Fresno State Holds Off Wyoming, 13-7 [VIDEOS]
The Wyoming Cowboys lost their home finale to the Fresno State Bulldogs, 13-7, Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie.
Wyoming (7-4, 5-2) played without star QB Josh Allen, who was injured last game at Air Force. The Cowboys struggled to get consistent offensive play. They tried to rally in the final five minutes, but fell short. With the loss UW was eliminated from contention for the Mountain West Championship game.
The Pokes finished with eight 3-and-outs offensively. They had one drive late in the second quarter that resulted in a fumble at the Bulldogs 14-yard line. UW failed to score until the final three minutes in the game.
Fresno State (8-3, 6-1) controlled the clock, forced two turnovers and clinched the West Division title and a spot in the MW title game with the victory. They will face Boise State Dec. 2 in the conference championship game.
After each team punted on its opening possession, Fresno State drove for a 27-yard Jimmy Camacho field goal and led 3-0 midway through the first quarter.
A fumbled punt return led to the Bulldogs only touchdown of the day. Wyoming’s Austin Conway mishandled a punt at the Cowboys’ 21-yard line. On the next offensive play, Fresno State capitalized with a Marcus McMaryion 21-yard TD pass to Ronnie Rivers in the corner of the end-zone. That made it 10-0 and was the score at half.
The Bulldogs added a 29-yard Camacho field goal late in the third quarter for a 13-0 lead. UW had only six first downs at that point.
The Cowboys stopped Fresno State early in the fourth, when Tyler Hall stripped Fresno’s KeeSean Johnson at the Wyoming 16, and the fumble was recovered by Cassh Maluia.
After the teams exchanged four punts, the Pokes drove 80-yards, and Nick Smith found Nico Evans on a 6-yard TD pass. Wyoming’s onside kick failed, but Fresno State didn’t get a first down. Smith drove the Cowboys to the Bulldogs’ 27-yard line, but Smith was stopped on a scramble for no gain on the final play of the game.
UW finished with 308 yards of offense. Smith went 20-32 for 231 yards and the one TD. The Cowboys ran for only 77 yards. Andrew Wingard led the defense with 12 tackles and a forced fumble. Logan Wilson added eight tackles with one for a loss.
Fresno State had 333 yards on offense. McMaryion threw for 186 yards and the one touchdown. Josh Hokit added 69 yards rushing. The Bulldogs finished with 147 yards on the ground. Jeffery Allison and George Helmuth had 11 tackles apiece to lead the Fresno State defense. Both also recovered fumbles.
Wyoming will finish the regular season at San Jose State next Saturday. The game starts at 3 p.m., Mountain Time.