Matt Strand is in an unfamiliar situation.

For the first season in at least four, Wyoming's starting quarterback has a backup.

Last Friday in the Cavs' 103-15 blowout of the Utah Saints, Strand even got some rare rest in the second half and watched his understudy Jamar Culver excel.

"It's a new thing for me," Strand said. "Getting Jamar in there and quality time, not just the last five minutes of the game, it's big for him to step in there.

"The guys see that he can run the offense and he can make the throws. … He'll be just fine if something happens."

He was better than fine.

Culver was 6-of-9 passing for 68 yards and threw three touchdowns - producing more points than the Saints in the game.

"I just got a chance to get in and got some good experience," Culver said.

In previous years the Cavs could get away without having a true backup, but their new league this year changed that thinking.

"It's huge because with this (new) league … you never know when something unfortunate could happen to Matt," Maciejczak said. "We are trying to squeeze Jamar into the lineup as much as we can to get him some reps, so he can be ready if something was to happen."

Because only 20 players dress for games, Maciejczak wasn't sure if Culver would suit up tonight when the Cavs host the New Mexico Wildcats at the Casper Events Center at 7:30 p.m.

"It's kind of an impulse decision for me," Maciejczak said. "I kind of sit down with coach (Gary Somerville) and we evaluate everything and go over different scenarios. 'If he was to go down, he could he step in here.'

"It's kind of a shoot by the hip decision."

That works for Culver.

He knows his role and embraces it as a chance to learn from Strand.

"I know the situation I'm in," Culver said. "When I get my chance to shine, I'm going to shine."

Last week Culver shined, now he'll patiently wait for another chance.

RETURN OF THE GIANT KILLER: Former Wyoming kicker Trey Ransom was at practice this week, and the "Giant Killer" might soon be back in the Cavs lineup.

"He called me up and said he was interested in starting to kick a little bit and see how he feels," Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said. "So it's another possibility to toss into our lineup."

Maciejczak wouldn't say if or when Ransom would play.

The Cavs' kicking game has been inconsistent this year and the team has used multiple players for kickoffs.

BUMPS AND BRUISES: Defensive lineman Tyrone Saterfield is the only player whose status is uncertain for New Mexico.

"It's pretty fortunate we blew out Utah the way we did," Maciejczak said. "We had a chance to have fun and not have a true bang-it-up type of football game. We got a little bit of rest there."

Saterfield has missed the past two games with a back injury.

INACTION HEROES: The Huntington (W.V.) Heroes from the Eastern Conference of the American Indoor Football Association will have a different look the rest of the season.

Players refused to board the bus to their road game last week against the Florence (S.C.) Phantoms because of money issues. The Phantoms had to play a replacement team to make up for the Heroes not showing.

Coach Teddy Keaton resigned on Saturday. Charles Gunning, the team's defensive coordinator, then left to coach the Fayetteville (N.C.) Guard, another AIFA team. Four players followed Gunning to his new team, and six other players have left the franchise.

"I really don't worry about that," Maciejczak said. "They are not on our schedule.

"I know they were a good football team and kind of disbanded because of money issues. For me it's sad because I've been a part of that before. I've been a part of good football teams that have had to deal with that."

Contact sports reporter David Buck at (307) 266-0596 or david.buck@trib.com

Cavalry Tracker

TODAY: New Mexico at Wyoming, Casper Events Center, 7:30 p.m.

RECORDS: Wildcats (1-4); Cavalry (5-0).

BACK IT UP: Jamar Culver showed the backup quarterback has some skills, throwing for three touchdowns last week against Utah.

NEW KICKER?: Trey Ransom, the Cavs kicker last season, was at practice on Tuesday testing his leg. Wyoming coach Dan Maciejczak said he wasn't sure if or when he would dress Ransom.