Wyoming upsets San Diego State, 34-33

Wyoming has now upset two top 25 teams. That’s as many wins as they had all last season. “Improvement” is an understatement.

Wyoming kicked off at 1:30, but the special teams unit must’ve though it was at 1:35. Rashaad Penny took the opening kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown.

Now down by a score after ten seconds, Josh Allen marched the Pokes down the field for a 32 yard field goal off the foot of Cooper Rothe.

An Allen interception three drives later would turn into an Aztec field goal, giving San Diego a seven point lead.

Wyoming would tie the game on an 11 yard run by Brian Hill with 1:14 left in the first half, but San Diego would answer with a touchdown of their own. 17-10 Aztecs at the half.

Wyoming would open the half with another touchdown from Hill, tying the game at 17 all. The special teams unit was caught sleeping (again) on the ensuing kickoff. 24-17 Aztecs.

Donnel Pumphrey coughed up the ball for the second time all season, and the Cowboys turned it into a field goal. 24-20 Aztecs.

San Diego would kick another field goal to go up by a touchdown again, but immediately gave up two long pass plays to Jake Maulhardt. Wyoming ties it again at 27 each.

Allen and Co. were not done yet. In a 6+ minute, 15 play drive, the Cowboys would find the end zone on a 29 yard strike to C.J. Johnson. There was a minute and change on the clock and the Cowboys just took their first lead of the game.

On the Aztec sideline, Christian Chapman dusted off his throwin’ gloves. He hadn’t needed them all season. He needed them now.

11 plays and 99 yards later, San Diego State threw up a failed Hail Mary.

Wait. Wait a second.

Nope. Quest Truxton (who is the winner of the “Best Name Ever” award) came down with it. Now Coach Rocky Long has a choice: go for the win or go to overtime.

Coach Long put all his chips in the middle and went for two. This is how the final play of the game went:

Wait. That’s not- How’d that get there?

This is the real final play:

Wyoming’s defense stepped up a ton in this game. Pumphrey only rushed for 76 yards against them, his worst yardage total all season, and the worst since week one when he rushed for 96 yards against the University of New Hampshire.

Allen completed 16 of 31 passes for 282 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception that maybe should’ve been a pass interference call.

C.J. Johnson had his best game all year, hauling in five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown.

Hill became the first 100 yard rusher SDSU has allowed all year. He finished the night with 131 yards on 31 attempts and two touchdowns.

To say that this Cowboys team has improved this year is selling this team short. If you told me last year that we’d a) go undefeated at home, b) beat Boise State and San Diego State, and c) be in a spot to win the Mountain West, I probably would’ve laughed in your face.

Wyoming will travel to New Mexico next week to play the (also surprisingly good) Lobos in Albuquerque. No matter which Mountain West team you’re a fan of, you’re going to watch this game.

See you next week.