Members of the UW football team react to the snap as Jason Thompson (17) attempts a pass during Saturday’s homecoming game against the Air Force Falcons at War Memorial Stadium.
A fourth-quarter touchdown for the Air Force Falcons overtook Wyoming’s game-long lead and resulted in a heartbreaking one-point loss for the Cowboys on homecoming weekend.
Jason Thompson, Wyoming’s freshman quarterback, went 23-for-36 for 195 yards and one touchdown. Unfortunately, Air Force rushed the attack and churned out 230 yards and two scores for a 28-27 defeat of the Cowboys on Saturday at War Memorial Stadium. This win for the Falcons pushes their record to 3-3 overall and 2-1 Mountain West, while Wyoming now sits at 1-5 overall and 0-2 MW.
Thompson took his first start at QB in place of sophomore Brett Smith, who was ruled out prior to the game. In Thompson’s first extended action as quarterback, he directed scoring drives of 99, 82 and 66 yards for touchdowns while completing nine straight passes to start the game, according to Wyoming Athletics.
Air Force took the 28-27 lead after a two-yard TD run by player Kale Pearson with 7:45 remaining. Despite their efforts, the Cowboys could not drive into position for a score in the game’s final minutes.
UW’s performance looked promising as it amassed a season-high 252 yards rushing. Wyoming Athletics reports that 94 of these yards came from freshman running back D.J. May, 79 from freshman running back Shaun Wick and 75 from Thompson. Defensively, UW senior linebacker Korey Jones set the tone with 10 tackles, while senior safety Luke Anderson added eight stops.
Thompson started the game leading a 99-yard TD drive, UW’s longest drive of the season. Air Force then went 65 yards on four plays as QB Connor Dietz threw a 41-yard TD pass. The Falcons took the 7-6 lead with 2:49 to go in the first quarter.
Thompson then led the Pokes on another extended drive, driving 82 yards on 16 plays, zipping a pass to senior wideout Chris McNeill for a 4-yard TD. The rush gave Wyoming the lead, 14-7, with 10:47 to go in the second quarter.
Air Force drove on the next possession until the ball was fumbled and quickly recovered on the Wyoming 34. UW then went 66 yards in 11 plays as freshman running back D.J. May punched it in from 1 yard out for his first career TD. Wyoming increased the lead to 21-7 with 5:01 to go in the second quarter.
The Falcons followed Wyoming and scored a 46-yard pass tightening the score to 21-14 shortly before the end of the second quarter.
The half ended with a 42-yard field goal from sophomore place-kicker Stuart Williams, leaving UW in a 24-14 lead.
On the opening possession of the third quarter Wick had ripped off a 31-yard run, a career long. The Pokes moved the ball 59 yards in nine plays, and Williams hit a 33-yard field goal to increase the lead to 27-14 with 10:43 to go in the third quarter, according to the Wyoming Athletics.
With seconds remaining in the third period, the Falcons drew closer as they rushed down the field for another TD.
Air Force moved the ball 67 yards on 16 plays in the final quarter, scoring for a game-tying touchdown. A successful point-after-touchdown attempt gave the Falcons a 28-27. Air Force ran out the last five minutes on the clock to hold the victory.
Wyoming hits the road to take on Fresno State at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, Calif.
UW fans and members of the Cowboy football team watch the action at Saturday’s game at War Memorial Stadium. UW lost by one point to Air Force after a fourth-quarter touchdown by the Falcons.
