Cowboys Stop Hawaii in Overtime to Win Conference Debut [VIDEO]
James Price and Cassh Maluia made big catches in overtime that allowed the Wyoming Cowboys to top the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 28-21 Saturday night in Laramie.
Wyoming (2-2, 1-0) scored on its first play in OT. Josh Allen found Price behind the Hawaii defense for a 25-yard touchdown pass.
The Rainbow Warriors picked up a first down on their first play to the Cowboys’ 15-yard line. On the next play, Dru Brown’s pass was tipped by UW defensive end Garrett Crall and intercepted by Maluia, who made a diving catch that ended the game.
UW won despite being out-gained by Hawaii 450-to-269 in total offense. Also, the Rainbow Warriors ran 30 more offensive plays (78-to-48) and possessed the ball for 39 minutes (2:1 ratio).
Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl admitted they found a way to win the Paniolo Trophy. He provided a breakdown of the game.
Trey Woods ran for a career best 135 yards and a touchdown. He finished with 15 carries and averaged nine yards per rush. Allen was only 9-19 for 92 yards and the one TD. Logan Wilson led the defense with 14 tackles. Andrew Wingard added nine tackles, which included one for loss, two pass break-ups and an interception.
Hawaii (2-2, 0-1) got 280 yards passing from QB Dru Brown. Diocemy Saint Juste ran for 120 yards and a touchdown.
The Pokes did not turn the ball over, while the Rainbow Warriors had two turnovers.
Woods’ 34-yard touchdown run gave UW a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. Ryan Tuiasoa tied it with a 1-yard run on the ensuing drive by the Rainbow Warriors. Saint Juste scored from 5-yards out for a 14-7 Hawaii lead with 54 seconds left in the third quarter. The Cowboys responded with Tyler Hall’s 97-yard kick-off return TD just 15 seconds later.
Austin Conway’s 3-yard touchdown run gave UW a 21-14 lead, but Hawaii answered again with a Brown to John Ursua 50-yard TD pass.
It was the second straight game in Laramie between the two programs that was decided in overtime. The last was in 2013, a 59-56 Wyoming victory. The Cowboys are now 8-7 all-time in OT games.
Next up, UW will host the Texas State Bobcats in their final non-conference game of the season and to conclude the current four-game home-stand next Saturday at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. Kick-off will be at 2 p.m.