September 25, 2023 |
Photo – Cowboys celebrate win – Courtesy gowyo.com
The Wyoming Cowboys came back from the dead Saturday night to shock Appalachian State 22-19 with a 62-yard blocked field goal return to win the game.
The Cowboys improved to 3-and-1 with an improbable win that defied both teams’ stats on the night. Five minutes into Saturday’s game at the War, the Mountaineers were on the scoreboard with a field goal. At the 11:42 mark of the fourth quarter, App State cornerback intercepted a doomed pass from Andrew Peasley pass and returned it 16 yards for a touchdown that gave the Mountaineers a 19-7 lead. App State fans inside the War smelled victory.
The scene was bleak. The game had sunk from bad to worse. Disappointed Wyoming fans streamed to the parking lot for the trip home. They would miss a stunning display of Cowboy toughness. Wyoming sports broadcaster Kevin McKinney would say later that what happened next was the most unbelievable set of events he’s ever seen. On the Cowboys’ next possession starting at the 25-yard line, Peasley handed the ball to running back Harrison Waylee for a 75-yard touchdown run.
Waylee injected the juice into the War with the cutting touchdown run, and the Cowboys were back in the hunt.
At least it seemed so. App State held onto the ball for the next 9 – plus minutes, driving to the Wyoming 29-yard line. Only 2:02 remained on the game clock. The Mountaineers attempted a lengthy field goal to extend their lead. Cowboy lightning struck again. Wyoming defensive end Dvonne Harris blocked the kick and cornerback Jakorey Hawkins grabbed the errant ball, and went the distance, 62 yards, for the wild touchdown and Wyoming’s first lead of the night.
The War went electric. The Mountaineers were in shock. The two-point conversion was a success, and Wyoming went up by three.
App State had 1:52 to mount a comeback. They came close. The Mountaineers picked up four first downs, driving to the Wyoming 20. Then lightning struck a third time.
UW nickel back Wrook Brown intercepted a Joey Aguilar pass at the Wyoming six-yard line to shut down the App State comeback with only 12 seconds remaining to seal the come-from-behind 22-19 miracle win.
The Cowboys may have played ugly, but Coach Bohl saw the beauty in it.
The win, propelled by two offensive touchdowns and one by special teams, gives Wyoming its 10th consecutive win over a non-conference opponent at the War. Nickel back Wrook Brown, who was celebrating a birthday created two key turnovers, returning the one for a clutch touchdown.
The offense, which struggled most of the night, scored their second two-point conversion of the season.
Brown’s pick blew out the candles on App State’s cake. For the first time in Cowboy history, they blocked field goal for a touchdown in program history. App State had never had a field goal blocked and returned for a touchdown in its history. It couldn’t have come at a better time.
The Cowboys, who had been dominated most of the game, held on for the win before a home crowd that had come back to life after a disappointing three quarters. For the second time this year, the Cowboys pulled out the late win.
Wyoming opens Mountain West Conference action this Saturday against the New Mexico Lobos. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. kickoff.
