Cowboys Fly Past Falcons in Second Half for 31-19 Victory on Homecoming
Pokes score 24 points in second frame
LARAMIE, Wyo. (Sept. 28, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowboys erupted for 24 points in second half to fly past the Air Force Falcons 31-19 on Homecoming inside War Memorial Stadium in Laramie on Saturday evening. The Pokes recorded 278 yards of total offense in the second frame and held onto the ball for nearly 22 minutes in the second half.
“I’m really happy for our team. I’m really proud of our players,” UW head coach Jay Sawvel said. “I’m happy for everybody associated with the organization. For where we are at right now, we couldn’t have asked for a better time for an open date. We needed to get a game to go into the open date. The way that they have practiced. The way they have continued to fight. The way that they have continued to improve. We’ll come back two weeks from now and be a better football team than what we were today. (The first win), it’s hollow a little bit with the way it all started. But look, take a list and take a look at who’s not here. You go down the list. We had two backup guards and a hobbled center, and we were able to run it in and score a touchdown there late. I’m really happy for the team. I’m really happy for our offensive staff. They have been working hard to try and get us jumpstarted.”
The Cowboys finished the night with a season-high 361 yards of total offense with and balanced attack that featured 188 yards passing and 173 yards on the ground. The Wyoming defense held Air Force to 320 yards of total offense with only 103 yards of total offense in the second half.
The Pokes got on the board first with a touchdown run from Sam Scott for his first of the season. But the Cowboys trailed 13-7 going into the half. Wyoming responded with a dominating third quarter with a pair of scores with a rush by quarterback Evan Svoboda and a scamper from wide receiver Tyler King. Svoboda was 8-of-9 passing in the third quarter.
Wyoming added 10 points in the final frame with a field goal from John Hoyland and another touchdown from Svoboda on the ground. A late sack on the Falcons final drive sealed the first win of the season for the Brown and Gold.
The Cowboy offense was led by Svoboda completing 71 percent of his passes for the game and throwing for a career-high 165 yard on 15-of-21. He also added a season-high 70 yards on the ground. Running back Sam Scott added a career-high 97 yards rushing. Wide Receiver Chris Durr, Jr. added a career-high three catches for a career-high 71 yards.
The Cowboys were paced by linebacker Shae Suiaunoa with a career-high 13 tackles on the night. He also added three tackles for loss for a career-high and the most by a Cowboy since Braden Siders had three against Ohio in the Arizona Bowl in 2022. Nose Tackle Ben Florentine added a career-high seven tackles.
The Cowboys will enjoy a bye week next weekend and return to action on October 12 hosting San Diego State inside War Memorial Stadium for a 1:30 p.m. start.
TEAM NOTES
•The Cowboys opened conference play on Saturday against the Falcons. The Pokes 14-12 all-time in conference openers in the MW
and are 10-6 in conference openers in Laramie.
•The Cowboys celebrated the 99th Homecoming at the University of Wyoming. UW is 50-46-3 all-time in Homecoming Games and are
45-27-2 in Homecoming games in War memorial Stadium.
•The Cowboys and Falcons met for the 62nd time on Saturday. UW is 28-31-3 all-time against the Falcons.
•The Cowboys are 16-11-2 against Air Force in Laramie.
•Head coach Jay Sawvel earned his first career coaching win on Saturday. He is the first Cowboy coach since Paul Roach to earn their first win against Air Force.
•Sawvel took over for Craig Bohl, as Bohl also earned his first Mountain West win against the Air Force Academy in 2014.
OFFENSIVE NOTES
•Running back Sam Scott recorded a eight-yard touchdown in the first possession for the Cowboys. It marked his third career
touchdown run and the third of his career. It was the first rushing score for a Cowboy running back this season.
•Quarterback Evan Svoboda recorded a career-high 165 yards passing. He did so with a career-high 15 of 21 passing for 71 percent
completion percentage for a career-high.
•Svoboda also rushed for a career-high 70 yards on 12 carries with two touchdowns.
•Scott finished the game with a career-high 97 yards on a career-high 19 carries on the night.
•Wide receiver Will Pelissier added a season-high two catches for 32 yards.
•Wide receiver Chris Durr, Jr. recorded a 32-yard reception for the longest of his career in the Brown and Gold. He finished the game
with a career-high three catches for a career-best 71 yards.
•Tight end John Michael John Michael Gyllenborg recorded a season-high 70 yards receiving
•Offensive guard Rex Johnsen made his first career start in place of the injured Jack Walsh.
•Wide receiver Tyler King found the endzone on a three-yard touchdown run in the third quarter for his third quarter for his first career rushing touchdown.
DEFENSIVE NOTES
•Wyoming linebacker Shae Suiaunoa recorded a career-high 13 tackles in the contest.
•Suiaunoa recorded 11 tackles in the first half along with two tackles for loss in the first frame.
•Suiaunoa recorded three tackle loss in the contest for a career-high and season-high for a Cowboy.
•Nose Tackle Ben Florentine recorded a career-high seven tackles. He had six in the first half.
•Defensive end Tyce Westland tied a career-high with five tackles on the night.
SPECIAL NOTES
•Cowboy kicker John Hoyland recorded his school recorded 62nd career field goals. He also added four extra points and seven points
on the night for 318 in his career for third all-time at Wyoming.
•Punter Jack Culbreath added three punts on the night with a season-long of 62 yards and two inside the 20 yard line.
Nick Seeman
Assistant Athletic Director, Communications
University of Wyoming Athletics