The Wyoming Cowboys knocked off the undefeated Air Force Falcons on Friday night in Laramie behind a dominant performance from the Cowboys defense. The Cowboys won 17-14 and shut down the powerful Air Force Offense that led the nation in rushing. Wyoming improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in Mountain West Conference play, while Air Force dropped to 2-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Air Force Rushing Attack No Match for Stout Defense
Air Force came into Laramie leading the nation in total rushing yards and rushing yards per game in 2022. The high powered rushing attack averaged 508.5 yards per game on the ground. The Wyoming defense shut them down, holding the Falcons to 171 rushing yards. It was the first time Air Force was held to under 200 rushing yards since week 10 in 2021.
In their first two games, Air Force averaged 44.5 points per game. However, the Cowboys shut them out in the first half and held them to only 14 points.
Scoring Plays
Wyoming kicker John Hoyland opened the scoring with a 20 yard field goal on the first drive. The Cowboys drove 73 yards on 15 plays while taking 7:32 off the clock.
Midway through the second quarter Wyoming took a 10-0 lead as quarterback Andrew Peasley found Treyton Welch for a 14 yard touchdown.
Air Force finally got on the board with 7:45 remaining in the third with a 9 yard touchdown pass from Haaziq Daniels to David Cormier.
The Falcons took their first lead at 14-10 with 10 minutes remaining. Daniels threw his second touchdown pass of the game, a 41-yard strike to Cade Harris.
Wyoming responded with an eight play, 75 yard touchdown drive. Titus Swen fought into the end zone from five yards out to give the Cowboys the 17-14 lead for good.
WYOMING TAKES THE LEAD BACK 17-14!!! 6 MINUTES LEFT IN LARAMIE!! https://t.co/9Sy50BjWIR
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) September 17, 2022
Wyoming Runs Out the Clock
The Cowboys forced a punt with five minutes left in the game and had a chance to run out the remaining clock. They did just that.
After a couple of short runs by Swen, Wyoming converted on third down with an eight yard pass from Peasley to Will Pelissier.
After a loss of three and an incompletion, Wyoming faced a third and 13. Everyone expected the Cowboys to throw the ball, however they caught the Falcons off guard. Titus Swen ran for 17 yards and picked up the crucial first down. The Cowboys then ran out the final two minutes.
https://twitter.com/FTBeard7/status/1570966768155512833
Up Next
Wyoming hits the road next Saturday to take on the 12th ranked BYU Cougars.
Air Force hosts Nevada on next Friday night.