The Cowboys returned to home on Saturday in their final non-conference game versus the Appalachian State Mountaineers. The Mountaineers (2-1) came into Laramie off a 43-28 win against an athletic East Carolina team. The Cowboys (2-1) entered the game suffering a tough 31-10 loss against Texas. The Cowboys and the Mountaineers have previously met twice, the series split 1-1 with the last meeting being in 2015 in Boone, S.C. where the Cowboys fell 31-13. The Cowboys entered the game as three point favorites.
Cowboys’ quarterback Andrew Peasley didn’t play in the road loss versus 3rd ranked Texas last week due to a shoulder injury, but returned to the backfield in tonight’s contest. Running back Harrison Waylee played in his first game of the season versus Texas last week, impressing with 110 yards rushing with 1 TD. Starting cornerback Kolbey Taylor, who also missed last week’s contest due to a team violation, returned to action but did not start.
The Cowboys elected to start the first half on defense, going up against an explosive Mountaineers’ offense. What seemed like an easy 3 and out on the Mountaineer’s opening drive turned into a 12 play, 67 yard drive that luckily led to a field goal after a possible touchdown pass was tipped at the line by Shae Suiaunoa.
The Cowboys’ first offensive drive started explosively with a 26-yard run by Devin Boddie, but quickly puttered out at the App State 43-yard line, as the Cowboys were unable to answer the Mountaineer’s opening drive field goal.
The Mountaineers were again then able to march down the field to cash in another field goal, making the score 6-0 early in the first half.
The Cowboys’ defense was gifted the football at the start of the second quarter, as an App State receiver dropped the ball on a pass around their own 25-yard line. The Cowboys’ offense was able to then quickly find the end zone with a frantic 9-yard run by Peasley, who remains to put his body on the line despite recent injuries.
The Cowboys’ defense turned up again on the Mountaineer’s next drive, stuffing their 4th and 1 rushing attempt at the Wyoming 41-yard line. Despite that, the following offensive drive by the Cowboys led to a punt.
The Mountaineers’ following drive led to yet another field goal, giving them a 9-7 lead late in the first half that they would extend into halftime, as the Cowboys’ final drive of the first half did not find the scoreboard and muffed punt lead to another field goal for the Mountaineers, giving them a 12-7 lead into halftime.
The Cowboys’ defense struggled to contain the Mountaineers’ balanced offensive attack in the first half, but were able to fend them off in the red zone and come up with some timely turnovers to keep the game close at half, despite giving up 256 yards.
In comparison, the Cowboys held Texas to 316 yards for the whole game last week. The offensive performance was poor at best in the first half as well, only racking in 97 yards, most of which were on the ground as Peasley was only 2-5 for 18 yards. The Cowboys found themselves seeing yellow for most of the half as well, giving up 7 penalties for 50 yards.
The Cowboys’ continued their offensive woes with their opening drive of the second half, being forced to punt after a 3 and out. The Cowboys’ would pick up their defensive effort, though, forcing a 3 and out of their own on the Mountaineers’ second half opening drive.
The Cowboys continued to struggle to find their footing on offense early in the second half against a stingy Mountaineers’ defense, only gaining 22 yards in the third quarter. The Cowboy defense, however, turned up from the first half, holding the Mountaineers’ to 63 yards in the third quarter.
The Cowboys defense continued their dominance of the second half, forcing the Mountaineers to punt to start the 4th quarter. The Cowboys’ offense then threw the ball away, as Peasley’s pass intended for D.Q. James bounced off his back and into the hands of the Mountaineer’s defense, which they carried into the end zone to make the score 19-7 in their favor.
Harrison Waylee had the answer for the Cowboys on the first play of the very next drive, though, blazing past the Mountaineers’ defense for a 75 yard touchdown run to cut the lead back to 5.
The Mountaineers’ offense would then slowly march their way down the field, chewing the clock down on a 9:22 drive. The Mountaineers were set up for a 47-yard field goal, but the Cowboys would block the field goal and Jakorey Hawkins would scoop and score a 62-yard touchdown off the blocked field goal. The Cowboys would then convert a two-point conversion courtesy of John Michael Gyllenborg barging his way through the Mountaineers’ defense into the end zone to give the Cowboys a 22-19 lead.
The Mountaineers’ took control of the ball with 1:45 left on the clock, and found themselves quickly in Cowboys’ territory. The Cowboy defense would come in clutch once again, though, as Wrook Brown would record his 2nd interception of the season and seal the deal for the Cowboys.
In the win, Andrew Peasley struggled to throw the ball, completing 5/15 passes for 35 yards and 1 interception. Harrison Waylee impressed yet again with 156 yards rushing, including a 75 yard touchdown run.
The Cowboy defense had its struggles as well throughout the game, giving up 417 yards to the Mountaineers’ offense. However, it would be that Cowboy defense that would win the game for the Cowboys, coming in with two huge turnovers, including the Wrook Brown interception, to seal the deal. The Cowboys also recorded a season high 8 penalties, accounting for 65 yards.
The Cowboys return to action with Mountain West conference play next Saturday for their 100th annual homecoming game versus New Mexico. The game is set to kick off at 2 p.m.
