LARAMIE — New Mexico needed a police escort to trudge through a closed I-80 corridor to face off against Wyoming in snowy Laramie. Right up to the coin flip, when the temperature was up to 15 degrees, crews were still clearing the field of the seven inches of snow.
But Wyoming true freshman Austyn Carta-Samuels continued his hot streak and lead the Cowboys (2-0, 4-2) to a 37-13 homecoming win over the winless Lobos. It is Wyoming’s third consecutive win with Carta-Samuels under center.
Named the Mountain West Conference offensive player of the week twice in as many weeks, Carta-Samuels was 15-of-30 passing for 232 yards and three touchdowns. He was not sacked and did not throw an interception. He also had 54 yards rushings.
New Mexico (0-2, 0-6) struck first after Wyoming fumbled a punt snap deep in its territory. Lobos QB Donovan Porterie hit wide-open Ty Kirk on a 23-yard touchdown pass for a 7-0 lead. But Wyoming defensive end Mitch Unrein wrapped up the first quarter by stalking down Lobo runningback James Wright in the end zone for a safety.
The Cowboys bolstered their 17-13 lead after linebacker Weston Johnson grabbed a Porterie interception off the hands of A.J. Bulter at the Lobos’ 40. Carta-Samuels traded the turnover for a 28-yard TD pass to Zach Bolger, 23-13, with 4:05 remaining in the third quarter.
Wyoming backs Alvester Alexander (16 carries for 66 yards) and Brandon Stewart (13 for 62) shared the rushing duties and each got in the end zone, Alexander from 33 yards out and Stewart from 2. Stewart also finished the scoring with a 54-yard scoring pass down the sideline with 3:44 to play.
