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Cowboys hang on for dramatic 41-35 victory over UNLV
Tyson Shamsid-Deen interception helps Wyoming hang on
LAS VEGAS – It looked like the Cowboys' Mountain West title hopes were about to go bust in Sin City.
Then Tyson Shamsid-Deen, wearing a club on his injured hand, came up with his second interception of the game in the end zone with 50 seconds left to preserve Wyoming's dramatic 41-35 victory over UNLV late Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium.
The Cowboys (6-3, 5-1 MW) remain in sole possession of second place in the conference standings and are bowl eligible for the first time since 2023.
"We made a great play in the end zone," a relieved Jay Sawvel told CBS Sports moments after the biggest win of his tenure as head coach. "A guy with a cast made two interceptions today. … We had some things go against us a little bit, but we gutted through it."
After the game-saving turnover, Markell Holman broke a series of tackles and rumbled for a 49-yard rush, and Samuel "Tote" Harris added a 22-yard run. UW was able to run the clock out in victory formation.
The Pokes have won four consecutive games after picking up their first road win over the preseason favorite Rebels (5-4, 3-2) since 2020.
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UW finished with 485 yards of total offense, including 353 rushing yards, but starting quarterback Tyler Hughes did not play in the second half due to injury.
Ethan Stuhlsatz, who led the Pokes with 10 tackles, 3.0 sacks, a quarterback hit and a forced fumble, stopped Jai'Den Thomas, the MW's leading rusher, short of the line to gain on a fourth-and-1 at midfield to erase an interception thrown by Landon Sims.
"It wasn't pretty tonight but we got it done. I love these guys," Stuhlsatz said. "Landon knows we back whoever is in that quarterback position. We're all brothers. Ride for the brand."
Harris broke through a meniscal hole for a 42-yard touchdown run to give the Cowboys a 41-21 lead moments later.
The Rebels inserted their backup quarterback, Alex Orji, who completed a 46-yard pass to Tavian McNair and then ran for a 2-yard touchdown to cut his team's deficit to 41-28 with 22 seconds left in the third quarter.
UW turned the ball over on downs at its own 44-yard line. UNLV converted a fourth-and-5, and Thomas finished the 10-play drive with an 11-yard touchdown run to make the score 41-35 with 8:32 remaining.
The Rebels were on the march for the winning touchdown until Deen's heroics.
Harris finished with 128 yards rushing and two touchdowns, and Holman added 110 yards on the ground. Hughes was 5-for-9 passing for 107 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 71 yards before suffering an arm injury late in the second quarter.
UW's defense held starting quarterback Jackson Arnold to 83 yards passing. Orji had 58 yards passing and sparked the Rebels until his costly mistake.
"Our players stayed in it and executed at the most critical time," Sawvel said.
The Cowboys led 34-21 at the intermission after outgaining the Rebels 308-83 in total offense and having possession of the football for 21 minutes, 1 second.
After the defense forced a three-and-out to start the game, Hughes set the tone with a 38-yard completion to Jake Wilson and finished UW's opening drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kyle Frendt
Peyton Zachary returned the ensuing kickoff 58 yards to help set up Thomas' 3-yard touchdown run.
Erik Sandvik made a 43-yard field goal to give the Pokes a 10-7 lead. Stuhlsatz and Dante Drake had back-to-back sacks to force a UNLV punt late in the first quarter.
On third-and-goal, Harris bulled his way into the end zone to extend UW's lead to 17-7.
Hughes converted a fourth-and-1 with a 2-yard run. Then offensive coordinator Christian Taylor went into his bag of tricks and dialed up a play in which Hughes through a lateral to Sims who threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Wilson to make the score 24-7 with 6:42 remaining in the second quarter.
The Rebels responded with 14 quick points as Arnold threw a 33-yard touchdown to Kayden McGee and then cashed in a lost fumble by Hughes by throwing an 8-yard touchdown pass to Taz Reddicks to get within 24-21 with 1:55 remaining in the half.
Hughes connected with Ke'Lyn Washom for a spectacular 32-yard completion. Sims came in for an injured Hughes and finished a clutch drive with a 13-yard touchdown scamper to give the Pokes a 31-21 cushion.
Deen intercepted Arnold with 30 seconds left and Sandvik drilled a 35-yard field goal as time expired on the explosive first 30 minutes.
The Cowboys scored on six of their seven drives and had a 17-5 advantage in first downs during the first half.
UW will play at UTEP next Saturday before hosting No. 22 New Mexico in a potential high-stakes MW regular-season finale on Nov. 20 at War Memorial Stadium.
"I'm so proud of this team, proud of this group for how they fight day in, day out," Sawvel said. "When you talk about Wyoming and talk about Wyoming grit, I think that was in play with this team tonight."
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