The Wyoming Cowboys (2-7) traveled to the Colorado State Rams (6-3), where the Cowboys would struggle immensely on both sides of the ball in a decisive loss to the Rams.
The Cowboys would open the game on the defensive side of the ball, where the Rams would open up their first drive of the game running the ball extremely efficiently, as they’d take the ball to the end zone with 69 yards rushing on their initial drive.
The Cowboys would be much less efficient on their first drive of the contest, going three and out and punting the ball right back to the Rams. To add insult to injury, the Cowboys’ punter Jack Culbreath would fumble the snap on the punt, causing him to shank the punt out of bounds at the 50 yard line. Fortunately, the Cowboy defense would hang on this time around, forcing the Rams to a field goal which they would miss, keeping the lead to 7-0 in favor of the Rams.
That play wouldn’t will the Cowboy offense past midfield, however, as they’d punt on their second straight drive following the Rams’ missed field goal. The defense would struggle against the Rams’ rushing attack once again, and this time around the Rams would find the end zone once again to cap off the first quarter to make it 14-0.
The Rams had their way with the Cowboy defense in the first quarter of play, gashing the Cowboys with 156 yards on the ground after just one frame of play. Subsequently, the Cowboy offense could not find any momentum with only 51 yards of total offense after one quarter.
The Cowboy offense was able to find some footing to open the second quarter, as the boot of kicker John Hoyland would be true from 49 yards out to get the Cowboys on the scoreboard. The Cowboy defense would be unable to field that momentum on their side of the ball, as they’d allow the Rams to march right back down the field and within five yards of their end zone, but an impressive goal line stand by the Pokes would force a field goal.
The Cowboys’ final drive of the second quarter would find little success, as a fourth down try at their own 44 would give the Rams fantastic field position with 2 minutes remaining in the second frame. The Rams wouldn’t be able to make do with optimal field position, as they’d fumble a would-be uncontested touchdown on the goal line, allowing the Cowboys to enter the locker room only down 17-3.
A deflated Cowboys offense only had 81 total yards of offense in the first half compared to the Rams’ 274. The Rams also easily won the time of possession battle in the first half, holding the ball for 18:05 compared to the Cowboys’ 11:55.
The Cowboys’ offense numbers wouldn’t gain much on their opening drive of the second half, as the Cowboys would punt away after receiving the second half kickoff. The Rams would waste little time finding the end zone, scoring off a two-play, 85 yard drive to take a 24-3 lead early in the third frame.
Off the back of a 62-yard Jamari Ferrell run, the Cowboys would finally find the end zone with 8:42 remaining in the third quarter to make it 24-10. The Cowboy defense would follow that up with a big three and out, which the Cowboy offense would unfortunately follow up with a three and out of their own.
The Cowboy defense would force their second straight three and out of the third quarter, though, but an inept Cowboy offense wouldn’t be able to make do off the defensive efficiency once again, as they’d be forced to punt.
A third straight three and out by the Cowboy defense would give the ball back to their offense, but again they would stall out and be forced to punt.
The Rams’ offense would finally be able to somewhat move the ball, but would miss a 57-yard field goal to keep things at 24-10. Once again, the Cowboy offense would go three and out to follow up that missed field goal.
Four straight punts on missed opportunities from this Cowboy offense would ultimately be to their undoing, as the clock would strike midnight on a Cowboy comeback as they’d lose by a score of 24-10.
The Cowboys struggled to get the run established in the contest, as outside of the 62-yard run from Ferrell, the Cowboys only had 55 yards on the ground. The Cowboys also struggled in the air, as many as seven drops, particularly down the stretch, led Cowboy quarterback Kaden Anderson to a 13/30 day for 120 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
The Rams were efficient offensively, as the Cowboy defense allowed 446 total yards in the game. Outside of an unforced fumble at the end of the second quarter, the Cowboy defense was unable to generate any impactful turnovers to aid in their comeback efforts.
The Cowboys return to action next weekend, where they take on #13 Boise State at War Memorial Stadium.
