Cowboys Retain the Bronze Boot

Quick Take

A lot of defense and punting. A Wyoming sort of game that the Cowboys won at home to retain the Bronze Boot.

The Recap

Colorado State got the ball to start, and the game immediately became a defensive contest. Colorado State punt. Wyoming punt. Colorado State punt.

Late in the 1st quarter, Wyoming put together their best drive of the game, going 93 yards on 11 plays. Lasting into the early 2nd quarter, Wyoming got on the board first with a 1 yard TD run from Tyler Vander Waal.

Colorado State responded immediately with their best drive of the game, going 75 yards on 13 plays. Warren Jackson finished the drive with 4 yard TD reception from Patrick O’Brien to tie the game back up.

After a couple of more punts, the half ended with a 7-7 tie.

Wyoming started the 2nd half by immediately three-and-outing. Luckily, Colorado State got very aggressive on their next drive. On 3rd and 1 from their own 44, the Rams would get stuffed on a QB sneak to force 4th down. The Rams would go for it on 4th down and attempt another sneak to get the yard. The Cowboys would stop Patrick O’Brien again, and the Cowboys got the ball with great field position.

Wyoming would drive the 44 yards (all of them on the ground). Tyler Vander Waal would get sacked at one point and leave the game on a cart with a knee injury. True freshman QB, Levi Williams, would step in and keep the drive going. Levi Williams would run it in for a 1 yard TD to give the Cowboys back the lead.

From here, Colorado State would punt. Quickly, Wyoming followed with a punt. Colorado State would put together a solid drive all the way to the Wyoming 31. However, Braxton Davis would miss the 50 yard field goal, and Wyoming got the ball back with 12:42 left in the 4th quarter.

Wyoming would quickly three-and-out again, giving Colorado State back the ball. The Rams would drive back into Wyoming territory. However, Colorado State would fail to convert a 4th and 6 from the Wyoming 40 to give Wyoming back the ball again with 9:17 left.

From here, Wyoming put together a solid little drive that basically ended the game. An 11-play drive that took 5:44 off the clock. The drive would stall, but Cooper Rothe would nail a 48 yard field goal to give the Cowboys a two score lead.

With 3:33 left in the game, the Rams had to push the ball. On the 2nd play of the drive, Logan Wilson would intercept Patrick O’Brien at the Wyoming 44.

The Cowboys would run out the clock for the win and the Boot.

Colorado State 7, Wyoming 17

Final Thoughts

Wyoming keeps the Boot! It’s always good to be able to say that Wyoming has the Bronze Boot. This is the big rivalry game for the university and the state, so this is the game players/fans most want to win every year. When you play a team for the 111th time, you know they are a pretty important rival.

Wyoming has now won the Boot 4 years in a row. By the time these teams play next season, no player on Wyoming will know what it is like to lose to Colorado State. Also, no Colorado State player will know what it is like to beat Wyoming.

This game was also Senior Day, and Wyoming finished the season unbeaten at home.

Wyoming also now sits at 7-4. It would seem that the Cowboys will be going bowling and have now secured a bowl bid. Wyoming was bowl eligible with 6 wins, but getting that 7th win felt imperative for a team that went 6-6 last season and did not receive a bowl invite.

Lastly, here are the highlights for those interested: