This weekend, the Cowboys will take a trip south to face off against the Texas Longhorns. The Longhorns, after coming up victorious against the Alabama Crimson Tide last weekend, are now ranked number four in the nation and represent a daunting challenge ahead.
Playing such an intimidating opponent will not be easy, but the Pokes are up to the task. Facing off against a ranked opponent is nothing new for this team, with Texas Tech being ranked number 24 when the Cowboys beat them just two weeks ago.
The Cowboys will need to rely on their strong defense to keep them in this contest. Despite having solid offensive performances in both of the team’s two games, it has been the defense that has helped mitigate early mistakes.
On top of three turnovers since the start of the season, the defense has also consistently come up with stops, forcing punts. Neither Texas Tech nor Portland State rushed for over 100-yards as a team against the Pokes this season, a true testament to the strength of the front line.
However, the secondary has allowed an average of 296 passing yards in that span, something that Coach Bohl will no doubt work to bring down this week.
Along with that, putting pressure on Texas QB Quinn Ewers will be crucial. The Pokes average 3.5 sacks a game, so being able to keep that intensity will benefit the rest of the defense.
On the offensive side of the ball, Coach Bohl thinks his squad could do more to get the running game going. “We need to run the ball better than we did [against Portland State], it wasn’t as effective,” Bohl said in his weekly press conference on Monday.
Andrew Peasley had one of the best games of his career last Saturday, tossing three touchdowns and 201 yards. Ayir Asante was his go to target for scoring, reeling in two catches for two touchdowns. The Pokes look to continue their efficient play through the air at Texas.
It will take a complete offensive attack to come up with a victory this weekend. When Wyoming played Portland State, a lackluster run game was lifted by an adept passing scheme. Against the Longhorns, however, there will be no room for error.
Two opening drives in a row have resulted in a fumble for the Cowboy’s running backs, a trend that needs to be eliminated. If Peasley and the offense come out flat on Saturday, it could mean early ruin for the team.
All the schemes and planning aside, keeping the team healthy will be an important part of this weekend’s game. With what many people see as a mismatch, a Wyoming team pushed to the limits could end up adding key players to the injury list.
With a majority of the season still ahead, including a complete conference schedule, a team walking, not limping, out of Austin will be the best case scenario.
The Cowboys are slated to start in Austin at 6pm this Saturday, the 16th. This team has shown it has got what it takes to hang with a squad from Texas, let’s see if they can do it again this weekend.
