The Wyoming Cowboys narrowly beat the Tulsa Golden Hurricane – 40-37.
Cowboys Rating Touchdowns on Offense, Protection and Particular Groups
The Wyoming Cowboys excelled in all three phases of Saturday’s dwelling opener in opposition to the Tulsa Golden Hurricane. Wyoming scored a defensive landing, blocked a punt for a landing and scored two offensive touchdowns plus place-kicker John Hoyland made a profession lengthy 55-yard discipline purpose and tied a profession excessive with 4 made discipline targets, together with the sport winner within the second extra time as Wyoming captued a 40-37 double ovetime thriller.
Offensively, Cowboy quarterback Andrew Peasley had an excellent day, finishing 20 of 30 passes (66.7 %) for 256 yards, two TD passes and no interceptions. Peasley additionally led Wyoming in speeding with 45 yards and accounted for 301 yards of complete offense. He threw a landing go of 48 yards to extensive receiver Will Pelissier within the second quarter to present Wyoming a 17-13 lead, and he threw a 51-yard TD to wideout Joshua Cobbs within the fourth quarter to tie the sport at 34-34 and drive extra time. Cobbs set a brand new profession excessive in receiving yards with 77 yards on 5 catches. Pelissier set profession highs in each receptions (3) and receiving yards (67). Fullback/tight finish Parker Christensen added 4 catches for 45 yards, which had been each profession highs for him. Eight totally different Cowboys caught passes from Peasley on the day. UW operating again Titus Swen added 40 yards speeding on Saturday. The Pokes used 4 totally different operating backs within the recreation as Dawaiian McNeely, D.Q. James and Joey Braasch all joined Swen in carrying the ball.
Wyoming’s protection obtained the Cowboys off to a quick begin as the sport started with an enormous play by defensive deal with Jordan Bertagnole and security Miles Williams. The 2 Cowboys put stress on Tulsa quarterback Davis Brin on the second play of the sport on the Tulsa 28-yard line. Bertagnole punched the ball out of Brin’s palms and the ball bounded into the top zone and was recovered by Cowboy linebacker Easton Gibbs for a landing. Place-kicker John Hoyland added the additional level and Wyoming had a 7-0 lead solely 37 seconds into the sport. Gibbs would lead the Pokes in tackles on the day with eight. His operating mate at linebacker, Shae Suiaunoa was credited with seven tackles and had an enormous sack within the second extra time. Nickel again Keonte Glinton recorded six tackles, one fumble restoration and three go breakups, together with a important go breakup on Tulsa’s closing possession within the second extra time to drive the Golden Hurricane right into a field-goal try that was unsuccessful and gave Wyoming it is 40-37 victory.
Saturday’s recreation marked the primary time since a Sept. 30, 2017, Wyoming dwelling win over Texas State (45-10) that Wyoming scored a landing on offense, protection and particular groups. Wyoming’s particular groups’ landing got here within the third quarter when Cowboy extensive receiver Ryan Marquez blocked a Tulsa punt after which picked up the blocked punt and returned it 9 yards for a TD.
“I need to acknowledge the College of Tulsa. Coach (Philip) Montogomery does an awesome job,”stated Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl after the sport. “There have been so many performs that went backwards and forwards as we speak. They’ve a very good soccer workforce. What an distinctive workforce win for our gamers.
“Nothing breeds success like success. The conditions that come into play, two-minute drives, conditions that we created throughout the recreation, for our gamers and coaches to be rewarded for a wonderful win that assessments us, was nice to see.
“All that backwards and forwards, that simply makes this victory sweeter.”
Bohl was requested how huge he thought the 55-yard discipline purpose from Hoyland within the fourth quarter was to Wyoming’s comeback, Bohl stated, “I checked out John (Hoyland), and he stated, ‘Coach I obtained it.’ There was an electrical energy that unfold throughout the sidelines. A 55-yard discipline purpose is fairly spectacular.”
Peasley credited all his teammates for the onerous fought victory after the sport.
“For me it feels good, however I am happy with everybody,” stated Peasley. “That recreation, there have been so many adjustments with adversity and feelings and everybody held their composure and we obtained a W.
“I by no means get too excessive or too low. I attempt to keep stage. Once we had been down 10, I simply thought let’s go rating.
“I feel our confidence can be boosted this subsequent week, throughout as a workforce. We all know we will take some pictures and achieve success, so now we simply must maintain getting higher.
“Numerous dudes stepped up as we speak and did what they had been speculated to do. Throughout, individuals stepped up and did nicely.”
After Wyoming’s defensive landing, Tulsa got here again on its second possession and drove 62 yards in 13 performs all the way down to the Wyoming 13-yard line. However the Cowboy protection held and compelled a 32-yard discipline purpose by Tulsa’s Zack Lengthy that was profitable to chop Wyoming’s result in 7-3.
With 9:02 remaining within the first quarter, the Wyoming offense obtained its palms on the ball for the primary time within the recreation. Quarterback Andrew Peasley rushed the ball twice for 18 yards and accomplished all 4 of his go makes an attempt for 27 yards to information the Pokes on a 13-play, 67-yard drive that resulted in a 25-yard discipline purpose by Hoyland to increase Wyoming’s result in 10-7. Huge receiver Will Pelissier additionally contributed an enormous 18-yard run on the drive. The primary quarter would finish with the Cowboys main 10-7.
The 2 groups started the second quarter by exchanging punts. On Tulsa’s second possession of the second interval, quarterback Brin accomplished 5 of 8 passes for 77 yards en path to an 11-play, 77-yard drive that concluded with a one-yard TD run by operating again Steven Anderson to tie the sport at 10-10. Tulsa overcame a primary and 20 early within the drive following an offensive holding penalty.
Tulsa compelled Wyoming right into a three-and-out on the Cowboys’ subsequent sequence, however Wyoming punter Clayton Stewart hit a ravishing 52-yard punt that checked up in need of the Tulsa purpose line and was downed on the Tulsa five-yard line.
The Golden Hurricane would put collectively their longest scoring drive of the day following that punt, driving down discipline from their very own five-yard line all the way in which to the Wyoming 10-yard line. However with a primary and purpose on the 10, the Cowboy protection stiffened and allowed Tulsa to achieve just one yard in three performs and the Golden Hurricane needed to accept a 27-yard discipline purpose to take their first lead of the sport at 13-10 with 2:48 remaining within the first half.
Wyoming’s offense would reply on its subsequent possession. Runs of seven yards by McNeely and 5 yards by James together with go completions of 4 and 11 yards by Peasley moved the ball all the way down to the Tulsa 48-yard line. On first and 10 from the 48, Peasley discovered Pelissier down the appropriate sideline for 48 yards and the landing and Wyoming regained the lead 17-13, with solely 57 seconds remaining within the half. It appeared just like the Pokes would possibly take that lead into halftime.
However Tulsa had different plans. Brin would full a go of 33 yards on the primary play of the drive. Following a Wyoming 15-yard go interference penalty, Brin then accomplished a 22-yard go all the way down to the Wyoming five-yard line. He would lastly full a five-yard TD go to extensive receiver Malachai Jones and Tulsa regained the lead at 20-17 with eight seconds left on the clock. After Wyoming took a knee after the following kick off, the half ended with the Golden Hurricane up by three factors at half.
The Cowboys took the opening kickoff of the second half however had been unable to maneuver the ball. UW punter Stewart hit one other robust punt of 41 yards that was downed on the Tulsa 15. UW’s protection compelled Tulsa right into a three-and-out sequence. It was on Tulsa’s punt try that Cowboy Marquez got here in clear on the punt block. After he blocked the punt, Marquez was in a position to find the ball, scoop it up and run it into the top zone for a nine-yard return and provides the Pokes a 24-20 lead.
One other lead change was in retailer on Tulsa’s subsequent possession as they drove 75 yards in 9 performs, capping off the scoring drive with a 41-yard TD go from Brin to extensive receiver Juan Carlos Santana that gave them a 27-24 lead with 8:12 left within the third quarter. That may be the top of the scoring within the third.
Tulsa would construct its result in 10 factors after they engineered an eight-play, 55-yard landing drive that started on their closing possession of the third quarter and ended on the primary play of the fourth quarter as Brin threw his third landing go of the day — this one to to extensive receiver Keylon Stokes from 19 yards out. The Golden Hurricane had its largest lead of the sport at 34-24 with 14:52 remaining within the contest.
Wyoming’s offense mounted their comeback on the following sequence. Peasley moved the ball down discipline with go completions of 14 yards to wideout Wyatt Wieland and 17 yards to fullback/tight finish Christensen. UW discovered itself with a fourth and 5 on the Tulsa 38-yard line when Wyoming head coach Bohl made the choice to have Hoyland try a profession lengthy 55-yard discipline purpose. Hoyland made the kick with room to spare, and the Cowboys’ deficit was lower to seven at 34-27.
The Golden Hurricane would miss a 49-yard discipline purpose try on its subsequent possession, and Wyoming took over at its personal 31-yard line. After runs of six yards by McNeely and 12 yards by Swen, Peasley took the snap in shot-gun formation and tossed an ideal strike to Cobbs for a 51-yard landing and with 6:12 remaining within the recreation the Pokes had tied the sport at 34-34.
The Cowboy protection compelled Tulsa right into a three-and-out and took the ball again at its personal 36-yard line. Peasley calmly guided the Cowboys on what appeared like is perhaps the game-winning drive. The massive performs on the drive being a 23-yard swing go to operating again James and a 10-yard run by Peasley. With the ball on the Tulsa seven-yard line, Tulsa compelled a fumble by operating again Swen and the potential profitable drive was stopped.
Tulsa had 1:45 remaining to see if they may engineer the profitable drive. Cowboy cornerback Jakorey Hawkins had an enormous go breakup on a go try down the far sideline. Brin got here again on the following play to finish a 33-yard go to extensive receiver Stokes to the Tulsa 44-yard line, however as Stokes was operating down discipline Wyoming cornerback Cam Stone put an enormous hit on Stokes, jarring the ball unfastened and nickel again Glinton recovered for Wyoming.
With just one:20 remaining from the Tulsa 44-yard line, Wyoming had one closing alternative to win the sport in regulation. A 12-yard completion from Peasley to Pelissier was adopted by runs of two yards by operating again Braasch and two yards by Peasley. The ball now sat on the Tulsa 27-yard line on fourth and 5. Hoyland got here in for a 44-yard discipline purpose try. The kick appeared to simply be lengthy sufficient however the ball hit the appropriate upright and bounced again towards the sector of play, sending the sport to extra time.
Wyoming gained the toss and selected to play protection first in extra time. Tulsa took its first possession of extra time and moved the ball from the 25 all the way down to the seven-yard line the place place-kicker Lengthy efficiently made a 25-yard discipline purpose on a fourth and three to present Tulsa a 37-34 lead.
The Cowboys additionally efficiently moved the ball from the 25 all the way down to the six-yard line, however dealing with a fourth and three of their very own despatched Hoyland in to tie the sport at 37-37 with a 25-yard discipline purpose of his personal.
The second extra time started with Wyoming now having to go on offense first. The Cowboys moved the ball from the 25 to the 13 this time and had been confronted with a fourth and 10. Hoyland got here in and kicked his fourth discipline purpose of the day from 30 yards to present the Pokes a 40-37 lead and put the stress again on Tulsa.
Tulsa gained 4 yards on first down. On second down, Cowboy linebacker Suiaunoa sacked Brin for 4 yards again to the 25. Brin then tried to search out receiver Jones in the midst of the top zone, however nickel again Glinton knocked the ball down. On fourth down and 10 from the 25, Cowboy head coach Bohl took a timeout to ice Tulsa’s kicker. Golden Hurricane place-kicker Lengthy then got here in for a 43-yard discipline purpose try and attempt to drive a 3rd extra time, however the Cowboy field-goal block workforce put good stress on Lengthy and the kick went extensive left.
Wyoming had captured a 40-37 win in its 2022 dwelling opener and permitted its season report to 1-1.