The Wyoming Cowboys met their longtime rivals, the Colorado State Rams in the annual Border War football game on Saturday.
The Cowboys dominated the Rams to claim a 31-17 victory, both bringing home the Bronze Boot and breaking the Cowboys’ losing streak.
The Bronze Boot is the quintessential symbol of the University of Wyoming vs Colorado State University rivalry. The Boot stayed in Fort Collins for the last year and was brought back home at this year’s Border War.
“It was an awesome game! I was worried after the Rams got the first touchdown, so I’m glad I got to shout ‘Go Pokes!’ out on the field tonight,” student Manuel Gonzales said.
The game opened with the first touchdown going to the Rams, causing Cowboys fans like Manuel to worry about the outcome.
The Cowboys had a rapid turnaround and scored their first touchdown of the game. After tying it up 7-7, both teams’ defense held and closed out the quarter.
Almost within the first minute of the second quarter, the Cowboys scored their second touchdown and locked the Rams out of the endzone until late in the fourth quarter.
Cowboys quarterback, Levi Williams, threw for two touchdowns and 96 yards while working in tandem with running backs Titus Swen and Xazavian Valladay to host a strong Wyoming running offense.
Swen and Williams each ran for 100+ yards with Vallady hosting 76 of his own rushing yards. Williams and Vallady each added to the score with one touchdown each.
“The game was a blast.” Alexis Eagle, a non-traditional student at UW said. “[My husband] was like ‘well it’s my birthday, so I hope we win,’ and that’s just what happened!”
The chants and shouts of joy grew more and more as the game went on, highlighting the Cowboy spirit with every emphatic, “Go Pokes!”
“This game was a huge opportunity for the band to show what we’ve been working on for the past couple weeks,” Riley Box, a drummer in the UW Western Thunder marching band said.
“The energy of the stadium during Border War is so electric! It definitely gives you goosebumps,” Box said. “It also helps to get the win; it’s a huge confidence boost for the school and the band!”
The fourth quarter saw the Cowboys fighting tooth and nail to secure their win, scoring their last touchdown of the game off an interception.
As the clock ran out, the Cowboys ran to secure the Bronze Boot.
Fans rushed the field. They all chanted and jumped in unison while surrounding the Cowboys and the Bronze Boot, giving it a proper Cowboy welcome home.
As the UW crowd headed home with their heads held high, the announcer gave the final sendoff of the night. “Welcome home Boot, and Go Pokes!”
The Cowboys finished with 354 yards rushing and rose to 5-4 in their season record and 1-4 in their Mountain West standing.
The Cowboys will travel next week to face the Boise State Broncos at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, ID.
