Slow Start Dooms Cowboys in 24-10 Loss at Colorado State

Friday was the 116^th edition of “The Border War”

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Nov. 14, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowboys could not overcome a slow start in a 24-10 loss at Colorado State on Saturday evening inside Canvas Stadium in Fort Collins, Colo. It was the 116^th edition of “The Border War” with the Cowboys falling to 31-26 in the Bronze Boot Portion of the series.

“We will start by giving credit to our opponent,” head coach Jay Sawvel said. “We thought coming in here that we were going to need to out-play them. We were going to have to play really good, we were going to have to play as good a football as what we could play and the best football we played all year and we didn’t do that. There’s enough plays defensively we caught to start the game, which was inexcusable. And then offensively we were our own worst enemy at times, too.”

The Cowboys were held to 81 total yards in the first half with the Rams building a 17-3 lead into the half. Wyoming defense settled in the third quarter with Wyoming, but the Ram defense held strong holding the Cowboys to only seven points in the second half.

Wyoming finished the game with 237 yards of total offense with 117 yards on the ground and 120 yards through the air. The Rams finished the contest with 446 yards of total offense, as CSU rushed for 248 yards and passed for 198.

The Cowboy offense was paced running back Jamari Ferrell with 74 yards on the ground. He recorded a career-high 62-yard rush. Wide receiver Jaylen Sargent grabbed three catches for 45 yards for the night. Quarterback Kaden Anderson threw for 120 yards on 13-of-30 passing

Wyoming’s defense was paced by linebacker Connor Shay with a career-high 12 tackles. He also added a career-high two tackles for loss. Defensive end DeVonne Harris added six tackles and added a fumble recovery and a tackle for loss. Defensive end Tyce Westland tied a career-high with eight tackles and defensive tackle Jayden Williams added a career-high seven tackles.

Colorado State was led offensively by Justin Marshall with 104 yards. Dom Jones led the Ram defense with 10 tackles.

The Cowboys return to action next week hosting Mountain West leader and College Football Playoff contender Boise State on Saturday at 5 p.m.

TEAM NOTES

•The Cowboys and Rams met for the 116th time on Friday.

•”The Border War” series has been played in three different centuries, dating back to Nov. 30, 1899, when CSU won the first meeting 12-0 in Fort Collins, Colo.

•This year is the 125th anniversary of that first meeting.

•Since 1968, the two schools have battled for the “Bronze Boot” traveling trophy.  This year will be the 57th meeting in the “Bronze Boot” portion of the series.  Wyoming leads the Bronze Boot portion of the series 31-26.

•The Bronze Boot trophy was created from an actual boot worn in Vietnam by Dan Romero, a CSU ROTC instructor.

•Since the end of World War II, Wyoming and CSU have played every season for 79 consecutive seasons from 1946 to this season.

•Over the past 78 consecutive meetings, dating back to the 1946 season, Wyoming leads 46-33-0.

•Colorado State leads the overall series 60-51-5.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

•Wide receiver Will Pelissier recorded 2 catches and has multiple catches in back-to-back games for the first time this season.

•Wide receiver Jaylen Sargent recorded a 25-yard reception in the third quarter. He had 3 catches for 45 yards. In his last two games, Sargent has recorded 231 yards after recording 186 at New Mexico.

•Running back Jamari Ferrell finished the game with 6 carries for 74 yards. 

•Ferrell recorded a 62-yard rush in the third quarter for the longest of his career. 

DEFENSIVE NOTES

•Linebacker Connor Shay recorded a career-best 12 tackles on the night.

•Shay finished the game with 1 tackle for loss for a career high. 

•Defensive end Tyce Westland recorded 8 tackles on the night for a career high and has five or more tackles three times this season.

•Defensive tackle Jayden Williams added 7 tackles. He came into the game with his career high of four tackles.

•Defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole recorded 4 tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. He came into the game with 24.5 tackles for loss, as he ranks in the top-10 in school history.

•Defensive end DeVonne Harris recorded a fumble recovery for the third of his career. 

SPECIAL NOTES

•Kicker John Hoyland connected on a 49-yard field goal in the second quarter. It marked his 68th career field goal and his 349th career point. He added 1 extra point and adds to his school scoring record.