(Editor’s note: UW Athletics release)
LARMIE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Cowboy Football team donned full pads for its second consecutive full-padded practice on Tuesday as UW began its second of five weeks of spring practice. The Pokes practiced inside due to rainy weather.
Head Coach Craig Bohl saw good progress from the his team in Tuesday’s padded practices, but emphasized that there was a lot of work ahead.
“Coming into this second week, we are still introducing the elements of our offense, defense and special teams,” said Bohl. “We’ve now had a couple days of full pads, and those practices proved to be fruitful. However, there is work that we need to do.
“We had a lot of injuries today, hopefully none of them were serious, but a lot of offensive linemen went out. Some highlights I picked up from today — Logan Wilson picked off a pass and took it back for a touchdown. Cooper Rothe stroked a 57-yard field goal. I think the quarterbacks continue to battle. We had a few mix-ups in the running game that we’re going to have to straighten out, but I think some of that can be attributed to us getting really good defensive line play from Ravontae Holt and Javaree Jackson, so we’re encouraged about that.”
Last week, Bohl had indicated that redshirt junior offensive lineman Gavin Rush had suffered a knee injury in Thursday’s practice, but was waiting for team medical personnel to evaluate the extent of Rush’s injury. On Tuesday, Bohl announced disappointing news, ”Gavin’s (Rush) injury is going to be season-ending, which is very tough news for him and us. He is an upperclassmen who we were looking forward to having back this year. I think he’s going in on the 9th (of April) for surgery.”
Rush tore ligaments in his right knee last Thursday. His most recent injury comes after he missed all of the 2018 season due to tearing a bicep muscle early in fall camp last year during a fall scrimmage. The native of Phillips, Neb., started all 14 games as a true freshman in 2016 and started eight of 13 games as a sophomore in 2017.
Details of April 13 Scrimmage in Casper, Wyo.
In addition to news from Tuesday’s practice, details of Wyoming Football’s upcoming scrimmage in Casper, Wyo., on Saturday, April 13 have also been released. The April 13 scrimmage will be free and open to the public. It will kick off at 1 p.m. from Dick Cheney Alumni Field at Natrona County High School in Casper. Cowboy Football and Pepsi are encouraging fans to bring a non-perishable food item to the game. Every fan who brings a non-pershiable food item will receive a coupon to get a free Pepsi product at the scrimmage. The donated food will be given to Wyoming Food for Thought Project in Casper. Wyoming Food for Thought Project is an independently run, local non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded on the idea that a local solution to hunger is possible.
“Without question it is always great to take our team out in the state,” said Bohl. “Casper has always been a community that has supported all of Wyoming Athletics. It certainly is an important community in our state. We were up in Casper two years ago and had a lot of fans come out, and we think we’re going to have a great turnout again this time. It’s going to be an exciting day.”
For two Cowboy seniors, Logan Wilson and Josh Harshman, and a couple Cowboy redshirt freshmen, Brett Brenton and Maeson Gallegos, it will be a special homecoming. All four played their high school football at Natrona County High School in Casper where the scrimmage will take place.
“We have several guys on our team who are from Casper and played at Natrona County,” said Bohl. “It is always fun for them to go back and play on their home field. We are excited about embracing this event in Casper and seeing all our fans from Casper and surrounding areas at the scrimmage on April 13. I believe it will be an event with a lot of energy. I know a lot of different high school teams will be coming to watch us along with other members of the community.”
Spring Practice Schedule
Wyoming Football will hold two open practices during the spring. The first open practice will be the scrimmage at Dick Cheney Alumni Field in Casper, Wyo., on Saturday, April 13, beginning at 1 p.m. The Spring Game on Saturday, April 27 will be played in War Memorial Stadium on the UW campus and will of course be open to the public, with a 2 p.m. kickoff. All other spring practices are closed to the general public.
