October 2, 2023 |
Photo – Wyoming during game against New Mexico – Courtesy gowyo.com
The Wyoming Cowboys opened conference play Saturday in a sun-washed War Memorial Stadium with 35-26 win over New Mexico.
According to the radio broadcast team, the ground-level temperature on Jonah Field was 121-degrees at kickoff. The Lobos also started off hot, driving downfield for a score. Big plays from Wyoming defense and offense sealed the Cowboy win before a Homecoming crowd of 25,000 in Laramie.
The game was a crowd-pleaser from start to finish. The Lobos, in their opening drive, marched down the field for a score. Quarterback Dylan Hopkins went 6-for-6 driving New Mexico 61 yards for a touchdown. Then during the point-after-attempt, the momentum changed. Keith Kelly and Kevin McKinney had the call on Bigfoot 99.
UW cornerback Jakorey Hawkins picked up the blocked PAT and returned it the distance for two points to make the score New Mexico 6, Wyoming 2. Hawkins’ name should be familiar. He returned a blocked field goal attempt a week earlier for the winning touchdown against Appalachian State.
After Saturday’s win, Wyoming Head Coach Craig Bohl praised the play, saying it was critical in stealing back momentum after the Lobos had marched down the field for the score in their opening drive.
Quarterback Andrew Peasley was back in the groove, as well. The soreness in Peasley’s arm, after the early-season injury, seemed to be gone. Wyoming’s QB finished the day with 194 passing yards, including a 66-yard completion to Assante Ayir to close out the third quarter.
The big play off the bubble screen pass from the Wyoming 34 gave Wyoming a 29-12 lead.
Running back Harrison Waylee had another big day, rushing for 191 yards on 18 carries. Wyoming was place-kicker John Hoyland. Hoyland was a perfect 4-for-4 in field goals, scoring from 26, 34, 38 and 38 yards. He also converted all three of his point-after-touchdown attempts for a perfect day. Hoyland put up 15 of Wyoming’s 35 points.
Wyoming’s two long scores in the third quarter broke the game open after a close first half. The Lobos turned it over on their first drive of the second half when Wrook Brown picked of a pass and returned it to midfield. On the next play, Harrison Waylee escaped several tackles and raced for a 46-yard touchdown that gave Wyoming a 22-9 lead.
Waylee broke several tackles and raced for the 46-yard touchdown to give Wyoming a 22-9 lead.
Peasley was 16 of 24 for 194 yards on the afternoon with one touchdown. The Cowboy QB added seven carries for 34 yards and a score
Wyoming is off to a 4-and-1 start on the season. The gauntlet continues with last year’s Mountain West Champion, Fresno State, coming into the War Saturday night. The Bulldogs are 5-0 after a 27-9 win over Nevada.
