Wyoming
LIVE FILE: Wyoming Cowboys vs. Air Force Falcons
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.
2024: University of Wyoming Homecoming Parade
2024 University of Wyoming homecoming parade in downtown Laramie
Gallery Credit: Paityn Hulstrom photos