November 8, 2021 |
Steve Addazio’s first trip to Laramie was one he won’t soon forget. It hurt. Last year, Addazio and the CSU Rams won the Border War in an empty, sterilized, stadium in Fort Collins. No fans allowed. The few cheers from the cold and lifeless sidelines were muffled by surgical masks. The scene in Laramie Saturday was electric with excitement. College football was back, and so were the Cowboys after a four-game slump. Wyoming dominated CSU before the largest crowd anyone could remember at the War in November. Nearly 25,000 waited until the final cannon blast. Addazzio could only watch as the Cowboys rushed his side of the field to recapture the Bronze Boot and hold it high in the sun-splattered Wyoming sky. The stadium went wild.
Dave Walsh delivered the final call, one minute of sheer, Wyoming feel-good joy. Wyoming’s arch rival had been not just defeated, but beaten. The Cowboys did it by getting back to Wyoming football. Wyoming rushed for 385 yards, gaining nearly seven yards per carry.
The time on the clock was 13:59 in the second score. Valladay’s run put Wyoming up 14-7. It was the first time the Cowboys had held a lead since the UConn game on September 25. Wyoming held onto that lead the rest of the way.
The defense was outstanding, keeping CSU’s dynamic passing game in check for much of the afternoon.
CBS Sports had the call as sophomore linebacker Keonte Glinton out-muscled the much bigger Trey Clinton for the toss-up ball at the start of the fourth quarter, ending a CSU chance to mount a comeback. Chad Mumma picked off another pass two minutes later. The Cowboy defense bottled up the CSU passing game and limited the Rams to 170 yards rushing.
Levi Williams played inspired and inspiring game. No picks, pinpoint passes and gutsy runs signaled he would not be denied after last year’s loss.
Williams rushed for125-yards. He completed 9 of 16 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Both were to Issaiah Neyor.
Wyoming Head Coach Craig Bohl said the Cowboys played a complete game. Bohl said they were ready for the physical street fight CSU’s Addazzio had promised during the pre-game interviews last week.
The turnover margin was equal. The two CSU picks were offset by Vallday putting the ball on the ground a couple of times. The X-Man didn’t see the ball much after that, but he put his body on the line with tackles, opening up lanes for the other running backs. It was a complete victory. The Cowboys snap the skid, win their first conference game and recapture the Bronze Boot.
The Cowboys had held onto the Boot for four years before losing it last year in CSU. So a big win for the seniors and all of Cowboy nation.
Elsewhere in the Mountain West, Utah State remains on top of the Mountain with a 4-1 record. The Aggies crushed New Mexico state in a non-conference matchup.
Meanwhile Air Force and Boise State hold a lock on second place.
Air Force also played a huge out of conference game this weekend, losing in overtime to Army 21-14 at the Commanders Classic.
Air Force is now 6-3 on the season, 3-2 in conference play. Boise State improved its conference record to 3-2, beating Fresno State 40-14 on Saturday.
In the West Division, San Diego State and Nevada are tied for first with 4-and 1 records. The Aztecs beat Hawaii 17-10. Nevada edged San Jose State 27-24
