Defense Leads Cowboys Past Falcons
The Wyoming Cowboys forced three turnovers and turned them into 21 points in a 28-14 victory at Air Force Saturday night in Colorado Springs.
Wyoming (7-3, 5-1) won for the sixth time in the last seven games. Marcus Epps had an interception, while Jalen Ortiz and Garrett Crall both recovered fumbles that the Cowboys cashed in on with touchdowns.
Josh Allen threw for one touchdown and ran for another before leaving the game with an injury early in the second half. Allen took a hit late in the first half to his throwing shoulder. He exited after his only pass attempt on the fourth play of the third quarter with UW ahead 21-7.
Head coach Craig Bohl said on the post-game show from Learfield,
“I’m not going to make any comment. That’s the same thing I told our press (here). We’ll have a lot more information on Monday.”
Epps interception led to Trey Woods’ one-yard touchdown run for a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Ortiz grabbed a loose ball after Logan Wilson forced a fumble. Allen connected with freshman receiver Jared Scott on his first career catch with a 17-yard touchdown pass for a 14-0 lead.
Midway through the second quarter Allen capped a 69-yard drive with a two-yard TD run for a 21-0 lead.
Air Force (4-6, 3-3) scored right before halftime on Arion Worthman’s 22-yard TD pass to Marcus Bennett. The Falcons pulled within 21-14 on Taven Birdow’s 10-yard touchdown run with 9:35 left in the third.
Crall recovered a fumble by Worthman at the Wyoming 33. Back-up QB Nick Smith hit Trey Woods on a 38-yard pass. That set up Kellen Overstreet, who ran it in from nine yards out with 8:51 left.
Bohl also said, "There were a lot of different moments in the ball game. Air Force had a drive right before the end of the half and that was a telling drive, but we made some adjustments and made some plays. It was definitely a cat and mouse game throughout the night. Air Force plays well at home and it was great to come down here and earn a win."
The Cowboys finished with 229 yards of offense. Allen was 8-11 for 70 yards. Woods had 47 rushing yards, and Overstreet added 45 on the ground. Logan Wilson led the UW defense with 12 tackles and that forced fumble. Youhanna Ghaifan had a career-high 11 tackles, with two tackles for loss and a sack, while freshman Javaree Jackson added a career best 10 tackles.
The Falcons had 378 yards on offense. Worthman was 10-22 for 175 yards with a TD, a fumble and an interception. Birdow led the ground attack with 82 yards on 19 carries.
The Cowboys stayed one game behind Boise State in the Mountain Division with the win. UW plays Fresno State next Saturday in their 2017 home finale. Senior Day will kick-off at noon from War Memorial Stadium.