The Wyoming Cowboy Football team took victory as it earned its first win of the season, beating Idaho 40-37 in overtime. Sophomore quarterback Brett Smith celebrated a career-high as he threw five touchdown passes during Saturday’s game, according to the athletics department.
Smith, who made his return to the Cowboy lineup after missing the game versus Cal Poly last week, tossed his fifth TD of the game on Wyoming’s first play of overtime. The Pokes (1-3 overall) won their fifth road game in the last eight tries, and held Idaho (0-4 overall) to just a field goal on their possession in the first overtime to seal the win. Wyoming Athletics reports this to be the first overtime game since 2009 for Wyoming.
The Cowboy defense set the tone early, stopping Idaho’s first drive as senior linebacker Oliver Schober scooped up a fumble by Idaho just 29 seconds into the game, giving Wyoming the ball. Three plays later, UW freshman quarterback Jason Thompson scored on his first carry of his collegiate career on an 11-yard scamper into the endzone, giving Wyoming a 7-0 lead with 13:31 remaining in the first period, according to Wyoming Athletics.
UW then opened the second half scoring as the Pokes went 90 yards on 11 plays when sophomore Dominic Rufran scored his second touchdown of the season as Smith found him from four yards out.
Wyoming evened things up at 20, but Idaho blocked the ensuing PAT to preserve the tie. The two teams traded punts over the next several possessions.
After an Idaho punt, Smith drove the Pokes down to the Idaho 6-yard line and then hit junior running back Brandon Miller on the sideline, according to the athletics department. Miller bulled his way into the end zone for a 34-27 lead with 3:37 remaining. The Vandals, however, scored with no time remaining on the clock when Blackman tossed an 8-yard TD to Mike Scott for the equalizer at 34-all.
On Idaho’s first possession of overtime, Purcell and junior Mark Willis combined to sack Blackman to force the Vandals into a 49-yard field-goal try. The kick was true, but Wyoming got its chance to win the game and Smith connected with Claiborne for the game winner.
Wyoming heads into its bye week and will be off until the Pokes take on the Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno, Nev., on Oct. 6.
