September 19, 2023 |
Photo – Cowboys vs Appalachin State – Bigfoot99 file photo
The four Wyoming players who spoke to the media after Saturday night’s 31-10 loss to Texas were not counting any moral victories. The Cowboys, with a backup quarterback at the helm, played the Longhorns close through three quarters only to lose the handle in the fourth quarter.
A loss is a loss, the players agreed. Fifth-year offensive tackle Frank Crum said the Cowboys didn’t finish the job after it was there for the taking.
The 6-7, 315 pound offensive tackle praised sophomore quarterback Evan Svoboda who made his first career start Saturday night before a massive, hostile crowd in Austin.
Svoboda went 2-for-3 on Wyoming’s first drive, cleanly executing a handoff to Northern Illinois transfer Harrison Waylee on the first big play of the evening. Waylee took off, untouched, on a 62-yard touchdown run, stunning the hometown crowd. Texas hadn’t allowed a rush longer than 20 yards over its first two games. Waylee said the Wyoming O line was up to the task of opening holes in a top five team like Texas.
Waylee’s touchdown run to open the game in the first quarter accounted for 38% of Wyoming’s offense in the first half and the Cowboys’ only touchdown. Waylee, a transfer from Northern Illinois, rushed for 110 yards on the night.
Waylee wasn’t the only Cowboy who found himself on a Texas-size stage playing in his first game. The decision to put in Svboda came minutes before the opening kickoff. Svoboda got the start in place of Andrew Peasely, whose gritty performance against Texas Tech carried Wyoming to that upset victory. Svoboda was solid until the late interception with 136 yards passing. Waylee called Svoboda’s performance “impressive”
Wide receiver Wyatt Wieland recorded a career-high of eight catches for 62 yards.
Wieland said Peasely was emotional before the game after the decision was made to put in Svoboda at quarterback. Peasely who was on headsets along the sidelines during the game was one of the first players to rush the field and congratulate Svoboda.
The UW defense was led by linebacker Easton Gibbs with 10 tackles. Gibbs admitted that the Pokes had their chance but said the Cowboys “fell apart in the fourth quarter.” Gibbs said the Cowboys had their chance. Now they’ve got to pack it up and move onto game four this week in Laramie.
Head football coach Craig Bohl was ready to move onto Monday’s practice and the next team on the schedule, Appalachian State. From Boone, North Carolina, App State is coming off a 43-28 win over in-state rival East Carolina. Coach Bohl is no stranger to the Mountaineers.
The Mountaineers come into Laramie with a 2-1 record, the same as Wyoming. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. in a game under the lights at War Memorial Stadium.
