Cowboys fail on last second field goal against Utah State, 27-25

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Oct 25, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowboys lost a last-second duel against Utah State 27-25 on Saturday night at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. The Aggies scored a 40-yard field goal as time expired to prevent the Cowboys' comeback victory in Bridger's Battle. Wyoming recorded a season-high 470 yards of total offense on the night, but was only able to reach the end zone twice in the contest.

“This is a heartbreaker,” UW head coach Jay Sawvel said. “This is also the direct result of the fact that we didn’t put ourselves in a better starting position with the third quarter we played. With the way we played defensively in the third quarter, we should have won that quarter 10-0, 14-0. We didn't play.” Well, at the start of the game we played a lot better defensively, but I feel like we had to stop again at the end of the game to be in a rivalry game, a trophy game like this, and if If I can’t finish this, I’ll question a lot of things.”

The Cowboy offense finished the night with 470 yards of total offense. Wyoming rushed for 276 yards and threw for 194 yards on the night. Utah State, a high-tempo offense, finished with 378 yards of total offense and a balanced attack of 230 yards passing and 148 yards on the ground. It was nearly 100 yards below USU's season average.

Trailing 17-10 at halftime, Wyoming was only able to hold Utah State to nine yards in the third quarter. UW gained over 300 yards rushing in the second half. Kicker John Hoyland made four field goals on the night and is now four points away from overtaking Cooper Rothe for the school record. He is 9 of 11 field goals this season, with his only misses going for 5 yards or more.

Wyoming's offense was accelerated by the running back Sam Scott with 115 yards and a touchdown. It was a career high in rushing as he managed a 43-yard rush, the most of his career. Freshman Chris Durr Jr. was outstanding with nine catches for 83 yards, a career-best. It was the most catches by a Cowboy this season and the most since Austin Conway 11 against Wofford in 2018. Wide receiver Tyler King rushed for the best rushing performance of his career: 77 yards, including a 54-yard score. He also had four catches for 52 yards, the most of his career.

The Cowboys defense featured four players with eight tackles. Connor Shay recorded a career eight tackles and defensive end Tyce Westland Recorded a career-high eight tackles. Linebackers Shae Suiaunoa and security Wyett Ekeler each recorded eight tackles. Suiaunoa added two tackles for loss. Defensive end DeVonne Harris added a season-high five tackles, including his first sack of the season.

Utah State was paced offensively by running back Rashul Faison with 131 yards. The defense was led by safety Jordan Vincent with 11 tackles and an interception.

The Cowboys take on New Mexico next week at 2 p.m. on truTV.

TEAM NOTES

•The Cowboys and Aggies met for the 73rd time on Saturday. The series began in Logan in 1903.
•The Cowboys have a 28-41-4 all-time record against the Aggies. The Pokes are 5-4 during the MW portion of the series' history.
•Wyoming is 16-14-3 all-time against the Aggies in Laramie.
•The competition was the 10th meeting for the Bridger Rifle. The trophy was introduced in 2013. The rifle is a .50 caliber Rocky
Mountain Hawken rifle.
•The Cowboys are 5-5 in the Bridger's Battle portion of the series.
•The Pokes have won four of the last seven meetings in the series.

OFFENSIVE COMMENTS

•The Cowboys finished the night with a season-high 276 yards rushing. It was the most rushing since 365 yards against Hawaii
on Oct. 29, 2022.
•Running back Sam Scott recorded a 43-yard rush in the first quarter. It was the longest rush of his career.
•Scott reached the end zone in the second quarter for the third time this season and fifth time in his career.
•Scott finished the game with a career-high 115 yards rushing. It was the first 100-yard game of his career and the first for the Pokes this year
Season. He averaged 10.5 yards per carry.
•Wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. made nine catches for 83 yards, the most of his career. He had two third-down catches on the touchdown drive
for the Cowboys in the second quarter and two in the third quarter and one in the fourth for five first down plays.
•Wide receiver Tyler King added a 54-yard touchdown rush and 77 yards on the ground. He also added four catches for 52
yards. It was a career high in rushing and receptions.
•Tight end Clay Nanke caught a 32-yard pass in the third quarter for the longest reception of his career.
•quarterback Kaden Anderson threw for a career-high 182 yards in that contest. He was 15 of 24 passes in the game and scored 63
percent of his passes.

DEFENSE NOTES

•In the last three home games, the Cowboys defense has allowed 21 or fewer yards in the third quarter. UW allowed nine yards
third quarter to Utah State. Wyoming held Utah State to nearly 100 yards under its season average.
•Defensive end DeVonne Harris recorded a sack in the first quarter. It was the 13th of his career and the 20th tackle in which he lost
his career.
•Defensive end Tyce Westland recorded eight tackles in that game, a career best. With seven, he surpassed his previous high of five
Tackles in the first half.
•Defensive end Braden Siders recorded a career-high six tackles. He recorded a career-high six tackles in the first half.
•Cornerback Keany Parks recorded two pass breakups in key moments of the second quarter. Once on a fourth down and once on one
Third down, which led Utah State to a field goal.
•Linebacker Shae Suiaunoa added eight tackles and two tackles for loss on the night. He came into the game with 235 tackles
now has 243 in his career.
•Linebacker Connor Shay posted a career-high eight tackles.

SPECIAL NOTES

•Cowboy Kicker John Hoyland scored a 43-yard field goal in the first quarter. It added to his school record. He now has 64 in his
Career with the Pokes. He later added his 65th and 66th of his career.
•Hoyland entered the game with 326 career points, 16 points behind Wyoming leader Cooper Rothe (342 points).
from 2016-19). He is now three points behind Rothe's school record with 339.