Rainbow Warriors expect toughness to be tested at Wyoming

Welcome to “Laradise” — Laramie, Wyo. — where the air is thin (7,165-foot elevation), the steaks are thick, and “Cowboy up!” is an accepted approach to dealing with adversity.

It is where Wyoming’s football team is an all-terrain squad that is constructed for snow, wind and pesky opponents.

“We’re going to play no matter what the weather is,” said Wyoming coach Craig Bohl, whose Cowboys host Hawaii in tonight’s nationally televised game at War Memorial Stadium. “We’re a rough people that deal with the different climates, the different weathers.”

The Cowboys are built from the ground up, with the Mountain West’s 2019 rushing champion, Xazavian Valladay, making the most of openings created by a line averaging 316 pounds per blocker. The specs for a quarterback are: 6 feet 4 and 220 pounds.

Levi Williams, who steps into the starting quarterback’s role, fits that profile. Williams is 6-5 and 240 pounds, with a strong right arm and powerful strides to match the Cowboys’ run-pass-option schemes. Williams also showed leadership last week after co-captain Sean Chambers suffered a season-ending injury on the third play of the game.

“We’re happy to get back out there,” said Williams, referencing the Cowboys’ overtime loss to Nevada. “We left a lot of stuff on the table as an offense.”

Williams added: “We’re really looking to making a statement for this game offensively and helping the defense out.”

The Warriors are seeking a 2-0 start for the fourth year in a row. In last week’s opener at Fresno State, the Warriors shifted focus from a passing attack to a run game that amassed 323 yards. Miles Reed, Dae Dae Hunter and Calvin Turner, a converted quarterback, gained yards on outside zones, draws, dives and swing passes off quarterback Chevan Cordeiro’s rollouts. The Warriors had six explosive rushes (20-plus yards), including Cordeiro’s keepers of 54, 22 and 20 yards.

Asked about Cordeiro’s runs, Wyoming defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel mused: “I hope he can’t run as fast in the cold.”

The Warriors have experienced adverse weather conditions since departing Fresno late Saturday. They conducted a stretching period and walk-through session in a hotel’s ballroom in Denver. Tuesday’s practice was moved to an indoor facility because of Monday’s snowstorm. The Warriors finally practiced outdoors Wednesday and Thursday before making the 127-mile drive to Laramie. The mercury is expected to be 25 degrees at kickoff.

The Warriors hope to continue two traditions. The game’s winner is awarded the Paniolo Trophy. Last week, the Warriors initiated a postgame ceremony of breaking a rock in the locker room following a victory. “We want to break 10 rocks,” Cordeiro said. “To do that, we have to work every day, just focus on our craft, and keep practicing hard.”