Bridger's rifle goes to Aggies: Wyo's QB solution and controversial decisions make for a unique trophy game

LARAMIE, Wyo. – In perhaps Wyoming's most memorable conference game of the season, the Cowboys were forced to hand over the Bridger Rifle Trophy to the Utah State Aggies after a 27-25 home loss. Six lead changes, back-and-forth quarterbacks and a decision so controversial that it warranted an official statement from the referee made this night an experience the Pokes won't soon forget.

Wide receiver Tyler King had a good game. He rushed for 79 yards, 52 receiving, ran a 21-yard kick return and a 54-yard touchdown, accounting for half of Wyoming's total touchdowns tonight. Once he was on the field and had the ball in his hands, the Cowboys moved offside.

Until he received the ball and a subsequent tackle knocked him to the ground and caused him to fumble the ball, which Utah State took advantage of by running away with it. King was knocked to the ground and had to be helped to leave the field. Cowboys fans were angry because there was no call for a targeted attack.

After the game ended, Mountain West official Cal McNeill, head referee in today's contest, released a statement defending the lack of a call.

“The play in question was reviewed for all elements of targeting and did not meet the requirements of Rule 9-1-3. The offensive player was a runner, not a defenseless player,” McNeill said. “In this situation, it should have resulted in aiming with the crown of the helmet.”

In his postgame press conference, Wyoming football head coach Jay Sawvel accepted the decision. However, he added that it was not a positive force for building momentum, and made a comment at the start of the conference suggesting that he believed the office was not up to speed .

“We have the ball deep in their territory,” Sawvel said. “We’ll at least get something out of it, right? And turn around – the ball is in our territory. When I remember that series, we stopped it in that situation, but we were still able to get points.”

It's circumstances like these that explain the discrepancy between touchdowns and total offensive yards: a ratio of 2:470. Instead, most of the points Wyoming scored were field goals by kicker John Hoyland. Hoyland totaled 12 points for the Cowboys in the contest.

The other notable change to the Cowboys' offense was the team's new two-quarterback solution. Starting quarterback Evan Svoboda didn't perform as expected of him, but backup quarterback Kaden Anderson still has uncertainties about his leadership and playmaking. The solution? play them both.

In total, Anderson gained 33 yards. He passed for 182 yards and was 15-24 on attempts. Svoboda, meanwhile, passed for 12 yards and was intercepted.

As to whether this will continue to be the Pokes' offensive strategy or whether one will usurp the other, Sawvel has made no definitive comment.

“With quarterbacks, we have to go back and watch all the tape and see where we are on certain things,” Sawvel said.

Anderson also spoke at the press conference this evening. There he dismissed the possible notion that the new system had discouraged him at all, even in moments when he drove the ball close to the end zone only to be substituted with Svoboda.

“I had a three-pointer and the coach said he was going to have the hot hand. I actually had a three-pointer in the second quarter,” Anderson said. “When he pulled me or whatever, I was fine. I love Evan. I feel like we support each other very well.”

Either way, Sawvel said he didn't think the offense capitalized well on the opportunities it had in the second half and especially the third quarter, where the defense held the Aggies to just nine yards.

“We won the third quarter by six to zero. “With the way we played the third quarter, both offensively and defensively, it should have been 10. There should have been 14. There could have been some separation in the game,” Sawvel said. “I think the fact that we didn’t win that quarter by more than six to zero, given the way that quarter went, is a big part of why we lost.”

The Cowboys now fall to 1-7 on the season and 1-3 in conference play. The team only has four competitions left this year, only one of which will be played at home. The final home game is November 23rd against conference powerhouse Boise State, which is 6-1 nationally. Before that, the Cowboys travel to Albuquerque to play the New Mexico Lobos next week at 2 p.m

For more information about the University of Wyoming Cowboy football team, including the team's current roster and schedule, visit the university's athletics website.

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