The University of Wyoming football team won its final game of the season in a thriller against Washington State. The Cougars entered the game 8-3 with a high-powered offense that averaged 36 points per game.
The Wyoming defense held the top-15 offense to only 14 points, their lowest all year. They even shut out the Cougars in the second half, something that hasn’t been done all year.
The Cowboys offense struggled in the first half, scoring only three points. However, thanks to the defensive stand, quarterback Evan Svoboda and the offense were given a chance to win the game on the final drive.
With three and a half minutes left and down by five the offense went for 90 yards over a 14-play drive. On fourth down in Washington State territory, Svoboda found tight end John Michael Gyllenborg for an 18-yard touchdown pass. The touchdown put the Cowboys up by one with only 24 seconds left in the game.
Three plays later, Wyoming cornerback Tyrecus Davis sealed the game with an interception. Davis earned Mountain West Conference honors as the defensive player of the week for his performance in the game.
Svoboda, who was criticized much of the year for his lack of production, got to end his season leading the offense to a victory. He had one of his better games of the season, throwing for 206 yards including a touchdown and an interception.
After his final game at Wyoming, senior kicker John Hoyland will finish his career as the all-time leading scorer for the Cowboys. He scored 366 points and made a school-record 73 field goals. Hoyland was awarded Mountain West Conference honors as the special team player of the week. This is the sixth time in his career he has won the award.
In Head Coach Jay Sawvel’s first year at the helm, the Cowboys finished the season with a 3-9 record and second to last in the Mountain West Conference standings. However, last week, Sawvel pledged, “This is the last damn time we’re gonna be in this situation, that much I can promise you”. Former head coach, Craig Bohl, finished with a 4-9 record in his first season with the Cowboys.
