A climber fell to his death while rappelling down Devils Tower, leaving his partner stranded without a rope on the face of the Wyoming geological formation.

The stuck climber was rescued unharmed after crying out for help Sunday evening, Devils Tower National Monument Superintendent Doug Crossen said Wednesday.

The death of Stewart Phillip Porter, 21, of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on Sunday, was the seventh climbing fatality in the park’s 118-year history. Some 6,000 people climb the formation every year.

The two were on a relatively easy climbing route called El Cracko Diablo. They had summited the tower and were headed back down when Porter fell.

How the fall happened was unknown. The accident was still being investigated, Crossen said.

Standing with sheer sides almost 870 feet (265 meters) above the surrounding countryside and a mile (1.6 kilometers) above sea level, Devils Tower is the world’s largest example of columnar jointing — fused pillars of igneous rock that formed as underground magma.

Established in 1906, Devils Tower was the first national monument and played a role in the 1977 film, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.”

LARAMIE — The injury list for this Wyoming team just keeps on growing.

Roughly an hour before kickoff, more bad news cam down the pike.

Right guard Jack Walsh (upper body), wide receiver Devin Boddie Jr. (lower body) and running back DJ Jones (personal) are officially out. Defensive end Braden Siders, who missed the North Texas game with a concussion, is also questionable for tonight’s tilt with visiting Air Force. Safety Isaac White is listed as doubtful. He missed the second half in Denton with a foot injury.

The Cowboys will also be without safety Wyett Ekeler (thumbs), returner Caleb Cooley (ankle), fullback Caleb Driskill (thumb), offensive linemen Luke Sandy and Nate Gieger (both knees) and edge rusher DeVonne Harris (elbow).

Running backs Dawaiian McNeely (knee) and Harrison Waylee (knee) are also sidelined. The latter plans to return at some point this fall and maintain his redshirt status by appearing in four games or less.

The Cowboys (0-4) and Falcons (1-2) are slated to kickoff at 6 p.m. Mountain Time. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

Keep refreshing this page throughout tonight’s game for all the latest in-game insights and comments.

PREGAME:

* Wyoming is wearing its traditional uniforms tonight: Brown jersey, gold pants, white helmet. The Falcons are sporting blue lids and pants, along with white tops.

* The weather is absolutely perfect for a late September evening. It’s currently 79 degrees and breezy.

* Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel is wearing the coolest sweatshirt I think I’ve ever seen. It’s an absolute beaut.

* Really nice crowd rolling into The War on this homecoming night.

* Air Force is getting the ball first tonight. Let’s do it. Pokes (0-4) and Falcons (1-2) ready to roll

FIRST QUARTER:

* Senior safety Isaac White is playing tonight despite suffering a foot injury last week at North Texas.

* Pokes defense is getting off the field here. Air Force will punt on its opening possession … we think

* *TURNOVER ON DOWNS* They faked it and Wyoming gets the stop. Pokes will take over at the Air Force 46.

* Bertagnole and Florentine credited with the stop on that fake punt. Nice play from the big fellas in the middle

* Scott with a big gainer on first down. Puts his foot in the ground and goes north. That’s a gain of 18

* Falcons jump offside on a 3rd and 7. Right idea on the free play — Svoboda going deep to Pelissier — but didn’t give him a great chance in bounds.

* Pokes facing a 4th and 1 here from the Falcons’ 20. The offense is coming out after a timeout. Sawvel sent Hoyland on at first

* Svoboda easily picks up the first down. Sam Scott, again, clearing a path as the lead blocker. Ball at the AF 8

* *TOUCHDOWN* Sam Scott bullies his way in from eight yards out and the Cowpokes are on top early here in Laramie. Big fourth-down pickup leads to the score. That was a 6-play, 46-yard drive that took 2:17 off the clock. Wyoming 7 Air Force 0 9:36/ 1Q

* Connor Shay with a nice TFL on first down. That’s a loss of four. Keep the Falcons behind the chains and you’re in great shape.

* There’s a 3-and-out. This defense is playing confident early on. Here comes the punt team. TK King back to receive

* 62-yard punt by Culbreath just flipped the field. That’s a weapon the Pokes haven’t had in a while.

* Isaac White is down on the play. Appears trainers are looking at his foot. That injury kept him out of the second half last week in Denton and had him listed as doubtful today

* Andrew Johnson, despite having a broken right thumb, will replace White in the secondary.

* Dante Drake will get credit with the Sack right there. That’s a loss of 5.

* Cole DeMarzo nearly picked off the pitch right there. Air Force facing a 3rd-and-10 at the Pokes’ 16

SECOND QUARTER:

* Air Force is on the board on the first play of the second quarter. That was a 28-yard field goal. That was a 12-play, 72-yard drive that took 6:34 off the clock. Wyoming 7 Air Force 3 14:56/ 2Q

 * Svoboda to Gyllenborg on a 3rd-and-14. Really nice read by the big QB. That was good for 20

* Connor Shay with a 6-yard TFL and it’s wiped out because the Pokes had 12 men on the field. Haven’t seen that bonehead penalty yet this year

* Kade Frew darts into the end zone from five yards out. Air Force is in the lead after that 9-play, 81-yard drive that took 5:42 off the clock. Air Force 10 Wyoming 7 6:47/ 2Q

* Svoboda had a free play on 3rd and 9 there and hits Pelissier with a beauty. Probably his best throw of the year. That’s good for 29.

* Stop me if you’ve heard this one … Fia with a terrible snap. Loss of 13. Pokes will punt. This is crazy

* Luke Sandy is hurt. He’s Fia’s backup. Redshirt freshman Quinn Grovesteen-Matchey is next man up

* Tyce Westland going to get flagged here for a roughing the passer. Busha completed the ball anyway. That was good for 24 yards to Harris. Visitors in biz at the Pokes’ 14 with 1:07 to go in the half

* Pokes’ D stiffens up here. Air Force will attempt the chip shot.

* Some boos raining down on the home team here at half. Rightfully so. Pokes are very lucky to be trailing by only six after two quarters. Air Force 13 Wyoming 7 HALFTIME

* Here’s some first-half stats: Svoboda: 6-10, 46 yards Scott: 6 rush, 35 yds, TD Pelissier: 2 catch, 32 yds Gyllenborg: catch, 20 yds UW offense: 83 yards (46 pass, 37 rush) 2-6 on third down 22 total plays 9:49 TOP (AF: 20:11) Bad snaps: 1

THIRD QUARTER:

* Chris Durr Jr. with some nifty footwork. Big gainer. Pokes in AF territory. That was good for 32

* Really nice toss there from Svoboda to Gyllenborg. Cowboys are inside the AF 10.

* Stevenson just fumbled. This will definitely be reviewed. Might have broke the plane. Might have been down at the goal line anyway.

* Stevenson was clearly down. This should be Pokes ball at the 1.

* You go for it here, don’t you? Pokes trailing by six. The Falcons hold the ball for so long you won’t have many opportunities like this. 4th and goal at the 2, coming up. Wes King is down on the play, not Rex Johnsen. His backup, you guessed it, Quinn Grovesteen-Matchey

* *TOUCHDOWN* Evan Svoboda barrels into the end zone on fourth down. Nice push up front. Pokes back in the lead. That was a 7-play, 76-yard drive that took 2:58. Big catches by Durr and J-Mike. Wyoming 14 Air Force 13 11:54/ 3Q

* Wyoming finally gets points on the board in the third quarter. Had been outscored 52-0 in this frame.

* Cowboys are getting off the field here. Big stop. An answer on this drive would be massive.

* This drive starts at the 6. Sam Scott with a nice 16-yard gainer on first down.

* Svoboda fires an absolute strike to Gyllenborg on 3rd and 8. Big-time throw right there

* Alex Brown is on the ground and appears to be in some pain. Last thing this team needs is another injury. On the bright side, he was held. Pokes have a 1st and 10 at the AF 37

* Svoboda with the keeper. Dude found another gear. Gain of 22. Pokes at the AF 13.

* *TOUCHDOWN* Speedy TK King with the score on the jet sweep. Huge turn of events here for the Cowpokes. Back-to-back touchdown drives in the third. Svoboda is feeling it right now. That was an 11-play, 94-yard drive that took 5:56 off the clock. Wyoming 21 Air Force 13 3:32/3Q

* Svoboda is 6-of-7 throwing for 111 yards in this quarter. He’s also rushed for 39 yards. This crowd is amped up.

* Wyoming’s D forces a quick 3-and-out. This looks like Cowboy football

FOURTH QUARTER:

* Sam Scott show on this drive. Big-boy run right there. Pokes at the AF 12 after that 9-yard gain. We have a starting running back, folks. It’s Sam Scott

* *FIELD GOAL* Hoyland strokes through a 23-yard field goal to extend the Cowboys lead. How about the Pokes with an AF-type drive right there: 13 plays, 61 yards, 6:31. Wyoming 24 Air Force 13 10:36/ 4Q

* Air Force with a big answer, aided by an unsportsmanlike penalty on Bertagnole. That was a 37-yard TD. Two-point conversion no good. Wyoming 24 Air Force 19 7:00/ 4Q

* Durr with a big gainer on the screen. Huge 3rd down pickup for Kaden Anderson, who was in because Svoboda’s helmet popped off.

* Huge penalty on AF on the punt. I’m on the sideline. Didn’t see it. Pokes ball with less than 3 min to go.

* Pokes lead this one 31-19 with 2:13 to go. Huge TD run by Svoboda. Great second half for him.

The Air Force Falcons, led by quarterback John Busha, face the Wyoming Cowboys, led by quarterback Evan Svoboda on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 (9/28/24) at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming.

How to watch: Fans can watch the game for free via a trial of DirecTV Stream or fuboTV, which is offering $30 off this month.

Here’s what you need to know:

What: NCAA Football, Week 5

Who: Air Force vs. Wyoming

When: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024

Where: War Memorial Stadium

Time: 8 p.m. ET

TV: CBS Network

Live stream: fuboTV (free trial), DirecTV Stream (free trial)

***

Here are the best streaming options for college football this season:

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Paramount+ (free trial): Paramount Plus will live stream college football games airing on CBS this year.

College football notes:

UNLV and Air Force have decided to remain in the Mountain West as the conference thwarted off attempts at further poaching by the Pac-12 and American Athletic Conference by offering financial incentives to its most prominent remaining members to stay, a person with knowledge of the decisions told The Associated Press on Wednesday night.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the schools had not made their intentions public. The Mountain West declined to comment on its internal discussions.

The Action Network first reported UNLV and Air Force had decided to stay in the Mountain West.

The Mountain West has already lost five members to the rebuilding Pac-12 over the last two weeks, including Utah State earlier this week.

Utah State’s departure came as Commissioner Gloria Nevarez was trying to convince her remaining members to agree to a multiple-year grant of rights that would bind schools together and to the conference through media rights.

That gave the other seven schools a chance to reconsider, but ultimately it appears Nevarez will be able to keep the Mountain West alive with the help of about $100 million dollars in exit fees expected to come the conference’s way from the departing schools.

The Pac-12 is suing the Mountain West over another $55 million in poaching penalties that were part of a football scheduling agreement Oregon State and Washington State entered into with the conference for this season.

The person said UNLV and Air Force have been offered signing bonuses of more than $20 million to stay put, and that was more than other conferences were willing to spend to lure them away.

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