(UW Athletics release)
LARAMIE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Cowboys will open Mountain West Conference play Saturday hosting the Boise State Broncos. The Cowboys enter with a 2-2 overall record. Boise State is 2-1 on the season and is ranked 25th in this week’s Amway Coaches Poll. Saturday’s game will kick off at 5 p.m., M.T., from Jonah Field and War Memorial Stadium. It is Family Weekend at UW.
Over the past two seasons, the Wyoming Cowboys and Boise State Broncos have been the top two teams in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference. Wyoming won the 2016 MW Mountain Division title in large part due to a 30-28 home win over Boise State in Laramie. In 2017, the Cowboys led Boise State 14-10 entering the fourth quarter in Boise, but the Broncos came back to win the game 24-14. Boise State went on to win the Mountain Division title in 2017.
The Last Two Meetings in the Wyoming-Boise Series have been Classics
The home team has won each of the past two meetings in the series. In both games, the home team has had to come from behind to win. Wyoming’s 30-28 win in Laramie in 2016 was fueled by a late touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Allen to wide receiver Tanner Gentry and a two-point conversion from Allen to receiver Jake Maulhardt to tie the game. That was followed by Cowboy nose tackle Chase Appleby forcing a Boise State safety to give the Cowboys a thrilling 30-28 win on way to the 2016 Mountain Division title.
Last year in Boise, the Cowboys were the team to take a 14-10 lead into the fourth quarter before the Broncos staged their own come-from-behind victory, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns for a 24-14 win.
Tickets to Saturday’s game are available by: going online at GoWyo.com/tickets, calling the UW Athletics Ticket Office at 307-766-7220, emailing tickets@uwyo.edu or by stopping by the UW Athletics Ticket Office on the west side of the Arena-Auditorium. On game day, tickets will be available for sale on the east side of War Memorial Stadium.
Showcase of Talent in Wyoming-Boise State Game
If you look at the 2018 Mountain West Conference Preseason predictions from conference media members, this year’s Wyoming-Boise State game will showcase a great deal of talent. Included among the talented players from both teams will be all three players selected Mountain West Preseason Players of the Year in voting by MW media. The Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year selection was Andrew Wingard, Wyoming’s senior strong safety. Boise state senior quarterback Brett Rypien was the MW Preseason Offensive Player of the Year choice; and the Special Teams Player of the Year selection was Avery Williams, a kick and punt returner for the Broncos.
Wyoming also returns defensive end Carl Granderson and defensive tackle Youhanna Ghaifan, who like Wingard, were 2017 First Team All-MW selections, 2017 Second Team All-Conference linebacker Logan Wilson returns for the Pokes and Honorable Mention kick returner Tyler Hall. Boise State’s Rypien and Williams were both 2017 Second Team All-MW honorees. The Broncos also return 2017 First Team selections Curtis Weaver on the defensive line and Tyler Horton at cornerback, Second Team selections Jabril Frazier and David Moa on the defensive line and Kekoa Nawahine at safety and seven Honorable Mention honorees.
Cowboys Have Won Four of Their Last Five Mountain West Openers
The Cowboys have won 4 of their last 5 Mountain West openers, and 3 of 4 in the Craig Bohl era. The 2018 season marks the 20th season of the Mountain West Conference, and this year’s Wyoming-Boise State contest is the first conference game of the year for both the Cowboys and the Broncos. Wyoming is 10-9 (.526) in Mountain West openers. UW is 7-5 (.583) when opening MW play at home, and is 3-4 (.429) when opening on the road.
This year’s MW opener will mark the first time that the Cowboys have opened Mountain West Conference play against Boise State. The Broncos joined the Mountain West for the 2012 season, and are entering their seventh year as MW members.
Wyoming Continues Home Success, Winning 13 of Its Last 17 Home Games
The Wyoming Cowboys have been very successful at home over the last four seasons, most recently defeating the Wofford Terriers for their 13th home win in their last 17 home games.
Wyoming’s 13 home wins during this stretch began with the last game of the 2015 season (a 35-28 home win over UNLV); all six of its 2016 regular-season home games against Northern Illinois, UC Davis, Air Force, No. 13 Boise State, Utah State and No. 24 San Diego State (in the regular season); its 2017 home wins over Gardner-Webb, Hawai’i, Texas State, New Mexico and Colorado State; and its 2018 home victory over Wofford. The Cowboys had won seven consecutive home games before losing a close 24-27 game to San Diego State in the 2016 Mountain West Conference Championship Game played in Laramie.
The Cowboys only four losses during this stretch included only two conference losses to San Diego State in that 2016 MW Championship Game and in 2017 to eventual MW West Division Champion Fresno State. The two non-conference losses came at the hands of Pacific-10 member schools Oregon in 2017 and Washington State earlier this season.
Coach to Cure MD 2018
This is the week when college football gives back as college football coaches are participating in Coach to Cure MD, a national charity project to raise awareness of Duchenne (doo-SHEN) Muscular Dystrophy — the most prolific genetic killer of young men. Coach to Cure MD is the national charity project of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA). You’ll see coaches wearing the Coach to Cure MD logo on the sidelines.
Fans can help college football coaches defeat Muscular Dystrophy by:
∙ Going online to www.CoachtoCureMD.org
∙ Or texting the word “CURE” to 50555 to donate $10 on your next mobile phone bill.
∙ Follow @CoachToCureMD on Twitter
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common fatal childhood genetic disorder – it is a progressive muscle disorder that causes loss of muscle function and independence. Duchenne boys usually lose their ability to walk in their teens. There is NO CURE and life expectancy is just through the 20’s. Duchenne MD strikes 1 in 3,500 boys born in every country in the world.
Radio and Television Coverage
This Saturday’s game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network. As with all Cowboy Football games, the game will be broadcast on radio over the 26 affiliate stations of the Cowboy Sports Network. The radio pregame will begin at 4 p.m. this Saturday.
