Wyoming

2023 Arizona Bowl Preview: Wyoming vs. Toledo

Published

6 months ago

December 29, 2023

2023 Arizona Bowl Preview: Wyoming vs. Toledo

This year’s Arizona Bowl closes out the MAC and Mountain West bowls schedules as the Toledo Rockets (11-2, 8-1 MAC) and Wyoming Cowboys (8-4, 5-3 MWC) face off.

Wyoming returns to the Arizona Bowl yet again as they look to avenge their 30-27 loss to Ohio in the game last year. This season, the Cowboys kicked off their year winning five of their first six games. That lone loss was at eventual CFP participant, Texas. Then, Wyoming slipped up by losing three of the next four on the schedule. To finish the year, they won the final two. In total, the Cowboys ended up 3-4 against bowl-bound teams with six wins by more than one score.

Toledo, on the other hand, is coming off of another MAC West division title. The Rockets were not able to successfully defend their MAC championship, however, as they fell to Miami (OH). However, the 11 wins for Toledo in 2023 were the most in a year since 2017. The Rockets kicked off the year with a last-minute loss at Illinois before rattling off 11 consecutive wins and mowing through the MAC. By all intents and purposes, Toledo was the best team in the MAC with its 14 All-MAC honorees. Ultimately, Miami (OH) prevailed in Detroit and Toledo ended up in Arizona.

This will be the third time Toledo and Wyoming face off with the all-time series tied at 1-1. Wyoming is making its second consecutive Arizona Bowl appearance and second all-time. This will be the first time Toledo plays in the Arizona Bowl and owns an 11-9 record in postseason play.

It’s Wyoming vs. Toledo for the 2023 Arizona Bowl

Date: December 30th, 2023

Time: 4:30 P.M. EST

Venue: Arizona Stadium, Tuscon, Arizona

How to Watch: The CW Network

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Wyoming will be at mostly full strength on the field. Starting cornerback Kolbey Taylor, who did not play in the final two games, has transferred out to Vanderbilt. The Cowboys will also be without starting right tackle, Caden Barnett, due to injury.

This will be the final game for head coach Craig Bohl. He announced that he would be retiring following the bowl game.

Toledo was hit hard, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Long-time starting quarterback and 2023 MAC MVP Dequan Finn has transferred to Baylor. Stud running back and Maryland transfer, Peny Boone, took his 1,400 yards and 15 touchdowns to the Portal. On the offensive line, stalwart guard Vinny Sciury is on his way out.

When Wyoming Has the Ball

All in all, the Wyoming offense was nothing to write home about in 2023. If there’s one thing that defines the Wyoming offense heading into the Arizona Bowl, it’s the rushing attack. There were two players with over 100 rushing attempts, led by running back and Northern Illinois transfer, Harrison Waylee. He led the way with 856 yards and five scores off of 146 attempts in just nine games.

The second-leading rusher was quarterback Andrew Peasley. His seven touchdowns led the way and he added 403 yards off of 101 carries. In addition to his abilities on the ground, Peasley completed 60.6% of his passes for 1,823 yards and 20 touchdowns. Overall, this Cowboys offense was 109th in FBS in yardage (119th in passing, 65th in rushing) and 76th in scoring.

Toledo has a top-25 defense and is led by eventual NFL Draft pick, Quinyon Mitchell. A two-time All-American, Mitchell has been a star for the Rockets by locking down opposing receivers all year. His interception tally was not as high as last year (one in 2023, five in 2022) but he was targeted less. He still broke the program record with 18 passes defended. That secondary only allowed over 300 yards passing once.

The front seven for Toledo is led by a couple of studs in Dallas Gant and Judge Culpepper. The pair of one-time transfers have found a home with the Rockets. Gant posted his second consecutive 100+ tackle season after defecting from Ohio State while Culpepper, the former Penn State product, added 10.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks. Toledo gave up a handful of yardage this year (330.1 yards, 29th in FBS) but only allowed 20.6 points per game, good for 25th.

When Toledo Has the Ball

This Toledo offense will look quite a bit different as Finn and Boon represent about 83% of the offensive productivity on this team. However, Tucker Gleason gets to step in yet again at quarterback. Last year, Gleason started three games and threw for 767 yards and seven touchdowns while adding 165 yards and three scores on the ground. Toledo ended up going 1-2 in his three starts.

Out wide, the likes of Jerjuan Newton and Junior Vandeross III will be leaned on to make Gleason’s job that much easier. Finally, stepping in for Boone, last year’s leading rusher Jacquez Stuart can carry the load for the Rockets in this one. The offense will likely look similar with Gleason. This year, Toledo is running the ball 38.8 times per game and throwing it 26.4 times. Last year with Finn, the offense ran about 41.8 times and threw 28.4. Compare that to the three-game Gleason-led offense of 42.3 rush attempts and 40.3 passes. He, himself, may not take off as much as Finn but this offense will still lean on Stuart on the ground.

Overall, the Wyoming defense was nothing special but they did one thing well: they force turnovers and make teams pay. On the year, they forced 21 turnovers. Of those 21, the Cowboys scored touchdowns off of 13. Keeping the ball away from Wrook Brown will likely be the strategy for the Rockets in this one so as to not add to his three interceptions on the year.

2023 Arizona Bowl Prediction

At full strength, this game likely would not be as competitive as it will be now. Losing two of the best that the MAC has to offer will hurt Toledo. However, there are worse emergency quarterbacks than Gleason. The Toledo defense is as solid as it can be from the MAC and will be up to the challenge.

Toledo wins, 27-17

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Wyoming

Arrest made nearly 10 years after 2 murdered during Cheyenne Frontier Days at The Coin Shop

Published

7 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Arrest made nearly 10 years after 2 murdered during Cheyenne Frontier Days at The Coin Shop

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (KKTV) – Nearly a decade after two people were killed in Cheyenne, an arrest has been made.

The Cheyenne Police Department shared details on the arrest with the public on Tuesday in a news release posted to social media. Police are reporting 68-year-old Douglas Smith was arrested in California, suspected of first-degree murder.

Investigators believe Smith killed 76-year-old George Manley and 67-year-old Dwight Brockman at The Coin Shop in Cheyenne while Cheyenne Frontier Days was in full swing. The violent crime was carried out on July 20, 2015.

“Three years ago, when I was hired as Chief of Police, I became aware of the homicide at The Coin Shop and decided to make this a priority,” said Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco. “Cases like this can be very challenging with many layers of evidence. Our detectives have been diligently working for almost a decade, and, through detailed analysis, have been able to thoughtfully re-examine the evidence in ways that bring those responsible to justice.”

Police are reporting that since 2023, more than 1,500 hours were spent working on the case.

“As a result of their investigation, detectives believe that Douglas Smith, the initial 9-1-1 caller, killed Manley and Brockman on July 20,” police added in the news release. “The case has now been turned over to the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.”

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Wyoming

Don Day Wyoming Weather Forecast: Wednesday,… | Cowboy State Daily

Published

14 hours ago

June 26, 2024

Press Room

Don Day Wyoming Weather Forecast: Wednesday,… | Cowboy State Daily

Chance of rain in much of Wyoming on Wednesday, otherwise mostly sunny. Severe storms possible in the eastern plains and southeast. Highs generally in the 80s and lows in the 50s or low 60s.

Central:

Casper: Chance of rain mainly after 4 p.m. today and a slight chance tonight before 9 p.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 87 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 65.

Riverton: Mostly sunny today with a high near 87 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 59.

Glenrock: Chance of rain mainly after 3 p.m. today and a slight chance before 9 p.m. tonight. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 87 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 60.

Southwest:

Evanston: Chance of rain today and a slight chance overnight. Otherwise, partly sunny today with a high near 84 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 54.

Green River: Chance of rain mainly after 3 p.m. today and a slight chance overnight. Otherwise, partly sunny today with a high near 83 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 59 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

Lyman: Sunny today with a high near 85 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 54.

Western Wyoming:

Pinedale: Chance of rain today and a slight chance overnight. Otherwise, partly sunny today with a high near 84 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 57.

Alpine: Chance of rain mainly after 5 p.m. today and tonight mainly before 9 p.m. Otherwise, partly sunny today with a high near 83 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 54.

Big Piney: Slight chance of rain today and overnight. Otherwise, partly sunny today with a high near 80 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 50 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

Northwest:

Dubois: Chance of rain mainly after 1 p.m. today and tonight mainly before midnight. Otherwise, partly sunny today with a high near 77 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 54 and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.

Jackson: Slight chance of rain today and overnight. Otherwise, partly sunny today with a high near 82 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 50.

Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park: Chance of rain today and tonight mainly before 9 p.m. Otherwise, partly sunny today with a high near 73 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 46.

Bighorn Basin:

Thermopolis: Mostly sunny today with a high near 87 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 61.

Cody: Slight chance of rain after 1 p.m. today and before midnight tonight. Otherwise, partly sunny today with a high near 85 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 61.

Powell: Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m. today and before 9 p.m. tonight. Otherwise, increasing clouds today with a high near 88 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 61.

North Central:

Buffalo: Mostly sunny and breezy today with a high near 84 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before midnight and a low near 63.

Sheridan: Increasing clouds and hot today with a high near 90 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before midnight and a low near 59.

Dayton: Becoming sunny in the afternoon today with a high near 85 and partly cloudy overnight with a slight chance of rain before midnight and a low near 60.

Northeast:

Gillette: Slight chance of rain after 3 p.m. today and before midnight tonight. Otherwise, increasing clouds today with a high near 86 and wind gusts as high as 21 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 60 and wind gusts as high as 24 mph.Sundance: Chance of rain after noon today and overnight. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 80 and wind gusts as high as 16 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 60 and wind gusts as high as 18 mph.

Upton: Chance of rain after 3 p.m. today and mainly before midnight tonight. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 85 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph. Partly cloudy overnight with a low near 61 and wind gusts as high as 23 mph.

Eastern Plains:

Torrington: Chance of rain mainly after 3 p.m. today and before midnight tonight. Some storms could be severe. Otherwise, mostly sunny and hot today with a high near 90 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 61.

Douglas: Chance of rain mainly after 3 p.m. today and before 9 p.m. tonight. Some storms could be severe. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 86 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 59.

Midwest: Slight chance of rain after 4 p.m. today and before 9 p.m. tonight. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 86 and partly cloudy overnight with a low near 62.

Southeast:

Cheyenne: Chance of rain after noon today and overnight. Some of the storms could be severe. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 87 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 60.

Laramie: Chance of rain after noon today and a slight chance overnight. Some of the storms could be severe. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 83 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 57.

Medicine Bow: Chance of rain after noon today and tonight before 9 p.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 87 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 56.

South Central:

Rawlins: Chance of rain after noon today and a slight chance tonight before 9 p.m. Otherwise, increasing clouds today with a high near 87 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 59.

Encampment: Chance of rain mainly after 3 p.m. today and tonight mainly before midnight. Otherwise, mostly sunny today with a high near 84 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 56.

Baggs: Slight chance of rain after noon today and a chance of rain tonight mainly before midnight. Otherwise, increasing clouds and hot today with a high near 90 and mostly cloudy overnight with a low near 54.

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Wyoming

New mobile app for pest identification available for Wyoming pests – Platte County Record-Times

Published

22 hours ago

June 25, 2024

Press Room

New mobile app for pest identification available for Wyoming pests – Platte County Record-Times

Laramie – The University of Wyoming Extension recently released a new software application that can be used to identify Wyoming plant diseases and pests.
The mobile app, called Wyoming Crop Pests, is available for both Android and Apple devices and can be found in app stores by searching “Wyoming Crop Pests”. Scott Schell, UW Extension entomologist, developed the tool to help amateur home gardeners and producers identify plant diseases and pests.
The Wyoming Crop Pests app contains information about common pests of vegetables grown in Wyoming. Users select a crop and types of damage based on both pictures and short descriptions. Once users have used the interactive key to narrow down the kinds of pests that may be causing the damage they’re seeing, they can explore links explaining the best ways to manage those pests.

To develop the app, Schell tapped into resources from other land-grant universities to share links to current, well-researched information about each pest. The app also contains links to the “Wyoming Vegetable and Fruit Growing Guide,” a free publication from UW Extension that provides comprehensive information about how to garden successfully in Wyoming conditions. While the app currently focuses on vegetable pests, Schell may eventually add information about fruit pests as well.

Schell emphasizes that if a user isn’t sure whether what they’re seeing on their plants matches what they’re seeing in the app, they should contact their local extension office.

“This is a tool that give people some independence, but I also want them to know where they can reach out for more info and help on pest issues,” says Schell. “I’m always happy to look at pictures of bugs!”

He sees the new tool as an opportunity to reach younger audiences who may not know about extension services.

Schell also aimed to make the app accessible to users who may be less comfortable with technology. “I find it kind of ironic that a guy like me was involved in making an app,” says Schell. “There’s probably a lot more verbiage explaining how to use it than most apps. For a lot of people my age, these apps aren’t intuitive.”

For more information about the app or Wyoming crop pests, contact Schell at sschell@uwyo.edu or (307) 766-2508.

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