also received a shoutout in front of a capacity crowd of more than 25,000.

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Jovon Bouknight, statistically the third-best wideout in school history, was the real star of the show, though, in this 117th meeting between Border War rivals Wyoming and Colorado State.

Just six days after being named the new coordinator of this much-maligned Cowboy offense, that unit, led by quarterback Kaden Anderson, responded with four touchdowns and 372 total yards -- 160 passing, 212 rushing -- in a 28-0 blanking of the visiting Rams.

Jay Sawvel said last Monday he was looking for a "jolt" when he demoted Jay Johnson and handed the reins to Bouknight.

He found one.

"He had a handle on everything, every part of it," Wyoming's second-year head coach said, referring to Bouknight, who previously only called situational plays --third downs and red-zone opportunities -- during the 2017 season at Utah State and in the 2020 Gator Bowl when he was the wide receivers coach at Kentucky. "There was not a hesitation in a call.

"... As far as getting the call in, being decisive in the call and knowing exactly what he wanted to do in a situation, I thought he was really, really good."

Wrinkles? Yeah, there were a few.

Bouknight inserted back-up signal caller Landon Sims in the game on six different occasions, five of which were runs, including a 1-yard draw the sophomore took into the end zone to open the scoring.

On the two snaps prior to that scamper, right guard Caden Barnett was inserted into the backfield as a lead blocker. The 320-pound senior planted CSU safety Jake Jarmolowich on third down, but running back Terron Kellman was tripped up at the line.

Tyson Shamsid-Deen, a true freshman cornerback, also got some time on offense in this one, making one catch.

Sawvel said the game plan was a simple one: Get the ball to your best athletes.

All three running backs -- Samuel Harris, Sam Scott and Kellman -- got involved early. So did slot receiver Chris Durr Jr. He snagged three first-quarter passes. The sophomore added three more in the following frame, including a nine-yard touchdown grab with just 36 ticks remaining in the half.

That score gave Wyoming a commanding 21-0 lead at the break.

Mass substitutions on offense have been a topic of discussion inside coaches' meetings. That was not the case in this outing. Skill players, and most importantly Anderson, were able to find an early rhythm.

The sophomore signal caller connected on 15 of his first 18 attempts. He averaged 10.2 yards per throw and added two first-half touchdown passes, including a 22-yard hookup with Michael Fitzgerald.

Anderson capped his day with 154 yards and a completion percentage of 67.

"Playmakers go make plays and I just have to go throw it up," he added. "We've got the guys, you know what I'm saying? So, we just gotta let the playmakers go make plays. Gotta let them go eat."

The Cowboys' offensive line, on 25 dropbacks, didn't give up a single sack. In fact, the reshuffled front five -- with a little help from running backs and tight ends -- never even allowed a quarterback hurry. CSU blitzes more than any other program in the Mountain West.

The vision and awareness from Anderson certainly didn't hurt, either.

Wyoming averaged 6.2 yards per rush. That unit was also 2-of-2 in the red zone, both touchdowns. Turnovers have been a big issue of late. Two fourth-quarter interceptions last Saturday cost this team a win at Air Force. Saturday, that number was zero.

Early third-down success also led to a lopsided time-of-possession advantage. More plays, more opportunities.

Call it the Bouknight effect.

"Look, he has a directness with players, and I appreciate that," Sawvel said. "I think that you could see that with the way that they performed."

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