Last Time vs. CMU: Josh Allen Delivered One Final Show for Wyoming

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Josh Allen plays in his final game as a Cowboy (2017). Photo courtesy of UW Athletics

LARAMIE, Wyoming – Josh Allen’s last game in a Wyoming uniform was against Central Michigan.

Allen was injured earlier in the season during a trick play at Air Force on November 11th - he didn’t suit up for the final two games of the regular season. He could’ve easily sat out for the bowl game, but that’s not what Josh Allen does. One quarter was all it took for the future NFL MVP to establish dominance in December.

Allen threw three touchdown passes in the first quarter of the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, sending the Cowboys on their way to a 37-14 victory over Central Michigan. When Wyoming and the Chippewas meet again on Saturday, that Dec. 22 afternoon in Boise will remain a memorable point in the series: the day Allen went out a winner and rode off into the first round of the 2018 NFL draft.

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The Cowboys’ opening possession gave little indication of what was coming. They gained one yard and punted. After Wyoming’s defense forced Central Michigan to punt from deep in its own territory, Allen took over at the Chippewas’ 46-yard line.

Five plays later, he found Jared Scott for a 23-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

The defense quickly put the ball back in Allen’s hands. Nela Lolohea sacked Central Michigan quarterback Shane Morris, and Sidney Malauulu recovered the ensuing fumble at the Chippewas’ 24. Wyoming worked its way to the 11, where Allen found Austin Conway on third down for his second touchdown pass. It was 14-0 with 4:38 left in the first quarter.

Central Michigan briefly answered. Morris connected with Jonathan Ward for a 74-yard touchdown, cutting Wyoming’s lead in half. Allen’s response took four plays. After a 13-yard completion to Conway moved the Cowboys across midfield, he hit C.J. Johnson for a 45-yard touchdown. Wyoming led 21–7 before the first quarter was over.

Allen had already thrown what would be his final touchdown pass for the Cowboys.

Later in the first quarter, Logan Wilson forced a fumble after Morris completed a pass to tight end Tyler Conklin. Marcus Epps recovered at the Central Michigan 18, setting up the first of Cooper Rothe’s three field goals.

The Cowboys intercepted four passes and recovered four Central Michigan fumbles. They also recorded five sacks and held the Chippewas to 18 rushing yards. Central Michigan gained 364 total yards to Wyoming’s 275, but the turnovers repeatedly ended drives and gave the Cowboys short fields. Wyoming scored 23 points off them.

Rothe made 27 and 28-yard field goals in the second quarter, sending the Cowboys into halftime ahead 27-7. He added a 20-yarder in the third after Andrew Wingard intercepted Morris, pushing the lead to 30-7.

Ward scored on a three-yard run to make it 30–14 late in the third quarter. The Chippewas then drove into Wyoming territory early in the fourth, but their chance to close the gap disappeared on third down. Youhanna Ghaifan sacked Morris and forced a fumble. Carl Granderson scooped it up at the Wyoming 42 and ran 58 yards for the game’s final touchdown.

Allen finished 11 of 19 for 154 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Kellen Overstreet rushed for 85 yards, while Wilson led Wyoming with nine tackles and added an interception.

It also gave Allen a fitting final image as a Cowboy: three early touchdown passes, a defense that kept taking the ball away, and a bowl win over Central Michigan.

On the field during the trophy ceremony, shortly after receiving the bowl MVP trophy, Allen made the biggest announcement of his career. ESPN asked Allen…”And what’s next for you?” Josh Allen smiled and said those famous words: “I will be declaring for the 2018 NFL Draft.”