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By the Numbers: Wyoming’s Offense Goes Quiet in 28-0 Loss at North Dakota State
FARGO, N.D. - Wyoming entered the Fargodome looking to build off its win over Hawai‘i.
Instead, the Cowboys ran into a very tough opponent in North Dakota State University. Less than a year ago, the Bison were competing at the FCS level.
Wyoming was shut out 28-0 as the Bison controlled the football, contained the Cowboys to 162 yards of total offense, and held Wyoming to a measly eight first downs. NDSU finished with 407 yards and 23 first downs.
Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel was asked what was wrong with the offense...and here was his response: “I'll give you a broad answer today, and it would be everything.”
Here is Wyoming's trip to Fargo by the numbers…and it isn’t pretty.
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0 - Points
Wyoming failed to score. The Cowboys never reached the end zone and did not attempt a field goal.
North Dakota State scored seven points in the first quarter, 10 in the second, three in the third and eight in the fourth for the 28-0 final.
1,408 days have passed since the last time Wyoming was shutout. The last time was November 25th, 2022, when Fresno State blanked Wyoming 30-0 (road loss).
Saturday's shutout broke a 46-game streak.
401 - Number of days since Wyoming has won on the road
Wyoming football has gone 1 year, 1 month and 7 days (401 days total as of Saturday) without a road win, with its last road victory coming at Akron on Aug. 28, 2025. That's 8 consecutive road losess.
162 - Total yards
That was it for the Wyoming offense.
The Cowboys managed 110 rushing yards and just 52 through the air. North Dakota State more than doubled Wyoming's output with 407 total yards - 220 rushing and 187 passing.
The Bison also ran 70 offensive plays compared with Wyoming's 49.
52 - Passing yards
Tyler Hughes completed 5 of 14 passes for 52 yards with no touchdowns and one interception. He was also sacked three times.
Hughes' longest completion went for 16 yards.
3 - First-half completion
Wyoming went to halftime with just three completed pass.
Hughes was intercepted on the Cowboys' first offensive play of the game and finished the first half 3-of-6 passing for 28 yards.
The passing game never found much of a rhythm.
110 - Rushing yards
The Cowboys had more success on the ground, but not enough to sustain drives.
Hughes led Wyoming with 37 yards on 12 carries. Samuel "Tote" Harris had 31 yards on 10 attempts, while Markell Holman added 29 yards on eight carries.
Wyoming averaged 3.1 yards per rushing attempt.
North Dakota State ran for 220 yards on 45 attempts, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
79 - Nathan Hayes rushing yards
The NDSU quarterback caused Wyoming problems with his legs.
Hayes carried 10 times for 79 yards and scored twice, including touchdown runs of eight and 14 yards. He averaged 7.9 yards per carry.
DJ Scott added 73 yards and a touchdown on 20 attempts.
187 - Nathan Hayes passing yards
Hayes didn't have to throw often, but he was efficient when he did.
The NDSU quarterback completed 14 of 25 passes for 187 yards without a touchdown or interception. His longest completion went for 35 yards.
8 - Wyoming first downs
Wyoming finished with only eight first downs - five rushing and three passing.
North Dakota State had 23 - 14 rushing, eight passing and one by penalty.
2 of 11 - Third downs
Wyoming converted only two of its 11 third-down opportunities.
The Cowboys were also 0-for-2 on fourth down.
North Dakota State converted six of 13 third downs and went 0-for-1 on fourth down.
0 of 1 - Red zone
Wyoming reached the red zone once and came away empty.
That opportunity came after the Cowboys recovered an NDSU fumble in the third quarter. Wyoming took possession at the Bison 26 and eventually turned the ball over on downs at the NDSU 6.
The possession covered 21 yards in six plays and took 3:24 off the clock.
North Dakota State finished 5-for-5 in the red zone.
7 - Points off turnovers
Hughes' interception on Wyoming's first offensive play immediately put the Cowboys in trouble.
Donovan Woolen returned the interception 13 yards to the Wyoming 19. North Dakota State needed five plays to cover the remaining 19 yards, with Hayes scoring on an eight-yard run.
It accounted for NDSU's seven points off turnovers.
33:13 - NDSU possession time
North Dakota State held the football for 33 minutes, 13 seconds compared with 26:47 for Wyoming.
The difference wasn't overwhelming, but the Bison consistently extended drives while Wyoming struggled to do the same.
7 - Tackles for loss
Wyoming's defense still produced some negative plays.
The Cowboys recorded seven tackles for loss totaling 24 yards and two sacks for 12 yards.
North Dakota State finished with five tackles for loss and three sacks.
11 - Steven Perez tackles
Steven Perez led Wyoming with 11 tackles, including seven solo stops and one tackle for loss.
Ethan Stuhlsatz finished with 10 tackles, while Jones Thomas added seven.
7 - Bart Edmiston punts
Wyoming's punter was busy.
Bart Edmiston punted seven times for 308 yards, averaging 44 yards per punt with a long of 59. Three of his punts were downed inside the 20.
18,586 - Attendance
The Fargodome was rocking with a sold-out crowd on hand.
28-0 - Final
North Dakota State scored on an eight-yard Hayes run in the first quarter, a 14-yard Hayes run and 31-yard Drew Klein field goal in the second, a 37-yard Klein field goal in the third and a one-yard Scott touchdown run in the fourth.
Wyoming never answered.
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