September 3, 2024 |
Photo – Wyoming and Arizona State game, last Saturday – Courtesy gowyo.com
At least one fan was so upset with Wyoming’s performance Saturday night that they mailed a death threat to Head Coach Jay Sawvel.
Quarterback Evan Svoboda was gone by the end of the fourth quarter early Sunday morning after failing to produce much offense. Two seconds remained on the clock when Wyoming finally got on the scoreboard, avoiding a shutout loss in Tucson against a dominating Arizona State team.
Keith Kelly and Kevin McKinney had the call as Wyoming avoided leaving without a single score in a brutal 48 to 7 loss.
The numbers say Wyoming didn’t come ready.
The Cowboys got the ball first. They started off-kilter against the Big 12 opponent in the opening drive. On the second play, with less than 30-seconds off the clock, Evan Svoboda threw a pick six.
Before the first quarter was done, ASU would add a field goal and another touchdown for a 17-0 lead over Wyoming.
The game went downhill from there.
The Sun Devils put up 499 of total offense and held the Cowboys to just 118. ASU passed for 258 yards and put up 27 first downs without a single turnover.
The Wyoming offense, with new coordinator Jay Johnson, a new system, new language and a new quarterback, bumbled their way through the first quarter, picking up flags for an illegal formation and two false starts.
At the 10:01 mark of the first quarter, Svoboda threw a second pick. Arizona State turned it into a field goal.
Wyoming left tackle Nathan Geiger, a new piece on the offensive line, left the game in the first quarter. Defensive end Dvonne Harris came out a few minutes later.
The Sun Devils scored again on a 13-yard DeCarlos Brooks run to the end zone as time ran out in the first quarter. Wyoming was down 11-nothing.
Penalties and miscues continued to dog the Pokes. Arizona running back Cameraon Skateboo ran for a touchdown at the 9:47 mark as Wyoming kept digging a deeper hole. Arizona State added another field goal at the 4:28 mark to make it a 27-0 game.
In the first half, Arizona State converted 14 first downs. The Cowboys had three as Svoboda struggled throughout the night.
The Sun Devils continued to move the ball in the third quarter, scoring three more times to run up the score to 48-0. For their part, Cowboys picked up just one first down in the third quarter.
Finally in fourth quarter, The Cowboys put up a score and got out of Tempe with a 48-7 loss. Freshman quarterback Kaden Anderson came in with less than six minutes in a last gasp effort to make something happen.
Coach Jay Sawvel walked the sideline all night wearing a tense, unhappy look. After the game, he made no excuses for the blowout loss.
Sawvel acknowledged that his players and coaches have a lot of improving to do as they get ready for week two. Wyoming’s home opener is this Saturday in Laramie. The Cowboys will host Idaho in a kickoff set for 1:30 in the afternoon.
The Wyoming defense was on the field most of the night. The Wyoming offense gained 124 yards and lost 49.
Tyler King picked up the biggest Cowboy reception against Arizona State with a 23 yard catch.
Jake Culbreath punted the ball eight times for 376. His longest was 59.
On the night, Wyoming coughed up three turnovers and had no takeaways.
The Cowboys may catch a break this week in Saturday’s home opener. Idaho’s starting quarterback suffered broken collarbone in the opener against Oregon. Redshirt freshman Jack Wagner will make his first-career start against the Cowboys in Laramie on Saturday.
