Moore, Cowboys run wild

Richard Anderson photo
Wyoming senior running back Devin Moore looks for some blocks from his offensive linemen Saturday against San Diego State.

By Richard Anderson
Wyoming Sports.org

Devin Moore is rapidly climbing the all-time University of Wyoming career rushing ladder -- only Ryan Christopherson is still ahead of him.

His 234 yards on Saturday moved him into second place all-time with 2,698 yards. He’s 208 yards from Christopherson.

Moore has a motto he lives by this season: “I make goals and I achieve them,” he said. “That’s what I am running with. The offensive line is behind me and I am behind them.”

Moore and senior running mate Wynel Seldon ran wild on the Aztecs as Wyoming finished with 398 yards on the ground in the 35-10 win over San Diego State.

Those 234 yards also put him over 1,000 yards for the season, the first Cowboy to do so in 10 years.

“They (individual accolades) mean a lot but at the same time, it means more to me that we are winning games now,” he said. “I will look back and I will cheese up to here (pointing to his eyes). Right now, I’m just looking forward to winning games.”

Moore also scored three touchdowns for the first time in his career, from 35 yards out, along with two short runs of 2 yards and 1 yard. His 64-yard sprint set up a 14-yard touchdown run by Seldon, who had an outstanding game as well with 124 yards.

Moore refuted a claim by a member of the media that he predicted this type of game, but admitted that he always predicts that games like this are possible. As well as Wyoming ran the ball on Saturday, he said they could have run for more.

“Coach (Bob) Cole is aggressive and he wants to show the world that things that happened in the past are not going to happen again,“ Moore said. “We’re on a new page and hopefully this is a start.”

Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn said Saturday was a gratifying game for the offense, especially the running game.

“The O-line, surely they get the kudos first, but our fullback, Greg Genho, out tights ends, our wideouts, they all blocked well,” Glenn said. “Probably the happiest two guys in town are Chad Germer and Casey Glenn. They work with those guys up front with their blocking and that is the kind of day they will hang their hat on.”

Wyoming senior offensive guard Kyle Howard said he had never been around anything like what he experienced on Saturday.

“That’s a credit to our running backs, our coaching staff and our scheme. Everyone did a great job today,” Howard said.

Seldon, who is fourth all-time running the ball for the Cowboys, credited the “big guys pulling up front and the staple of backs that they have, who continue to run hard,” Seldon said.

“Just fight for extra yards. God answers prayers,“ Seldon said. “We’ve been trying to pull things together and figure out a remedy to get wins for this entire university.”

While the Aztecs are on the opposite end of the spectrum in defending the rush than TCU, one of the country’s leaders, San Diego State made an effort to pack the box often with eight or nine in the middle. San Diego State knew the Cowboys were going to run the ball and they did just that.

“We knew they had struggled with their run defense and that would be one our strengths going into the game, but I don’t think anyone thought we would do what we did out there today,” Howard said.

Just what is making Moore one of the all-time best running backs in Wyoming history?

Patience, says Glenn.

“I think we all remember the D-Mo of old; you give him the ball and he’s like a pop-bottle rocket -- he would just go about anywhere,” Glenn said. “I have noticed just getting into this year, even in the tough times, he’s picking his blocking pretty darn good and setting up his blocking better than he ever has. He’s much more patient and deliberate and he is letting his blocking unfold better. Of course, he’s stronger than he has ever been and he is more experienced.”

Howard said Moore and Seldon make the Wyoming offensive line look good.

“Plays don’t have to be blocked perfect for him to turn into a big play,“ Howard said. “He (Moore) has tremendous speed, but in the weight room he is one of the strongest guys pound-for-pound, that we have, he and Wynel are tremendous backs. We’re very blessed to have them on our team.”

Moore has his goals, he doesn’t deny that. For now, he’s more worried about earning victories.

“At the end of the season, after the CSU game, I’ll let you know for sure,” said Moore, when asked by a reporter what his goals were. “Right now, goal number one is to beat Tennessee.”

If that happens Saturday and good things occur in the final two games, the yards and Moore’s ultimate goals will likely be fulfilled.