LARAMIE – Aaron Bohl has his hands full this week.
 
Wyoming's defensive coordinator must prepare his unit to slow down Air Force's punishing triple-option offense on a short week.
 
The Cowboys (4-3, 3-1 Mountain West) host the Falcons (5-1, 3-1) under the Friday night lights at War Memorial Stadium (7 p.m., The CW).
 
Christian Taylor plans to provide help.
 
UW's offensive coordinator has been burning his own midnight oil trying to figure out the best way to make the most of limited possessions in this weighty conference matchup.
 
"You just make sure everyone understands the critical importance of every play, and you can't take any play for granted," Taylor said. "When you're game planning, it's like you want every play to be perfect is what it feels like, which is a rabbit hole you go down sometimes."
 
The Pokes are coming off their best offensive performance since Taylor arrived after spending the past two seasons as an assistant for the Buffalo Bills.
 
Tyler Hughes earned Mountain West offensive player of the week honors after completing 16 of 19 passes for 196 yards and rushing for 183 yards and four touchdowns during last Saturday's 41-23 win over Northern Illinois.
 
In the 16-13 overtime win at San Jose State the week before, Hughes ran 27 times for 92 yards as UW finished with 231 rushing yards. He was also 16 of 24 passing for 114 yards, including a game-tying 8-yard touchdown to tight end Jake Wilson.
 
"Tyler is benefiting from everyone around him elevating their game, and he is continuing to elevate his game also," Taylor said. "I definitely just want him to go out there and let it rip and have fun, which I think he typically does."
 
Two weeks after Hughes and the offense hit rock bottom with a 28-0 loss at North Dakota State, the Cowboys finished with 510 total yards, went 5-for-5 in the red zone and did not commit a turnover against NIU.
 
So, what changed after the somber flight home from Fargo?
 
"I think we have a lot of guys that this is really important to that were really pissed off about it," Taylor said. "They've put forth the work ethic needed on a daily basis and put together some really good practices and you're slowly starting to see that progress and the results. I mean, it's a process and it started in the spring.
 
"I wish it had gone a little bit smoother and faster, but you're starting to see the results of it a little bit."
 
UW's offensive line, which has three new starters and made a change at center after a season-ending injury, is starting to play with the "force" head coach Jay Sawvel has been looking for.
 
"Each week they've gotten better," Taylor said. "There's such a small difference between a successful play and a non-successful play, and a successful drive and a non-successful drive, and winning by 10 or losing by 20. When things are clicking and people are doing their job on every play basis, you see those results."
 
Wilson leads the team with 20 receptions for 206 yards and a touchdown, and fellow tight end Kyle Frendt has added 11 receptions for 216 yards and a touchdown.
 
The wide receivers, who have collectively performed well blocking in the run game, finally had a breakout performance in the passing game, with Eric Richardson finishing with five receptions for 77 yards against NIU.
 
"The receivers we have are hard-nosed guys," Richardson said. "We just keep our heads down, keep working, and whenever the ball comes to us, try to capitalize on every opportunity. I feel that's what happened. I got an opportunity and just went for it."
 
Markell Holman made the start at running back against the Huskies and finished with 80 yards on 14 carries. He is second on the team in rushing behind Hughes with 402 yards and three touchdowns and second on the team in receiving behind Wilson with 100 yards.
 
"He's just one of the best overall football players I've been around," Taylor said. "He'd probably be the first to say he's not the biggest, fastest or strongest. But he is really talented and a really savvy natural football player with really good vision, with really good strength. I'm glad he's here."
 
Running back Samuel "Tote" Harris and wide receiver Deion DeBlanc could return to the lineup from injuries.
 
Defensively, Air Force is allowing 19.7 points (38th) and 295.7 yards (23rd) per game. Senior linebacker Blake Fletcher is second in the Mountain West in tackles per game (10.67).
 
"I think we're just getting started," left tackle Rex Johnsen said. "Every week we just have to get better and better. We're excited to go play Air Force."
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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