Wyoming’s nickel back, Wrook Brown, delivered a game-changing play in a 49-45 victory over New Mexico on Saturday, securing a 29-yard pick-six that turned the tide in the fourth quarter, Wyoming Athletics reports.
The Cowboys, who had been trailing 45-35, rallied with a strong finish, helped by Brown’s defensive heroics, despite struggling throughout most of the game.
This wasn’t the first time Brown has stepped up in Albuquerque. During his first career start in 2022, Brown filled in for an injured teammate and played a pivotal role in Wyoming’s 27-14 win over the Lobos, recording 10 tackles. Since then, Brown has been a constant in the Cowboys’ defensive lineup, but Saturday’s performance may have been his most memorable.
“I was due to make a play. There weren’t a whole lot of plays being made on defense, especially by me, so I was glad we could turn it around at the end,” Brown said of his interception return for a touchdown.
The Cowboys’ defense allowed 576 total yards, including 412 rushing yards, as New Mexico’s quarterback Devon Dampier had a standout performance with 207 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Despite this, Wyoming’s defense, led by Brown’s pivotal pick-six, regained momentum with just under 13 minutes left in the game. After Brown’s interception, the Cowboys forced a punt and quickly capitalized with a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kaden Anderson to Isaiah Stevenson, bringing the score to 49-45.
“[Brown’s play] flipped a switch for all of us and turned the momentum of the game,” said defensive end Tyce Westland.
Brown, a 5-foot-11, 187-pound sophomore, knew instantly that he had a chance to make the big play when Dampier’s pass sailed his way.
“I had pretty good coverage on that one and there wasn’t anybody in front of me, so I knew if I catch this one, I should take it to the house,” he said.
With the game still tight, Wyoming’s defense added another key play when Westland forced a fumble from Dampier, which was recovered by the Cowboys. The offense then controlled the clock, picking up two critical first downs to seal the victory.
While Wyoming’s defense struggled for much of the game, the offense, led by Anderson’s 343 passing yards and three touchdowns, along with a combined 259 rushing yards from Harrison Waylee and Jamari Ferrell, provided enough firepower to escape with the win.
“Huge shout out to the offense for keeping us in that one. They’re the only reason we won that game… If we had played like we normally do (on defense), we would have been up multiple scores. I’m just glad that great offensive performance wasn’t for nothing,” Brown acknowledged.
Looking ahead, Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said Brown, who plays almost every defensive snap, will have his practice reps reduced this week to help him recover for the upcoming rivalry game against Colorado State on Nov. 15.
Despite the win, the Cowboys are still dealing with injuries in the secondary, with key players like Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White battling through setbacks. Brown expressed empathy for his injured teammates, noting that their leadership and guidance have been crucial even when they aren’t able to play.
“It’s even better now that they’re playing again,” he said of his teammates’ return to action.
As the Cowboys gear up for the Border War, Brown and his teammates are looking to build momentum from the win and improve defensively ahead of their rivalry game against Colorado State. Brown, determined to make his mark after a rough stretch on defense, is confident that the team will be ready to prove themselves.
“We’re going to have an edge, and we’ll be going out there with something to prove next week,” Brown said.
Wyoming will resume practice this week and will look to carry forward the offensive performance that helped them pull out a dramatic victory in Albuquerque.
