September 20, 2021 |
Game-day weather was perfect in Laramie Saturday, and so were the Cowboys. Wyoming rolled over Ball State 45-12, a start-to-finish win for a perfect start 3-0 start on the season. Every Cowboy got in on the action. The offense clicked off 378 yards on the ground and through air, scoring four touch downs and a field goal along the way. The Cowboy defense forced three turnovers, including two pick six’s. Chad Mumma racked up his second in two weeks.
Dave Walsh and Kevin McKinney with the call as the senior linebacker jumped the route and nailed the coffin shut at the 6:30 mark of the fourth Quarter. John Hoyland add the extra point. The Pokes ran out the clock from there for the 33-point win over last year’s Arizona Bowl winner.
Sean Chambers looked impressive. Wearing a new number on his brown and gold jersey this year—#2—the junior quarterback completed 14 of 23 passes for 201 yards, including a touchdown pass to tight end Treyton Welch.
Running backs Xazavian Valladay and Dawaiian McNeeley each scored a rushing touchdown. For the sophomore McNeeley, it was his first-ever touchdown as a Cowboy.
The Cowboys were in total control. They threw a shutout in the first half, hitting the locker room with a 31-nothing lead. They kept their focus, and for the first time this season, no heroics were needed in the final minute to earn the win. All the heroics came early. Coach Craig Bohl said his was squad was explosive, making big plays on both side of the ball.
Wyoming travels to Stores, Connecticut to take on the UConn Huskies for the first time ever. Waiting for the Cowboys will be the Kentucky Bluegrass on the field at Whitney Stadium. That’s a 1:30 kickoff Mountain Time.
Elsewhere in the Mountain West, Fresno State made it into the Top 25. The Bulldogs on the road knocked off 13th ranked UCLA Saturday night 40-37. What makes it a “man bites dog” story is that it is the first time a Mountain West team has defeated nonconference top-15 team since 2014. The Bulldog win came on a two-minute drill, final drive. The Bruins scored their final touchdown with 54-seconds left on the clock. Jake Haener, winging pass after pass, drove the Bulldogs down the field in a gutsy win with 15-seconds on the clock.
The upset earned Fresno State the No. 22 in the AP Top 25 and No. 25 in the USA TODAY AFCA Coaches Poll.
Looking the MoWest Standings, Wyoming are and Utah State are both 3-and-0 in the Mountain Division. The Aggies beat Air Force in a barn-burner Saturday 49-45. The Falcons are 2-1.
In the West Division, San Diego State is 3-0. Nationally ranked Fresno State is 3-1.
Pictured above: File photo of War Memorial Stadium. Photo by Joey Saverine/Bigfoot 99.
