Danielle Server – Staff Writer
September 28, 2019- The 3-1 Wyoming Cowboys opened up their first conference game of the season against the 1-2 UNLV Rebels with a 53-17 win, making it their most scoring game since their game against Hawaii in 2013. With three interceptions and two sacks, the Wyoming would make a tremendous stop to the Rebels offense to give their offense several opportunities to score.
Both teams coming into Saturday nights game had proven themselves as rushing offenses. The Rebels ranked 23rd in the nation with their rushing game credited to their Jr. quarterback Aramani Rodgers and RB Charles Williams. However, the Cowboys would out rush the Rebels. Quarterback Shaun Chambers would go on to have 100 yard game, the fifth time in his career. Fr. Titus Swen would also have his first career 100 yard game after a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The Cowboys had a successful first half, scoring 33 points with a total offensive 299 yards in the first two quarters. The defense kept the Rebels to ten points, forcing several turnovers complete with an interception by Logan Wilson.
To start off the first quarter, the Rebels would use their rushing game to drive down the field to score a field goal, making it 0-3. The Wyoming offense warmed up in their second possession as So. Xazavian Valladay rushed from the Rebels seven yardline for the first touchdown of the game after several successful rushing drives, making it 7-3 at 4:50. Not long after, the Rebels answered with a touchdown after a 4th down touchdown conversion for 54 yards from a pass by their quarterback Armani Rodgers. Fr. Titus Swen rushed for a career long 59 yards to bring the Cowboys to the UNLV 13 yard line at the end of the first quarter, responding to UNLV touchdown only minutes earlier.
Chambers, with good field position, rushed for a 17 yard touchdown to start the second quarter, giving the Cowboys the lead again 13-10 with a failed kick attempt by Cooper Rothe. In just three plays, the Cowboys would come back again with another touchdown, a 56 yard pass by Chambers to Sr. Josh Harshman, his second touchdown since his first one freshman year. After a close interception by the Rebels, the Cowboys lengthened their lead to 23-10 after a successful field goal attempt from Rothe after missing the extra point in the first quarter.
Logan Wilson intercepted a pass from Rodgers at 3:08 to go in the second quarter and went 21 yards for the return from the UNLV 24 yardline. Even though the Cowboys had good field position at the UNLV 4 yard line, the Rebels defense held the Cowboys to just a field goal by Rothe, making it 26-10 at two minutes to go. But it wouldn’t stop the Cowboys offense from scoring again as Chambers threw for a 20 yard touchdown pass to RFr. Jackson Marcotte with 1:04 to play in the second quarter, extending the lead to 33-10 to cap the score for the half.
The game slowed down in the third quarter with both teams unable to make significant plays. Both defenses held each other from making scoring drives. Wyoming defense finally had their first sack of the game in the third quarter by So. Davon Wells-Ross. They made a dominant stop to the Rebel’s offense at 2:19 after a failed fourth down conversion. Chambers fired up with a 28 yard pass to Austin Conway, moving the offense into good position at the end of the third quarter. With a 5 yard rushing touchdown from Chambers, the Cowboys would extend the lead to 40-10 to start the fourth quarter.
After a long drive in 14 plays after 4:24, the Rebels would finally score their first touchdown since the first quarter after a quarterback switch, making it 40-17. Wyoming’s offense rapidly extended their lead again with a rushing touchdown from Swen, making it his first career 100 yard game. Valladay scored the next touchdown for the Cowboys after an interception by Sr. Cassh Maluia within a minute after Swen’s touchdown, finalizing the score to 53-17.
After a huge win, the Cowboys will face the San Diego State Aztecs in their next conference game after a bye week on October 12 at 8:30 pm.
