Saturday, October 14
Logan, Utah
2:30 PM
University of Wyoming
4-2 , 2-0
28
at
23
Utah State
3-4 , 1-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 3 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 28 |
| Utah State | 6 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 23 |
10/14/2017 5:59:00 PM | Football
Poke Defense forces five turnovers
A Josh Allen Touchdown pass to C.J. Johnson and a forced fumble by Conner Cain in the closing minutes lifted the Pokes to a 28-23 win over Utah State on Saturday afternoon in Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah. It marked the Cowboys' first win over the Aggies in Logan since 2003, as the Pokes came head back to Laramie with the Bridger Rifle for the second-straight season.
"We've renewed a great rivalry with Utah State" UW head coach Craig Bohl said. "It was a great team win. We felt coming in that it was going to be a really, really close game, and that's what it turned out to be. We're really pleased with a win, and it's going to push us with more momentum. A win on the Mountain side of the conference is huge, so we're really pleased with this."
The Wyoming defense recorded a season-high five turnovers with the defense adding a scoring tally for the second-straight game. Junior defensive end Carl Granderson recorded a safety with remaining to seal the win for Wyoming. Granderson and fellow junior defensive end Kevin Prosser along with senior corner back Rico Gafford recorded interceptions for UW.
"It was a great team win and we have some more wins out there," UW head coach Craig Bohl said. "We knew it would be a challenge and we found a way to keep making plays. We competed well and anytime you come up with a win on the road in conference play is a double bonus."
Allen finished the day 18-of-26 passing for 208 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Eight Different receivers caught passes for the Pokes. Junior wide receiver James Price grabbed a career-high four catches for a career-high 72 yards.
Junior safety Andrew Wingard recorded a team-high 15 tackles. He went over 300 in his career, as he now has 310. Sophomore linebacker Cassh Maluia added 11 tackles for the Pokes, which all came in the first half.
The Aggies got on the board first capitalizing on an Allen interception on the Pokes' first offensive play. Kicker Dominik Eberle connected on a 45-yard field goal with 11:29 in the first quarter. Utah State started the drive on the Pokes' 33-yard line.
The Cowboys followed with a field goal themselves off a Utah State fumble. Sophomore linebacker Cassh Maluia forced the fumble with junior safety Andrew Wingard pouncing on the loose ball. The Pokes worked their way down the field with sophomore kicker Cooper Rothe connecting on a 21-yard field goal to make it a 3-3 contest with 4:58 remaining in the opening frame.
Utah State added a field goal in the closing seconds of the first quarter, as Eberle hit a 31-yard attempt to make it a 6-3 contest. The Cowboys defense stood strong in the redzone with pressure Granderson and sophomore linebacker Ben Wisdorf.
The Pokes took their first lead on a fourth-down quarterback sneak from Allen from the Utah State one yard line. Rothe missed the extra point for his first career missed point after attempt to make it a 9-6 game with 9:14 in the second quarter. Allen was solid during the 12-play, 68-yard drive. He hit junior tight end Josh Harshman on a 23-yard pass and junior wide receiver James Price on a 23-yard third down conversion. He also scrambled for 15 yards on a fourth down.
The Cowboys lead was short lived, as the Aggies scored a little over two minutes later on a 28-yard wide receiver reverse pass from Aren Vaughns to Braelon Roberts. The seven play drive gave the Aggies a 13-9 advantage with 6:41 remaining in the opening half.
The Cowboys defense held strong once again in the final minutes of the first half holding the Aggies to another field goal this time a 49-yard connection from Eberle. Junior Marcus Epps recorded his first career sack on a third down play, as the Aggies took a 16-9 lead into the break.
The Pokes tied the game on a 28-interception returned for a touchdown by Prosser. The interception for a touchdown was the Pokes' third defensive score of the year. The tally made it a 16-16 game with 8:46 remaining in the third quarter.
Senior cornerback Rico Gafford recorded an interception at the 50-yard line two-minutes after Prosser's touchdown. The Pokes drive stalled and neither offense could add a tally as it was a 16-16 game going into the fourth quarter.
The Aggies took the lead on a fake field goal, as holder DJ Nelson scampered into the endzone from four yards out to make it a 23-17 game with 12:40 remaining.
Wyoming responded with a field goal from 29-yards from Rothe making it a 23-19 game with 8:51 remaining. The Pokes drove 63 yards on nine plays during the drive. Allen connected with Price on a 23 yard pace to highlight the drive.
Allen hit Johnson on a 28-yard pass, as Johnson made a double move on the Aggie corner back to find himself wide open inside the Utah State five yard line. Cain followed with a strip in the backfield that lead to the fumble.
After the Cowboys brief drive a punt by freshman Tim Zaleski landed on the Aggie seven yard line. Two plays later Granderson recorded the safety to give UW the 28-23 win.
The Cowboys head to Boise State next Saturday for an 8:15 contest on ESPN2.
"We've renewed a great rivalry with Utah State" UW head coach Craig Bohl said. "It was a great team win. We felt coming in that it was going to be a really, really close game, and that's what it turned out to be. We're really pleased with a win, and it's going to push us with more momentum. A win on the Mountain side of the conference is huge, so we're really pleased with this."
The Wyoming defense recorded a season-high five turnovers with the defense adding a scoring tally for the second-straight game. Junior defensive end Carl Granderson recorded a safety with remaining to seal the win for Wyoming. Granderson and fellow junior defensive end Kevin Prosser along with senior corner back Rico Gafford recorded interceptions for UW.
"It was a great team win and we have some more wins out there," UW head coach Craig Bohl said. "We knew it would be a challenge and we found a way to keep making plays. We competed well and anytime you come up with a win on the road in conference play is a double bonus."
Allen finished the day 18-of-26 passing for 208 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Eight Different receivers caught passes for the Pokes. Junior wide receiver James Price grabbed a career-high four catches for a career-high 72 yards.
Junior safety Andrew Wingard recorded a team-high 15 tackles. He went over 300 in his career, as he now has 310. Sophomore linebacker Cassh Maluia added 11 tackles for the Pokes, which all came in the first half.
The Aggies got on the board first capitalizing on an Allen interception on the Pokes' first offensive play. Kicker Dominik Eberle connected on a 45-yard field goal with 11:29 in the first quarter. Utah State started the drive on the Pokes' 33-yard line.
The Cowboys followed with a field goal themselves off a Utah State fumble. Sophomore linebacker Cassh Maluia forced the fumble with junior safety Andrew Wingard pouncing on the loose ball. The Pokes worked their way down the field with sophomore kicker Cooper Rothe connecting on a 21-yard field goal to make it a 3-3 contest with 4:58 remaining in the opening frame.
Utah State added a field goal in the closing seconds of the first quarter, as Eberle hit a 31-yard attempt to make it a 6-3 contest. The Cowboys defense stood strong in the redzone with pressure Granderson and sophomore linebacker Ben Wisdorf.
The Pokes took their first lead on a fourth-down quarterback sneak from Allen from the Utah State one yard line. Rothe missed the extra point for his first career missed point after attempt to make it a 9-6 game with 9:14 in the second quarter. Allen was solid during the 12-play, 68-yard drive. He hit junior tight end Josh Harshman on a 23-yard pass and junior wide receiver James Price on a 23-yard third down conversion. He also scrambled for 15 yards on a fourth down.
The Cowboys lead was short lived, as the Aggies scored a little over two minutes later on a 28-yard wide receiver reverse pass from Aren Vaughns to Braelon Roberts. The seven play drive gave the Aggies a 13-9 advantage with 6:41 remaining in the opening half.
The Cowboys defense held strong once again in the final minutes of the first half holding the Aggies to another field goal this time a 49-yard connection from Eberle. Junior Marcus Epps recorded his first career sack on a third down play, as the Aggies took a 16-9 lead into the break.
The Pokes tied the game on a 28-interception returned for a touchdown by Prosser. The interception for a touchdown was the Pokes' third defensive score of the year. The tally made it a 16-16 game with 8:46 remaining in the third quarter.
Senior cornerback Rico Gafford recorded an interception at the 50-yard line two-minutes after Prosser's touchdown. The Pokes drive stalled and neither offense could add a tally as it was a 16-16 game going into the fourth quarter.
The Aggies took the lead on a fake field goal, as holder DJ Nelson scampered into the endzone from four yards out to make it a 23-17 game with 12:40 remaining.
Wyoming responded with a field goal from 29-yards from Rothe making it a 23-19 game with 8:51 remaining. The Pokes drove 63 yards on nine plays during the drive. Allen connected with Price on a 23 yard pace to highlight the drive.
Allen hit Johnson on a 28-yard pass, as Johnson made a double move on the Aggie corner back to find himself wide open inside the Utah State five yard line. Cain followed with a strip in the backfield that lead to the fumble.
After the Cowboys brief drive a punt by freshman Tim Zaleski landed on the Aggie seven yard line. Two plays later Granderson recorded the safety to give UW the 28-23 win.
The Cowboys head to Boise State next Saturday for an 8:15 contest on ESPN2.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
DT
/ Football
fs
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
TE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
K
/ Football
FS
/ Football
LB
/ Football
P
/ FootballTeam Stats
WY
USU
Total Yards
293
363
Pass Yards
208
232
Rushing Yards
85
131
Penalty Yards
75
50
1st Downs
14
23
3rd Downs
4
6
4th Downs
3
1
TOP
31:47
28:13
1st Quarter
WY 0, USU 3
USU - EBERLE, Dominik 45 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 1:45
WY 3, USU 3
WY - ROTHE, Cooper 21 yd field goal 9 plays, 38 yards, TOP 3:40
WY 3, USU 6
USU - EBERLE, Dominik 31 yd field goal 12 plays, 62 yards, TOP 4:39
2nd Quarter
WY 9, USU 6
WY - ALLEN, Josh 1 yd run (ROTHE, Cooper kickfailed), 12 plays, 68 yards, TOP 5:59
WY 9, USU 13
USU - ROBERTS, B. 29 yd pass from VAUGHNS, Aaren (EBERLE, Dominik kick) 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 2:27
WY 9, USU 16
USU - EBERLE, Dominik 49 yd field goal 10 plays, 56 yards, TOP 2:07
3rd Quarter
WY 16, USU 16
WY - PROSSER, Kevin 28 yd interception (ROTHE, Cooper kick)
4th Quarter
WY 16, USU 23
USU - NELSON, DJ 4 yd run (EBERLE, Dominik kick), 15 plays, 81 yards, TOP 7:07
WY 19, USU 23
WY - ROTHE, Cooper 29 yd field goal 9 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:49
WY 26, USU 23
WY - JOHNSON, C.J. 28 yd pass from ALLEN, Josh (ROTHE, Cooper kick) 7 plays, 63 yards, TOP 3:21
WY 28, USU 23
WY - GRANDERSON, C. 7 yd safety
Game Leaders
CMP
18
TD
1
YDS
208
INT
1
Saturday, September 12
Thursday, September 10
Thursday, September 10
Thursday, August 06
