Wyoming
Bridger's Rifle goes to Aggies: Wyo's QB solution and controversial calls make for unique trophy game
LARAMIE, Wyo. — In what may be become Wyoming’s most remembered 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 quarterback switching and a call so controversial it warranted an official statement from the referee made this evening one the Pokes won’t soon forget.
Wide Receiver Tyler King was having a good game. He rushed for 79 yards, received for 52, ran a 21-yard kick return and ran a 54-yard touchdown constituting half of Wyoming’s touchdowns tonight. When he was on the field and had the ball in his hands, the Cowboys were getting downfield.
That was until he received the ball and an ensuing tackle that knocked him to the ground and made him fumble the ball, which Utah State took advantage of by running away with it. King was knocked to the ground and had to be assisted walking off the field. Cowboys fans were enraged because there was no call for targeting.
Following the game’s conclusion, Mountain West official Cal McNeill, lead ref in tonight’s contest, released a statement defending the lack of call.
“The play in question was reviewed for all elements of targeting and did not meet the requirements for rule 9-1-3. The offensive player was a runner, not a defenseless player,” McNeill said. “In that situation, in order for it to be targeting, it would have had to have been leading with the crown of the helmet.”
In his post game press conference, Wyoming Football Head Coach Jay Sawvel accepted the decision. Although, he added that it was not a positive force in momentum-building and did make a comment earlier in the conference suggesting that he didn’t think the officiating has been up to snuff.
“We got the ball deep in their territory,” Sawvel said. “We’re at least going to get something out of it, right? And flip—the ball is in our territory. If I remember right on that series, we stopped them in that situation but, still, we were in a position to get points.”
” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?fit=300%2C194&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C505&ssl=1″ tabindex=”0″ role=”button” alt=”” class=”wp-image-316662″ srcset=”https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?w=2560&ssl=1 2560w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C194&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C663&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C498&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C995&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1327&ssl=1 2048w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C778&ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=1568%2C1016&ssl=1 1568w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1296&ssl=1 2000w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C259&ssl=1 400w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C457&ssl=1 706w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?w=2340&ssl=1 2340w, https://i0.wp.com/oilcity.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/IMG_8603-scaled.jpg?w=370&ssl=1 370w” sizes=”(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px”><figcaption class=)
Wyoming Football Head Coach Jaw Sawvel speaking on Oct. 26, 2024 (Garrett Grochowski, Oil City News)It’s circumstances like that that explain the disparity between touchdowns and total offensive yards: a ratio 2:470. Instead, the bulk of Wyoming’s points were field goals from kicker John Hoyland. Hoyland scored a total of 12 points for the Cowboys in the contest.
The other noticeable change in the Cowboy’s offense was the team’s new two-quarterback solution. Starting quarterback Evan Svoboda wasn’t performing to the caliber expected of him, but backup quarterback Kaden Anderson still has uncertainties surrounding his leadership and play-making. The solution? play them both.
In total, Anderson rushed for a gain of 33 yards. He passed for 182 yards and was 15-24 on attempts. Svoboda, meanwhile, passed for 12 yards and had an interception.
Whether this will continue to be the offensive strategy for the Pokes or whether one will usurp the other is something Sawvel did not make a definitive comment on.
“With the quarterbacks, it’s something that we have to go back, watch all the videos and see where we’re at with certain things,” Sawvel said.
Anderson spoke at tonight’s press conference as well. There, he dismissed the potential notion that he was at all discouraged by the new system, even in moments where he drives the ball close to the end-zone just to be switched out with Svoboda.
“I had a three-and-out there and coach said he’s gonna ride the hot hand. I did have a three-and-out 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 doesn’t think the offensive capitalized well on the opportunities they 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 six to nothing. With the way that we played the third quarter, both offensively and defensively, that should have been 10. It 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 a margin bigger than six to nothing, with the way that quarter went, there’s a big chunk of your reason why we lost.”
The Cowboys now move down to 1-7 for the season and 1-3 in conference-play. The team has just four more contests to go in the year, with only one being at home. That final home game is against 6-1 and nationally ranked conference powerhouse Boise State Nov. 23. Before that, the Cowboys will head to Albuquerque to play the New Mexico Lobos next week at 2 p.m.
For more information on the University of Wyoming Cowboy’s football team, including the team’s current roster and schedule, visit the university’s athletics webpage.
Related
CASPER, Wyo. — High school athletics in Wyoming could see some drastic changes in the coming years following legislative changes to the state’s education budget, the Wyoming High School Activities Association recently announced in a statement.
According to the WHSAA, Wyoming school districts are facing a projected $3.9 million shortfall in activities funding, forcing officials to consider significant cuts to high school sports and extracurricular programs.
The WHSAA shared details regarding a new “silo” funding model implemented by the Legislature, stating that the recalibrated block grant model reduced funding for student activities and extra-duty responsibilities from $46.3 million to $42.4 million, an approximately 8.4% decrease statewide.
WHSAA Commissioner Trevor Wilson said the restructuring also restricts district access to an additional $76.2 million in previously flexible funding.
“A significant portion of the [April 28 WHSAA Board of Directors] meeting was dedicated to discussing the projected funding shortfall,” Wilson wrote.
The WHSAA is weighing several strategies to address rising costs with fewer resources. Proposed changes include eliminating regional tournaments and reducing the number of teams qualifying for state events from eight to four; limiting wrestling to two classes and restricting track and field state participants to the top 16 marks; making cuts to soccer, indoor track and field, Nordic and Alpine skiing, swimming and diving, spring golf and tennis; and reducing in-person speech and debate events by half and centrally locating All-State Music events to minimize travel. The board also recommended increasing gate admission or implementing student participation fees to offset costs.
While the WHSAA release states that no plans have been finalized and the various changes are currently just possibilities, Natrona County School District 1 Board of Trustees member Mary Schmidt criticized the WHSAA’s handling of the news at Monday’s board meeting.
“I take some issues with this, [including] the sheer fact that we as Board of Trustees members have not talked about that at all,” Schmidt said. “It is not our intent and it has not been brought to us to cut our athletics or activities budget for the upcoming school year. … I take issue with them picking sports and getting the community upset and ginning them up to be upset that this is all going to be cut when that hasn’t been discussed.”
Later in the meeting, Superintendent Angela Hensley clarified that Natrona County School District 1’s athletics and activities budget saw a reduction of roughly $550,000 in the coming year’s budget, but said the local school district does not plan to cut any sports.
“Thank you, Trustee Schmidt, for saying this, because I think people are wondering — we are not planning to cut athletics and activities for next year,” Hensley said. “We do have to take a look at our entire budget as we have talked about, as we learn more about these new rules that come in.”
Related
Republished with permission from Wyoming News Now, a TV news outlet covering the Cheyenne and Casper areas.
Cheyenne City Council has introduced a temporary moratorium, or pause, on new data center construction.
“The end goal is to actually have regulations in place, to have really heavy public involvement with this with data centers,” said Councilman Mark Moody.
The proposed ordinance is not a permanent ban on data centers and would not affect data centers currently under construction.
Councilman Moody says this is a bipartisan issue.
“I just want to make this clear, I’m not against data centers. We do need them from a national security perspective,” he said.
He said there needs to be more public input and regulations regarding data centers in Cheyenne.
The ordinance would require city staff to study data center impacts such as electricity usage, electricity tariffs, closed-loop cooling systems, groundwater impacts, agricultural impacts, and land value.
Cheyenne LEADS, the economic development corporation for Cheyenne and Laramie County, reported in November 2025 that there are 12 operational data centers in Wyoming, five under construction and plans for 43 data centers announced across the state.
“There needs to be more public input with this, and also to see how many we can sustain here in this community, cause there are talks of 43, and then another day 70. How many can we sustain here?” said Councilman Moody.
The proposed moratorium will now go to the Public Services Committee on Monday, May 18 at noon in the Municipal Building.
Sheridan will play in the North Regional Tournament at Gillette, while the South Regional Tournament will be played at Rock Springs.
North Regional Tournament at Gillette:
Checking record vs. highest team in the quadrant not involved in the tie, Thunder Basin gets the #1 Northeast seed over Campbell County, because the Lady Bolts went 3-1 vs. Sheridan, whereas the Lady Camels went 2-2.
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 NE) Thunder Basin vs. (#4 NW) Jackson – 11am
(#2 NW) Natrona County vs. (#3 NE) Sheridan – 11am
(#2 NE) Campbell County vs. (#3 NW) Kelly Walsh – 1pm
(#1 NW) Cody vs. (#4 NE) Worland – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Thunder Basin/Jackson winner vs. Natrona County/Sheridan winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh winner vs. Cody/Worland winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Thunder Basin/Jackson loser vs. Natrona County/Sheridan loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Campbell County/Kelly Walsh loser vs. Cody/Worland loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
South Regional Tournament at Rock Springs:
Friday, May 15th:
(#1 SW) Laramie vs. (#4 SE) Torrington – 11am
(#2 SE) Cheyenne East vs. (#3 SW) Green River – 11am
(#2 SW) Rock Springs vs. (#3 SE) Wheatland – 1pm
(#1 SE) Cheyenne Central vs. (#4 SW) Cheyenne South – 1pm
Semi-Finals:
Laramie/Torrington winner vs. Cheyenne East/Green River winner – 3pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Rock Springs/Wheatland winner vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South winner – 5pm Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
Consolation Round:
Laramie/Torrington loser vs. Cheyenne East/Green River loser – 3pm LOSER OUT!
Rock Springs/Wheatland loser vs. Cheyenne Central/Cheyenne South loser – 5pm LOSER OUT!
Saturday, May 16th:
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
TBA vs. TBA – 10am LOSER OUT! Winner qualifies for the state tournament.
2 10am winners vs. each other – 1pm 3rd Place
TBA vs. TBA – 1pm 1st Place
-
News19 seconds agoExplosion at Lumber Mill in Searsmont, Maine, Draws Large Emergency Response
-
Politics6 minutes agoJustice Dept. Aims to Use Terrorism Laws to Target Mexican Officials
-
Business12 minutes agoSome Medicare Patients Can Now Get Free CBD
-
Science18 minutes agoArchaeologists Find Egyptian Mummy Buried With the ‘Iliad’
-
Culture36 minutes agoSpeculative Fiction Books Full of Real Horrors
-
Lifestyle42 minutes agoEating Healthy? No, They’re Eating Biblically.
-
Education48 minutes ago‘No Essay’ College Scholarships May Have Unseen Strings Attached
-
Technology54 minutes agoOpenAI keeps shuffling its executives in bid to win AI agent battle