Cowboys drop heartbreaker to San Diego State 27-24

LARAMIE, Wyo. (October 12, 2024) – The undermanned Wyoming Cowboys were unable to contain a late push by the San Diego State Aztecs in a 27-24 loss Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. The Pokes took the lead early in the fourth quarter, but the Aztecs used the passing attack to score the final 10 points of the game as UW fell to 1-5 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while SDSU fell to 1-1 overall Improved 3-3 and 2-0 in conference play.

“The team that makes the fewest mistakes wins,” UW head coach said Jay Sawvel said. “And we made crucial mistakes too often in all phases of the game. You could go on like that and there are just times where we just didn't finish the play-off the way we needed to. We made mistakes that you shouldn’t make to win.” Such a game. We did everything we could to win this game and we did it in many different ways. There is nothing to complain about the effort they put into these situations.”

The Pokes recorded a season-high 371 yards of total offense in the contest, including 190 yards on the ground and 181 yards through the air. The Aztecs totaled 254 passing yards, 356 yards of offense and were held to 102 yards on the ground.

The Wyoming offense was sped up by the running back Sam Scott added 94 yards on the ground with his second rushing score of the season. He had a long run of 27 yards. quarterback Evan Svoboda threw for 181 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed and gained 90 yards on the ground, but had a net of 55 yards after six sacks. He had a 51-yard touchdown rush and a 70-yard pass, both the longest of the season for the Brown and Gold. Wide receiver Jaylen Sargent He tied his career high with two catches and one reception for 84 yards.

The Wyoming defense was driven by the linebacker Shae Suiaunoa with 10 tackles. He recorded double-digit tackles in two consecutive games but was injured in the second half. Defensive end Sabastian Harsh recorded a career-high four tackles for loss, tying a school record. nickel Malique Singleton added six tackles and defensive tackles, a career best Dante Drake with five tackles. Wyoming tied a season high with nine tackles for loss.
SDSU was led by quarterback Danny O'Neil with 254 passing yards with one touchdown. Running back Marquez Cooper added 87 yards with a score.

SDSU opened the scoring with a field goal in the first quarter, but Wyoming responded with a flea flicker from Svoboda to Sargent for 70 yards to make the score 7-3. After a pick-six from SDSU, Scott found the end zone, but the Aztecs took a 17-14 lead into halftime.

Wyoming scored a field goal in the third quarter and opened the fourth quarter with a 51-yard rushing score by Svoboda, but a passing score by SDSU and a field goal gave the Aztecs the win.

Wyoming returns to San Jose State next week to take on the Spartans in a contest on MW Network on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT.

TEAM NOTES

•The Cowboys and Aztecs met for the 39th time on Saturday.
•It was the first meeting between the two schools since the 2019 season. It was also the first meeting in Laramie since the 2016 Mountain West Championship game.
•The Cowboys are now 19-20 all-time against San Diego State.
•The Cowboys are 12-8 against the Aztecs in Laramie.
•First-year Cowboys and Aztecs head coach Sean Lewis met for the second time. Lewis coached Kent State against the Cowboys in the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. UW is 1-1 against Lewis.

OFFENSIVE COMMENTS

•Wide receiver Jaylen Sargent caught a 70-yard touchdown from Svoboda in the first quarter. It was the first touchdown reception of his career.
•Sargent recorded a career-high two catches and added 84 yards receiving.
•quarterback Evan Svoboda threw a 70-yard touchdown pass to Sargent. It was the longest play from scrimmage this season. It was the longest since then Andrew Peasley found a close end John Michael Gyllenborg for 89 yards last season against Hawaii.
•Svoboda also rushed for a 51-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, marking the longest rush of the season for the Cowboys. He added 55 yards on the ground.
•Running back Sam Scott recorded 94 yards on the ground after 97 in Wyoming's last contest against Air Force. He also posted his second rushing score of the season.
•He recorded a career-high 20 carries that night for Wyoming.
•Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg added a team-high four catches for 48 yards. He has recorded four or more catches in three consecutive games.

DEFENSE NOTES

•Linebacker Shae Suiaunoa added a tackle for loss on SDSU's opening drive. He added 1.5 in the game and has 4.5 in his last two games
•Suiaunoa has added 10 tackles and has double-digit tackles in consecutive games, including 23 in the last two.
•The Cowboys forced an interception in the second quarter Connor Shay Recording the first of his career. Defensive end Braden Siders Tilt the quarterback's hand, forcing the turnover.
•The Cowboys defense recorded nine tackles for a loss in the contest, matching a season-high against Idaho.
•Nickel Malique Singleton added a career-high six tackles.
•Defensive tackle Dante Drake added a career-best five tackles for the Cowboys.
•Defensive end Sabastian Harsh recorded a career-high four tackles for loss in that game. He set a school record with his four tackles for loss, something he has done seven other times and not since 2017.

SPECIAL NOTES

•The Cowboys' defensive tackle faked a punt in the second quarter Jayden Williams letting the ball rush 17 yards.
•Footballer John Hoyland made a 42-yard field goal and added three extra points. He has 324 career points, tied with Sean Fleming for second in school history.