Wyoming roars back to keep bowl hopes alive

Wyoming Cowboys 2009 ... Head Coach: Dave Christensen

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 2-10
2009 Record: 5-5

9/5 Weber St W 29-22
9/12 Texas L 41-10
9/19 at Colorado L 24-0
9/26 UNLV W 30-27
Oct. 3 at FAU W 30-28
Oct. 10 New Mex W 37-13
Oct. 17 at Air Force L 10-0
Oct. 24 OPEN DATE
Oct. 31 at Utah L 22-10
Nov. 7 BYU L 52-0
Nov. 14 at SDSU W 30-27
Nov. 21 TCU
Nov. 27 at Colorado State

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 6-6
2008 Record: 4-8

Aug. 30 Ohio W 21-20
Sept. 6 Air Force L 23-3
Sept. 13 N. Dakota St W 16-13
Sept. 20 at BYU L 44-0
Sept. 27 Bo Green L 45-16
Oct. 4 at N Mexico L 24-0
Oct. 11 Utah L 40-7
Oct. 18 OPEN DATE
Oct. 25 at TCU L 54-7
Nov. 1 S Diego St W 35-10
Nov. 8 at Tennessee L 13-7
Nov. 13 at UNLV L 22-14
Nov. 22 Colorado St L 31-20

Wyoming Cowboys

Nov. 14
Wyoming 30 … at San Diego State 27
Down 27-6 going into the fourth quarter, Wyoming scored 24 unanswered points with Ian Watts hitting a 43-yard field goal with 23 seconds to play to get the win. Austyn Carta-Samuels ran for a ten-yard score and connected with David Tooley for a nine-yard score. Alvester Alexander added a 33-yard scoring dash. San Diego State got up on two Brandon Sullivan touchdown runs from one and five yards out, but the defense collapsed down the stretch.
Player of the Game: Wyoming QB Austyn Carta-Samuels completed 16-of-22 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown, and he ran 13 times for 51 yards and a score
San Diego State: Passing: Ryan Lindley, 18-29, 200 yds
Rushing: Brandon Sullivan, 18-105, 2 TD, Receiving: DeMarco Sampson, 5-50
Wyoming: Passing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 16-22, 246 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Brandon Stewart, 19-76, Receiving: David Tooley, 4-70, 1 TD
What It All Means: Just when the season appeared to be over, Austyn Carta-Samuels led the Cowboys back in a huge win over San Diego State to keep bowl hopes alive. If the Cowboys lost, they would’ve had to beat TCU to get a 13th game, but now all they have to do is beat a bad Colorado State team after taking the beating from the Horned Frogs. The defense did a decent job against the SDSU passing game, but it’s going to have to be special against the run to keep TCU from winning by 30. 

Nov. 7
BYU 52 … at Wyoming 0
BYU rolled at will as Max Hall had a near-perfect game with 312 yards and four touchdown passes including a 79-yarder to McKay Jacobson and strikes from 44 and 15 yards out to J.J. DiLuigi. The Cougars held a 31-0 halftime lead and were never threatened. Wyoming managed just 225 yards of total offense and turned the ball over three times.
Player of the Game: BYU QB Max Hall completed 20-of-22 passes for 312 yards and four touchdowns, and he ran five times for 30 yards.
Wyoming: Passing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 14-23, 108 yds
Rushing: Alvester Alexander, 10-49, Receiving: David Leonard, 7-53
BYU: Passing: Max Hall, 20-22, 312 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Harvey Unga, 16-85, Receiving: J.J. DiLuigi, 5-94, 2 TD 
What It All Means: Wyoming got to see just how far it has to go before it can challenge the better teams in the Mountain West. As horrible as things have been over the last three weeks, scoring just ten points in the three games with shutouts against Air Force and BYU, there’s still a chance to right the ship and get back in the bowl hunt with a win at San Diego State next week. However, that’s going to be a shootout, and the passing game has to figure out a way to make a play or two down the field in a real hurry. The secondary is struggling and it’s going to have a hard time holding up if the Aztecs start bombing.

Oct. 31
at Utah 22 … Wyoming 10
Wyoming took a 10-3 lead going into the locker room on a trick play with QB Austyn Carta-Samuels catching a 30-yard touchdown pass, but Utah dominated in the second half. The Utes scored 18 unanswered points with Joe Phillips kicking two of his three field goals and Jereme Brooks catching a 22-yard touchdown pass to take the lead for good. Eddie Wide put it away with a five-yard scoring run. The Ute defense came up with five sacks in the second half and held UW to 202 total yards of offense.
Player of the Game: Utah RB Eddie Wide ran 24 times for 135 yards and a score.
Wyoming: Passing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 19-30, 121 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Brandon Stewart, 6-28, Receiving: Zach Bolger, 4-26
Utah: Passing: Terrance Cain, 10-13, 121 yds
Rushing: Eddie Wide, 24-135, 1 TD, Receiving: David Reed, 7-59
What It All Means: Utah’s offense struggled and sputtered, and although Terrance Cain wasn’t bad, he didn’t provide the pop that freshman Jordan Wynn did. It’s a little late in the season to start experimenting, especially considering the Utes are 7-1 and unbeaten in conference play, but the coaching staff trusts its defense and the running game enough to mess around with the quarterback situation. The timing is right to see what Wynn can do against a bad team facing New Mexico up next. After giving up just 202 yards of total offense to Wyoming, the defense, especially against the run, should dominate next week. 

Oct. 17
at Air Force 10 … Wyoming 0
Jared Tew ran for a 17-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter and Erik Soderberg nailed a 29-yard field goal as Air Force overcame a shaky day from the offense and QB Tim Jefferson to get the key win. Wyoming got 23 tackles from Brian Henricks, but committed ten penalties, and managed a mere 174 yards of total offense. Air Force completed just 1-of-5 passes for two yards with Connor Dietz missing on his lone throw and Tim Jefferson completing just one of his four throws.
Player of the Game: Air Force RB Jared Tew ran 27 times for 105 yards and a touchdown
Wyoming: Passing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 14-31, 74 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Brandon Stewart, 14-51, Receiving: David Leonard, 7-36
Air Force: Passing: Tim Jefferson, 1-4, 2 yds
Rushing: Jared Tew, 27-105, 1 TD, Receiving: Chaz Demerath, 1-2
What It All Means: The defense did its job to keep the Air Force running attack under wraps, holding it to 267 yards to go along with two passing yards, but the offense sputtered and stumbled too often on third downs as Austyn Carta-Samuels struggled to get the attack moving. It was a sloppy, mistake-filled game, and now comes another rough road trip to Utah before dealing with BYU. Carta-Samuels isn’t always going to be perfect and he needs more help from Brandon Stewart and the ground game.

Oct. 10
at Wyoming 37 … New Mexico 13
Played in the cold after a major snowstorm, Austyn Carta-Samuels threw three touchdown passes including a 31-yarder to Travis Burkhalter in the second quarter to give the Cowboys the lead for good. New Mexico started off the scoring with a 23-yard Ty Kirk touchdown catch, but they were only able to managed two James Aho field goals the rest of the way. The Wyoming defense held UNM to 47 yards rushing and came up with a Mitch Unrein tackle of James Wright for a safety.
Player of the Game: Wyoming QB Austyn Carta-Samuels completed 15-of-30 passes for 232 yards and three touchdowns ,and he ran ten times for 54 yards.
New Mexico: Passing: Donovan Porterie, 26-40, 252 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: James Wright, 12-33, Receiving: A.J. Butler, 9-59
Wyoming: Passing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 15-30, 232 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Alvester Alexander, 16-66, Receiving: David Leonard, 4-34
What It All Means: Austyn Carta-Samuels continues to carry the Wyoming offense to new levels. He’s the steadying, mistake-free factor who the team has been able to rely on during its nice start, while the defense did its part against New Mexico shutting down the running game and keeping the passing game from getting the Lobos back into the game. The secondary is going to give up yards, but it’s holding firm. Now the team gets to show if it’s for real or now with road games at Air Force and Utah before facing BYU.

Oct. 3
Wyoming 30 … at Florida Atlantic 28
Alvester Alexander ran for three touchdowns including a 15-yard dash late in the fourth to take the lead, but the extra point was missed. FAU had one last shot but bogged down just past midfield. The Owls got an 18-yard Darian Williams touchdown catch to take a late lead, and got a 16-yard interception return for a score in the first quarter, but Wyoming tied it up with a 23-yard Brandon Stewart touchdown run and held the lead until the fourth quarter. The two teams combined for 24 penalties for 221 yards.
Player of the Game: Wyoming QB Austyn Carta-Samuels completed 29-of-38 passes for 223 yards and an interception, and he ran 20 times for 69 yards.
Florida Atlantic: Passing: Rusty Smith, 17-28, 235 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Alfred Morris, 19-81, 1 TD, Receiving: Darian Williams, 4-64, 1 TD
Wyoming: Passing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 29-38, 223 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Alvester Alexander, 17-50, 3 TD, Receiving: David Leonard, 13-97
What It All Means: It might not have been pretty, but the Cowboys are 3-2 and were able to get by Florida Atlantic in a good shootout. The offense was able to answer when pushed, while there was good balance and production from several places. It was the continued emergence of Austyn Carta Samuels who’s providing a steadying factor for the team, and while the defense isn’t holding up its end of the bargain, it did enough late to pull out the win. With an awful New Mexico up next, UW has bowl eligibility in its sights.

Sept. 26
at Wyoming 30 … UNLV 27
Austyn Carta-Samuels connected with Travis Burkhalter from 15 yards out and Ian Watts connected on a 28-yard field goal as Wyoming came back to give head coach Dave Christensen his first win. Carta-Samuels threw three touchdown passes with a 34-yarder to David Leonard and a 19-yarder to Brandon Stewart. UNLV got an 18-yard touchdown catch from Ryan Wolfe and an 18-yard scoring run from Channing Trotter.
Player of the Game: Wyoming QB Austyn Carta-Samuels completed 24-of-37 passes for 234 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 12 times for 34 yards
UNLV: Passing: Omar Clayton, 26-43, 260 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Channing Trotter, 17-90, 1 TD, Receiving: Ryan Wolfe, 8-96, 1 TD
Wyoming: Passing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 24-37, 234 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Alvester Alexander, 12-42, Receiving: David Leonard, 6-89, 1 TD
What It All Means: Austyn Carta-Samuels and his ability to lead the offense to 357 yards and a comeback win will get the headlines, but Wyoming’s defense was also the story forcing four turnovers with Marcel Gipson coming up with two key interceptions. Gabe Knapton had a whale of a game against the UNLV spread with 17 tackles, and now the Cowboys might have as close to a complete team as it has had in a long, long time. There’s an honest shot at getting to a bowl game now, but UW has to take advantage of games against Florida Atlantic next week and New Mexico the week after. 

Sept. 19
at Colorado 24 … Wyoming 0
Colorado got its first win of the season when Rodney Stewart came back from a hamstring problem to run for scores from two and 11 yards out. Scotty McKnight started off the scoring with a two-yard run in the first quarter, and Aric Goodman kicked a 20-yard field goal in the second. Wyoming managed just 230 yards of total offense and misfired on its best chance with a missed field goal.
Player of the Game: Colorado RB Rodney Stewart ran 32 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns
Wyoming: Passing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 11-24, 125 yds
Rushing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 9-36, Receiving: David Leonard, 6-49
Colorado: Passing: Cody Hawkins, 17-31, 175 yds
Rushing: Rodney Stewart, 32-127, 2 TD, Receiving: Scotty McKnight, 5-77
What It All Means: It’s going to be a long season and it’s going to take a while for the Cowboys to settle on a quarterback to lead the way. Robert Benjamin was awful, and Austyn Carta-Samuels wasn’t much better. Karsten Sween was even given a chance, and he was a disaster. It’s going to take a little while for playmakers to emerge, there’s no running back to take off the heat, but there’s a chance to start the season anew with UNLV and the Mountain West season coming up next.

Sept. 12
Texas 41 ... at Wyoming 10
Wyoming threw a little bit of a scare into the Longhorns with a 10-6 lead late in the first half on a six-yard blocked punt return for a score from Ghaali Muhammad, but Colt McCoy and the Texas offense roared back going 70 yards in just over a minute finishing with a 25-yard scoring pass to James Kirkendoll just before halftime. It was all Texas from there scoring 35 unanswered points with three McCoy touchdown passes, a nine-yard run, and a 13-yard Tre Newton touchdown dash. Texas outgained the Cowboys 544 yards to 273.
Player of the Game: Texas QB Colt McCoy completed 30-of-47 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns with an interception, and he ran nine times for 44 yards and a score.
Wyoming: Passing: Robert Benjamin, 16-38, 120 yds
Rushing: Robert Benjamin, 12-53, Receiving: David Leonard, 6-41
Texas: Passing: Colt McCoy, 30-47, 337 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Tre Newton, 8-62, 1 TD, Receiving: James Kirkendoll, 7-102, 1 TD
What It All Means: The offense couldn't keep the chains moving and the defense had no prater against the Texas offense once the floodgates opened up, but there were some positives. Robert Benjamin didn't make a slew of meaningful plays, but the Cowboy quarterback ran well and he didn't lose his poise under the pressure. And if nothing else, there was some excitement early on when the Cowboys were battling hard and had the lead late in the first half. The team needs to pick up its chin in a hurry with a very winnable game against Colorado coming up next.

Sept. 5
at Wyoming 29 … Weber State 22
Dave Christensen got his first win, but it was a fight as Darius Terry ran for two scores and Austin McCoy kicked field goals from 22, 25, and 25 yards out. Weber State pressed in the fourth quarter with two of Cameron Higgins' three touchdown passes, with the final one a 13-yarder with 38 seconds to play. Wyoming recovered the onside kick.
Player of the Game: Wyoming DB Shamiel Gary made seven tackles and three interceptions with a tackle for loss.
Weber State: Passing: Carmeron Higgins, 32-51, 322 yds, 3 TD, 5 INT
Rushing: Trevyn Smith, 14-97, Receiving: Tim Toone, 8-100, 1 TD
Wyoming: Passing: Austyn Carta-Samuels, 8-17, 101 yds
Rushing: Darius Terry, 23-99, 2 TD, Receiving: David Leonard, 7-87
What It All Means: The new no-huddle, shotgun offense wasn't always perfect, but compared to last year when the offense did nothing, this was Fourth of July fireworks time. The defensive front, outside of John Fletcher up front, didn't generate enough pressure and had a tough time closing out the game, but the secondary came up with several big plays with Shamiel Gary picking off three passes to go along with seven tackles.  With Texas and Colorado coming up next, the offense showed that it might have a chance to keep up the pace for a little while if the quarterbacks can be consistent. Robert Benjamin and Austyn Carta-Samuels were each erratic throwing the ball, but they showed good mobility. Darius Terry will be the focal point of the attack early on.