October 16, 2023 |
PHOTO – Saturday’s game against Air Force – Courtesy gowyo.com
The Cowboys let a win slip through their hands Saturday night. On back-to-back plays deep in the fourth quarter, Wyoming recovered Air Force fumbles but could not convert them into a win.
After building an early 14-nothing lead over the Falcons, the Cowboys went onto lose the conference showdown 34-to-27.
Cowboy Head Coach Craig Bohl called the outcome a “gut wrenching loss.”
Wyoming was in the game but could not put together enough plays for the win. At the 6:14 mark of the 4th quarter, Andrew Peasley hit Treyton Welch in the end zone for a seven-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 27 apiece. John Hoyland then missed his first-ever point-after kick. It was blocked. A few minutes later after linebacker Easton Gibbs recovered an Air Force fumble, Peasley could not move the Cowboys. Hoyland then missed a 52-yard field goal.
The kick went wide right. Hoyland is struggling with three missed field goals and an extra point in a row.
Even Cowboy players were wearing shocked looks on their faces as time ran out. The loss came after Wyoming marched down the field with precision in their opening two drives for touchdowns in rapid succession. The first of the pair saw Peasley keeping the ball on a first-and-goal at the one for his seventh rushing touchdown of the season. Air Force went three-and-out on their next drive. In Wyoming’s second possession, the Cowboys drove downfield with Peasley hitting Wyatt Wieland in the end zone.
Air Force regrouped with two quick scores, including a fake punt that resulted in a first down and then a touchdown to tie the game.
Oh, man is right. Air Force would tie up the game on the next play. Late in the second quarter, Peasley found wide receiver Ayir Asante for a 14-yard TD pass to put the Pokes back in the lead at 21-14. The game had all the looks of a shootout.
Air Force connected on field goal just before the end of the half to make it 21-17 contest.
In the third quarter, the Falcons ate up over ten minutes on their way to a touchdown to take a 24-21 lead. A field goal extended their lead to 27-21. Wyoming tied the game at the 6:14 mark with another Peasley-to-Welch touchdown pass.
The extra point did not come. The attempt was blocked. Hoyland missed another field goal attempt late in the game and the Pokes fell 34-27.
In his postgame interview, Falcons Head Coach Troy Calhoun admitted that the fake punt in the second quarter was a desperation move to keep his team in the game.
Wyoming Head Coach Craig Bohl praised quarterback Peasley for another solid game.
The Cowboys have the bye week to think about the win that got away.
Next up for the Cowboys will be another slug fest. The Pokes will play Boise State on October 28 for a Halloween weekend showdown against the Broncos. The game time for that game will be announced by the Mountain West Conference and FOX Networks in the coming days. Like Wyoming, the Broncos are 2-and-1 in conference play.
CSU beat the Broncos with a Hail Mary pass as time ran out in the 4th quarter.
The miracle play went under a long review by officials, but it stood. With the game 30-30 and no time on the clock, Jordan Noyes nailed the 35-yard extra point to give the Rams their first ever win over Boise State.
The Border War between Wyoming and CSU is set for Friday night November 3rd.
Meanwhile, Air Force is 4-0 in Mountain West play and ahead of the pack after Saturday night’s win. Don’t lose hope. Wyoming and Air Force could meet again in the conference championship game in December.
