The Cowboys weren’t able to find their first win of the season in their final non-conference game on the road against the North Texas Mean Green.
Sawvel noted earlier in the week that his team needed to get off to a better start, particularly offensively. The Cowboys’ opening drive would go for 62 yards, resulting in an early field goal. Despite the offense sputtering out in the red zone, a field goal was a dream start for a Cowboys squad that has given up a pick six and a three and out through two of its first three games this season.
That dream start quickly crumbled at the hands of a fast paced Mean Green offense that would steamroll through the Cowboy defense on their first drive, finding the endzone in just two and a half minutes.
The Pokes’ ensuing drive would be immediately flagged with a holding call on a rush that barely found a single yard. Through the hard-nosed effort of Sam Scott, the Cowboys would be able to convert a third and 11. What looked like a spark for the offense quickly turned right back into a punt that the Mean Green would thank the Cowboys for with a field goal, one earned through converting two long fourth downs.
On the topic of fourth downs, the Pokes wouldn’t have the same success converting on fourth down that the Mean Green would. With 10:09 left in the second quarter, the Cowboys would attempt to convert a fourth and 4 from the Mean Green 26. From there, it would have been an easy chip shot for kicker John Hoyland to convert. Instead, it was a turnover on downs that the Mean Green would quickly convert into seven points.
This one was suddenly getting out of hand for the Pokes, finding themselves down 17-3. Starting quarterback Evan Svoboda was finding a bit of a rhythm early in this one, though, as he’d dump off a pass to Scott who would rumble down the field for the Cowboys second touchdown, making it 17-10.
The Cowboy defense still couldn’t get a handle on the Mean Green offense, as their next drive would result in another touchdown. The Pokes looked as if they were going to hold the Mean Green to a field goal on their own nine yard line, but the Mean Green would line up on fourth and 4 and force a false start on the Cowboy defensive line that would allow them to find the endzone once again.
Tyler King was determined to not let this one slip away though, as he’d take the following kickoff the length of the field for a touchdown to make it 24-17. It looked like it would be a one possession game heading into the locker room, but the Mean Green would will themselves into field goal range to make it 27-17 at halftime.
The Cowboy defense would finally make their presence known with a three and out to start the second half. The Cowboys looked ready to make the Mean Green pay for their offensive deficiency, as Scott would barrel down for six yards on his first touch of the second half to make it second and 4 from his own 28. A bad snap from center Nofoafia Tulafono would then push the Cowboys back nine yards, eventually forcing them to punt. Yet another bad snap would force punter Jack Culbreath to shank the punt for only 12 yards, allowing the Mean Green an easy touchdown.
The Cowboys couldn’t get anything going on their next possession but a solid punt this time would force the Mean Green to set up shop within their own ten yard line. That would be no problem for them, though, as they’d easily march down the field for another touchdown, now burying the Cowboys by a score of 41-17.
The Cowboys offense couldn’t manage any points in the third quarter, still down 24 heading into the fourth quarter. It would be all pleasantries from there for the Mean Green, as they’d hang on for a 44-17 win by the end of the game.
Despite the loss, Svoboda likely played his best game since becoming the starting quarterback. He’d complete 11 of his 23 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown. Scott also had a nice outing, leading the Cowboys with 39 yards on the ground while also making three catches for 52 yards and a touchdown.
The Cowboys as a team could only muster 240 yards of offense and were 4/14 on third down.
The Mean Green were able to torch the Cowboy defense with a balanced attack of 318 passing yards and 216 yards on the ground. They were also perfect on fourth down, completing all four attempts they had.
The Cowboys will head into conference play winless at 0-4, with Air Force coming to Laramie. That game is slated to kick off at 6 p.m. on September 28.
