ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Jay Sawvel had his game face on at 9:45 a.m.
 
Wyoming's first-year head coach paced the hallway outside the hotel conference rooms stoically while waiting for the players to come down for a pre-game meal and to go over last-minute details.
 
An hour later, Kaden Anderson was laughing with teammates while strolling through the lobby as the buses warmed up to take the Cowboys to University Stadium.
 
After walking the field with fellow quarterback Evan Svoboda, putting the pads on in the visiting locker room and taking the snaps from starting center Nofoafia Tulafono during warmups, it was time for Anderson to lead the team to a victory.
 
The 6-foot-4 redshirt freshman stood tall in the pocket all afternoon and calmly picked the defense apart during the Pokes' dramatic 49-45 victory over New Mexico on Saturday.
 
Anderson finished 20-for-29 passing for 342 yards with three touchdowns and an interception in his memorable first career start.
 
"It's so exciting," Anderson said of the performance. "I'm not going anywhere for sure, so the future is bright."
 
The Pokes (2-7 overall, 2-3 Mountain West) have experienced some agonizing losses and injuries this season.
 
Anderson brought the joy back.
 
Harrison Waylee, inspired by the young QB, was dancing on the field before the game and singing "Ragtime Cowboy Joe" after rushing for 170 yards and a touchdown.
 
"I like Kaden," said Waylee, who was making his season debut after missing the first eight games due to a knee injury. "Before the game even started, he's just real amped up and he's like, 'We're going to go out there and win this, I've got your back, you've got my back.'
 
"Even during the game, too, he's super hyped. I ain't going to lie, I've never met a quarterback that talks a lot until I met him. Then again, he is from Texas, and he did back up Quinn Ewers when he was in high school. So, him taking over he's used to this."
 
Anderson handled the pressure of the Texas Friday night lights well after following Ewers, the Longhorns' star quarterback, at prep powerhouse South Lake Carroll.
 
UW's staff continued to recruit Anderson when some bigger schools backed off after he suffered a serious knee injury. During his redshirt year he was still recovering as Andrew Peasley led the Pokes to nine wins and Svoboda made a spot start opposite Ewers in Austin.
 
"Evan Svoboda, I love the kid to death," Sawvel said after making the emotionally difficult coaching change and then notching his first road win as head coach. "He's going to be a major factor in our program now and in the future. Kaden's feel for everything became particularly evident over the last couple weeks and today a lot of that pays off. …
 
"I'm proud of the way Kaden played today."
 
The score was tied 35-35 at the intermission. Anderson went 10-for-13 passing for 208 yards and two touchdowns during the wild first half.
 
After the Lobos scored a touchdown on the first drive of the game, Anderson answered with a 47-yard completion to Jaylen Sargent on a third-and-12, which led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Jamari Ferrell.
 
UW was without Sam Scott, who rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown against Utah State but did not make the trip due to an injury.
 
"Jamari definitely stepped up," Waylee said of Ferrell, who had 89 yards rushing. "A couple days ago Coach asked me if I wanted to start and I said, no, let Jamari start because Jamari has been looking good in practice and he came out and did what you are supposed to do. I'm glad they let him start."
\
Later in the first quarter, Chris Durr Jr. made a spectacular one-handed catch worthy of SportsCenter "Top 10" consideration. On the next snap, Anderson used the play-action to deliver a dime to tight end John Michael Gyllenborg for a 15-yard touchdown on fourth down.
 
"He did a really good job of keeping us in plays," Sawvel said of Anderson. "Obviously, he was accurate on some key throws to Sargent, which I thought was great. I thought he was accurate on some third-down balls to Chris Durr in critical situations. His command of things was really good."
 
Anderson ran for a 7-yard touchdown on the first play of the second quarter and threw a 68-yard touchdown to Sargent to give UW a 28-21 lead with 9:54 remaining in the first-half fireworks show.
 
A high snap and two holding calls temporarily cooled the Pokes offense and led to a 40-yard touchdown scamper by Devon Dampier to tie the score.
 
Waylee capped off a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys a brief 35-28 lead.
 
Eli Sanders broke free for a 75-yard touchdown run to pull the Lobos even as UW's defense allowed 383 total yards through 30 minutes.
 
"During practice he can really sling the ball, and he can put it on the money," defensive end Tyce Westland said of Anderson. "It's nice to see our offense doing what it is capable of doing."
 
New Mexico shut the Cowboys out in the third quarter and took a seemingly commanding lead on an 85-yard touchdown run by Dampier, the longest ever by a Lobo quarterback, right after Anderson threw an interception.
 
"I think if he could have one play back it would be the interception on the second flea flicker. We threw it into double coverage," Sawvel said. "But there's so much to build on with that guy so we're excited."
 
The officials reviewed the hit to Anderson's helmet on the turnover play but ruled the defensive lineman Moso'oipala Tuitele was not guilty of targeting. Both Anderson and Tuitele were flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
 
"I've got to calm down a little bit for sure," Anderson said. "After that interception I told myself I'm not going to talk any more. That's when I started playing better. I've got to keep my head in the game and stop talking as much. …
 
"I've got a little fire in me for sure. I think that comes from my dad a little bit."
 
Anderson's father, Ronnie, died of brain cancer in 2020. He would certainly be proud of the fight his son and the Pokes had in the fourth quarter.
 
Wrook Brown returned an interception for a 29-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 45-42.
 
Anderson threw a touchdown pass to Durr that was taken off the board by an offensive pass-interference call against Isaiah Stevenson.
 
Once the officials were finished marking off the 15-yard penalty, Anderson connected with Stevenson for a 27-yard touchdown with 4:44 remaining.
 
"I literally told him this is coming to you, stay levelheaded, we need you right here," Anderson said. "I knew I was going to him immediately. That was awesome."
 
Westland came up with a strip-sack of Dampier and fumble recovery to end the Lobos' plans for a last-minute comeback.
 
Sawvel's game face turned into a winning grin as he found Anderson for a midfield hug.
 
"It's almost like he's a natural," Waylee said of Anderson. "He's somebody that just jokes around and it's a hard-fought game and he's having a good time. He's going to be something special for sure."
 
If you are interested in learning more about NIL (Name, Image and Likeness) or would like to support our student-athletes, please visit 1wyo.org. 1WYO was created out of Wyoming's culture of neighbor helping neighbor. The mission is to promote and strengthen local charitable organizations and develop Wyoming student athletes.

Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.