FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Nov. 16, 2024) - In the 116th edition of the Border War, the Wyoming Cowboys couldn’t keep pace with the Colorado State University Rams, falling 24-10 in a disappointing defeat on Friday night in Fort Collins. The Rams got the coveted Bronze Boot for the first time since 2020. Wyoming is now 2-8 on the season and 1-4 in Mountain West Conference play.
CSU received the ball to open the game. CSU running back Justin Marshal immediately took advantage of a porous defense, breaking free for a 38-yard run, which was stopped by Wyoming safety Wyett Ekeler, preventing the touchdown. CSU continued to run the ball, and running back Avery Morrow made an 11-yard touchdown run to cap off the drive, untouched by a Wyoming defender, to give CSU a 7-0 lead with 11:39 remaining in the first quarter.
The Cowboys failed to have an answer for the score, as they went three-and-out on their next possession. The 4th down led to a punt by Jack Culbreath, but the result was par for the season. Culbreath fumbled the snap, recovered the ball, and managed to kick a measly 14-yard punt giving CSU the ball at the Wyoming 47-yard line.
With a great field position at the Wyoming 47-yard line, CSU tried to capitalize, but the Wyoming defense was able to hold strong and prevent the Rams from advancing. CSU attempted a 44-yard field goal, but the kick went wide left.
Wyoming showed some sparks of success, but unfortunately, consistency was not something that could be achieved. Running back Harrison Waylee had a nice was, but an illegal substitution penalty pulled the Pokes back and got them into a 2nd-and-15 situation. Wide receiver TK King had a nice 16-yard rush, but the Pokes were unable to convert on fourth down. The call on the critical fourth down was confusing, as Harrison Waylee had been playing well so far in the game. The coaching staff elected to bring in running back Sam Scott, who was not at 100% coming back from a lower extremity injury. Unfortunately, Sam Scott was unable to convert on fourth down, giving the Rams the ball at their won 44-yard line
The broken record continued as the Rams exploited Wyoming’s defensive issues. This time running the ball effectively to set up a 6-yard touchdown pass from CSU quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi to Dane Olson. This touchdown extended the CSU lead 14-0 with 23 seconds left in the first quarter.
Will Pelissier made a nice first-down catch. Wyoming attempted to rush the ball on third down but was tackled for a loss of three yards. Placekicker John Hoyland came onto the field and drilled a 49-yard field goal, giving Wyoming their first points of the night. CSU still leads 14-3.
CSU received excellent field position thanks to a pass interference penalty called against Wyoming’s Keaney Parks, leaving the ball at Wyoming’s 33-yard line. Wyoming’s defense stepped up, and held CSU to a field goal attempt, this time the ball went through the uprights, leaving the score CSU 17-3 with 5:36 left in the second quarter.
Wyoming responded with a solid drive but failed to convert a fourth-down attempt with a dropped pass by Chris Durr Jr.
The Rams took advantage of the opportunity as Caleb Goodie made a 37-yard reception, setting up a goal-line situation. CSU fumbled the ball, and DeVonne Harris managed to get the fumble recovery, but it was too little too late as time expired in the second quarter.
At halftime, the Rams led 17-3, and the second half didn’t bring Wyoming the needed momentum.
Wyoming received the ball to start the second half, and the offense showed some life with a 25-yard pass from Kayden Anderson to wide receiver Jaylen Sargent. However, the drive stalled, and the Pokes were forced to punt.
CSU was quick to capitalize, launching a 54-yard touchdown pass to Tommy Maher, extending their lead 24-3 with 11:18 left in the third quarter.
Wyoming running back Jamari Ferrell broke free for a 62-yard rush to the house but was stopped just short of the endzone. The Cowboys running backs struggled to punch the ball in, so QB Kaden Anderson took matters into his own hands and ran the ball to the left to score the touchdown by the pylon. This touchdown cut the deficit to 24-10, with the Rams still in control.
The possessions continued to bounce between the two teams. On a late drive, Will Pelissier had a 17-yard reception and former CSU thigh end Clay Nanke caught a 7-yard pass, but Wyoming’s offense couldn’t gain any significant ground and they were continually haunted by dropped passes on their final drive. The game ended with CSU rushing the field to grab the Bronze Boot.
Final Thoughts and Quotes
Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel was blunt about his team's performance, particularly on offense. "We were going to have to play as good a football as what we could play and the best football we played all year, and we didn’t do that," Sawvel said. "Offensively, we were our own worst enemy at times. Too many drops, way too many things that way."
The Cowboys were also plagued by missed opportunities on short-yardage plays. "We weren’t in a great rhythm offensively. You could try to say, ‘Hey, we should have thrown the ball.’ Look, we threw the ball a whole bunch at the end, and we dropped everyone," Sawvel explained.
The lack of execution on both sides of the ball left Wyoming searching for answers. “The team that was going to run the ball the best tonight was going to win, and we didn’t win the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball."
Offensive guard Jack Walsh was equally frustrated by the result, particularly the emotion and energy of the Border War. "I fully expect everyone to understand that you know them rushing the field like that should understand the meaning of this game," Walsh said. "We’re 60 miles apart from each other...this is a big *** ball game, and that going forward, we cannot allow what happened tonight ever again."
"I feel for our seniors because we’ve had that boot for three straight years. We don’t have it now, and to the underclass players, you just look across the field and see what that looked like because you’re going to see it all offseason in the weight room," Sawvel said.
Final Score: CSU 24, Wyoming 10
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