Wyoming Offense Breaks Through in 95-Play Fall Camp Scrimmage
- Jeff Bugher
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
LARAMIE, Wyo. - Wyoming's offense delivered one of its strongest performances of fall camp Saturday night, winning the Cowboys' roughly 95-play scrimmage as the team moves closer to its Sept. 5 season opener at Colorado State.
Head coach Jay Sawvel said the offense coming out on top was notable.
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“I don't know when the last time I've been here where we've went into a scrimmage where you would come out of it and say, ‘OK, offense won that one,’” Sawvel said. “That's really good.”
The Cowboys were also clean operationally. They didn't have a delay of game or false start, and Sawvel said Wyoming committed just one procedural penalty offensively.
“Guys got in and out. We got plays off. There was no issue with the mechanics of everything,” Sawvel said. “I thought that was a big deal.”
Wyoming used the scrimmage to work through several game situations, including overtime, red-zone possessions, four-minute offense and two-minute drills. Areas Sawvel has focused on continuously since the season ended last season.
“We played out some scenarios…” Sawvel said. “I thought our players handled it well.”
Offense Makes Its Move
Senior quarterback Tyler Hughes turned in another strong performance during the scrimmage before Sawvel named him Wyoming's starter Monday. The William & Mary transfer is now QB1.
“Tyler was really, really good Saturday night,” Sawvel said.
Junior quarterback Landon Sims also impressed, as Sawvel said it was the best he had played during camp.
“Felt really good about how he played, and he played really well,” Sawvel said.
At receiver, senior Charlie Coenen was another standout.
“Charlie Coenen had a great scrimmage the other night,” Sawvel said.
Senior wide receiver Eric Richardson has also established himself after an impressive camp. Junior wide receiver Jackson Holman and senior wide receiver Justin Popovich continue to compete for significant roles.
“Eric Richardson, you put a check mark next to him,” Sawvel said. “He's had a great camp, a great camp. I expect big, big things from him.”
Defense Gets a Wake-Up Call
Something that wasn’t the case during the first scrimmage a week ago: the defense didn’t “win” the scrimmage.
Call it an “off night.”
“I thought defensively, in the secondary, safety, the other night we could have played better, all the way around,” Sawvel said.
Despite expectations for the unit, Sawvel doesn't want his players assuming anything.
Cornerbacks
The competition at cornerback also remains open. Redshirt junior cornerback Ian Bell, junior cornerback Logan Mackey and sophomore defensive back David Leonard are among six players Sawvel said remain in the battle.
Leonard helped his cause on Saturday night.
“David Leonard had a pretty good scrimmage the other night,” Sawvel said.
Now the Cowboys' attention begins shifting toward Colorado State. Wyoming opens the season Sept. 5 at 4 p.m. in Fort Collins.
Playing against the same players day after day has Sawvel seeing his team is ready for that transition.
“I think you're starting to get to that edge where people are tired of playing each other a little bit,” Sawvel said. “It's time to get ready to play a season.”
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