October 15, 2024 |
PHOTO – Four Cowboys all in a row – Courtesy gowyo.com
Wyoming head football coach Jay Sawvel admitted on Monday that his Cowboys have to eliminate the play-making errors that cost them a win at home on Saturday against San Diego State.
The Cowboys took the lead early in the fourth quarter but could not stop the Aztecs who roared back quickly with a touchdown and a field goal for a 27-24 win in front of a stunned War Memorial Stadium.
With the loss, Wyoming fell to 1-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play.
Coach Sawvel said admitted that the Cowboys did not finish Saturday’s game the way they needed to, calling the loss “inexcusable.”
Wyoming begins the second half of the season on Saturday when the Cowboys take on San Jose State in the Homecoming Day game.
On defense, SJSU has forced 15 turnovers this season, which is good for third in the nation. The Spartans’ 10 interceptions are good for third in the nation and second in the Mountain West.
Wyoming quarterback Evan Svoboda threw two interceptions against San Digeo Sate in Saturday’s loss. Svoboda was sacked six times.
The Cowboys head out on the road this week to take on a team that, as Coach Sawvel noted yesterday, is “two one-possession games away from being undefeated.”
Wyoming will have to crank up its pass defense. The Cowboys gave up 254 yards passing to San Diego State on Saturday. They can expect to be tested again this week. The Aztecs feature double-barreled offense.
This season, San Jose State’s Nick Nash leads all FBS players outright in receptions (62), receptions per game (10.3) and receiving touchdowns (10). For perspective, Nash is the third FBS player since 1996 to have 50+ receptions.
The Spartans are 8-and-1 in their last nine conference games.
Wyoming quarterback Evan Svoboda has thrown for 809 yards on 68-of-146 passing with three touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He has used his legs, as well, with 186 yards and five rushing touchdowns.
Sam Scott has rushed for 274 yards on 60 carries so far this year while scoring two times on the ground.
John Michael Gyllenborg leads his team with 174 receiving yards on 13 receptions.
Svoboda and the Wyoming offense can expect San Jose to make a lot of defensive rotations as the Spartans like to bring different pressures.
Wyoming’s first year head coach is driving his young team and its battered veterans to attack the second half of the season like they are undefeated.
The good news–starting safeties Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White, starting guards Jack Walsh and Rex King and starting nose tackle Ben Florentine – who all missed the game against the Aztecs – are set to play this week, depending on how they hold up physically through week.
More good news—a lot of young Wyoming players have already seen action as the Cowboys head into the second half of the season.
Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday.
