NOVEMBER 25, 2024|
Photo – UW Athletics logo – Bigfoot99 file photo
A Thanksgiving miracle did not occur in Laramie on Saturday night as Wyoming fell 17-13 to #12 Boise State. It looked, for a time, like one might happen though.
The Cowboys defense played well enough to win, keeping the Broncos vaulted offense to just 185 rushing yards and 167 passing. The Wyoming offense had their chances, but playing the second half without quarterback Kaden Anderson, the Pokes came up shy.
In the closing seconds, the Cowboys had a chance, but Wyoming needed to go 70 yards with 14 seconds on the clock. It wasn’t to be.
Wyoming got on the board early in the first half with a season-long field goal from John Hoyland.
Keith Kelly had the call on the Wyoming sports network. The Broncos missed their first field goal attempt as Wyoming rose to the challenge against the top-ranked Broncos inside the War.
Boise State missed its first field goal attempt but got on the board at the 3:40 mark of the first quarter when Heismann Trophy hopeful Ashton Jeanty busted off a 61-yard touchdown run.
The Wyoming defenders did a good job bottling up Jeanty, keeping the standout running back to just 69 yards and one touchdown on the night.
Wyoming and Boise State traded touchdowns in the 2nd quarter. Anderson hit Justin Stevenson at the 9:36 mark with a five-yard touchdown pass to put the Cowboys back in the lead.
For Anderson, the touchdown strike was his sixth of the season and third scoring catch of the season for Stevenson. Wyoming was up 10-to-7.
As the Cowboy defense stood strong with a goal line stand to hold the Broncos to a field goal attempt near the end of the half, Wyoming’s signal caller was undergoing treatment on the sidelines after taking a hard hit.
The Broncos tied up the game with a field goal to end the half. Anderson would not return to the game after he underwent concussion protocol.
Evan Svoboda came in as Wyoming’s signal caller for the second half. The Cowboys would not reach the end zone for the rest of the contest, but they came close. Svoboda connected with Justin Stevenson for a big gainer.
Wyoming settled for a field goal at the 9:33 mark of the fourth quarter to make it a 13-10 game. With 5:02 remaining, Boise state secured the win with an eight-play, 75-yard drive, for a touchdown and extra-point kick for the 17-13 win.
Wyoming falls to a 2-9 on the season while Boise State heads to the Mountain West Championship game.
Wyoming Head Coach Jay Sawvel did not try to claim a moral victory at the end of the game.
The Cowboys wrap up their season with a trip Pullman, Washington, this week to take on Washington State. Kickoff for the final game of the season for the Brown and Gold is set for 4:30. We’ll have it for you on Bigfoot 99 starting with the pregame show at 3.