Wyoming scores 14 unanswered points in dominant fourth quarter

LARAMIE – Jay Sawvel put his right index finger on his temple.

"We had to fix this," Wyoming's third-year head coach said.

The Cowboys (1-1) used a 40-minute lightning delay in the fourth quarter to change their mentality.

When play resumed, UW outscored Northern Colorado 14-0 to pull off a 21-13 victory in the home opener Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.

"We learn a lot through that scenario about the urgency we have to play with all the time," Sawvel said of his team dominating the final 12:07 of the game. "There's a lot of growth that still has to happen with this football team, but we'll go back to work (Sunday)."

On the final snap before the delay, the Cowboys lost a fumble on their own 32-yard line. The defense came out of the break and forced a three-and-out.

Tyler Hughes threw a 15-yard touchdown to Charlie Coenen to finish a 14-play, 82-yard drive that bled 7:06 off the clock. Erik Sandvik's extra point gave UW a 14-13 lead with 3:44 remaining.

"Our players came out with a different level of urgency," Sawvel said. "It was good to see."

Jones Thomas came up with his second interception of the game on the Bears' ensuing drive, which led to Hughes' 18-yard touchdown pass to a diving Kyle Frendt to give the Cowboys an eight-point lead with 1:44 remaining.

Jack Dunkley had a sack and Tyson Shamsid-Deen broke a pass up on fourth down with 48 seconds left. Ethan Stuhlsatz led the Pokes with 11 tackles.

"The biggest thing about today is we won our first home game and defended the War," Thomas said. "I feel like our energy was just different coming out of the (delay). We've just got to continue that and come out of the gates with the same energy."

Hughes was able to get in the victory formation about an hour after things looked bleak for UW. The senior quarterback finished 18-for-26 passing for 149 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 35 yards.

"I think seeing that is going to catapult us for the rest of the season," Hughes said of the late-game execution.

On their first drive of the second half, the Bears (0-3) increased their lead to 13-7 after a 13-play, 58-yard drive capped with a 35-yard field goal by Landon Richardson

Richardson had a field goal blocked by Jayden Williams with Esaia Bogar scooping up the ball and returning it for a touchdown. However, the momentum-changing score did not count as UNC was called for delay of game for snapping the ball after the play clock expired.

UW trailed 10-7 at the intermission after Bears' quarterback Kenny Lueth connected with Marcus Mozer for a 45-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the second quarter.

Parker Moore sniffed out a fake punt, Bogar registered a 10-yard sack and Thomas made a diving interception to highlight the Pokes' defensive play in the first half.

UNC had a 346-304 in total yards for the game, but UW out-gained the visitors 135-3 in total yardage in the fourth quarter. Markell Holman led the Cowboys in rushing (80 yards) and also had five receptions for 27 yards.

"We got it done," Sawvel said. "Sometimes it's a whole lot easier and a whole lot better to get certain things fixed after you kind of pull through on one."

UW will play Central Michigan at 11 a.m. next Saturday in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

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