Wyoming Cowboys vs Weber State Wildcats Football Recap

Wyoming 35, Weber State 32

Weber State is getting into a bad, Fresno-State-like pattern. In 2009, the Wildcats battled to the wire at Colorado State, and marched inside CSU’s 10-yard line with two minutes left, when a fumbled snap cost them a chance to win, falling 24-23. Last year, Weber opened a game at Boston College with an interception, but failed to convert the short field to a touchdown and failed to seize momentum. And this year, after claiming a fourth-quarter lead against Wyoming, surrendered a touchdown with only 22 seconds left. When the back-and-forth contest was over, Wyoming stood on top 35-32.

No credit lost by Wyoming, however, who enjoyed the coming-out party for true freshman quarterback Brett Smith. Not only did Smith pass his team to victory, but also showed heady scrambling ability, keeping several plays alive on the game-winning drive with his feet.

After Weber State grabbed an early 7-0, it looked as though maybe Wyoming would squelch any upset bids when Wyoming closed the first quarter with a 14-7 lead. But the Wildcats kept fighting. After a 40-yard field goal from Shaun McClain for Weber State, Wyoming countered with a quick 3-minute touchdown drive to take a 21-10 lead. But new quarterback Mike Hoke would lead Weber State to two more scoring drives, with a blocked PAT making the halftime mark 21-19 in favor of the Cowboys.

Wyoming struck quickly in the third quarter, as Smith found Robert Herron on a 45-yard touchdown pass. Herron lived up to the expectations he was expected to fill, replacing departed receivers after contributing last year only in the run game. Herron finished with 104 yards on seven receptions and two touchdowns.

Weber State answered when Josh Booker registered a 12-yard touchdown run just 2:30 later. Those 12 yards had Booker at 116 yards on 17 carries just mid-way through the third quarter, and pulled Weber State within two points. Then, late in the fourth quarter, Hoke hit Xavian Johnson on a 49-yard home run, and Weber State had claimed a 32-28 lead.

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With just 1:48 remaining, the freshman Smith engineered a masterpiece for Wyoming, which included a clutch 4 th  and 11 completion from Weber’s 28-yard line that put the Cowboys inside Weber’s 10. With just 22 seconds left, Smith found Herron again for the game-winning touchdown. Incredibly, Weber State’s last gasp got them close, as they moved the ball to Wyoming’s 35-yard line in under 20 seconds. But a 52-yard field goal attempt fell short as time expired, and Wyoming escaped with the victory.

Smith finished with 294 yards passing on a 27-41 performance with three touchdowns. In the loss, Hoke’s first career start went well for Weber State, as the Hawaiian went 19-28 for 314 yards and two touchdowns.

Wyoming hosts another FCS team next week in Texas State (meaning Wyoming will need seven wins to qualify for a bowl this season). Weber State travels in-state to face the almost-slayer-of-giants of Utah State. 

By: Brett Hein
DFN Sports Staff Writer