By Samuel Burkett, Guest Contributor
Wyoming and Colorado State will meet in Fort Collins, Colo., on Friday night. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and will be televised on the CBS Sports Network. This will mark the 116th game between the two schools, as the first meeting took place in 1899.
Wyoming and Colorado State have been playing every year since 1946. Colorado State leads the all-time series with Wyoming 59-51-5. Wyoming leads the series 46-32 since World War II.
The Bronze Boot has been awarded to the winner of this game and was first played in 1968. This will be the 57th time the Bronze Boot awaits the winner. Wyoming leads the Bronze Boot series 31-25. The Bronze Boot was created from an actual boot worn by Vietnam War veteran Dan Romero.
This game will feel a little bit different from years past.
Craig Bohl is no longer on the sidelines after he went 7-3 against Colorado State while coaching the Cowboys. Bohl ended his impressive run against the sheep with the Cowboys winning seven of the last eight meetings between the two teams.
Bohl’s first two attempts against Colorado State resulted in losses. In 2014, Colorado State beat Wyoming 45-31 inside Hughes Stadium, and the Rams beat the Cowboys 26-7 inside War Memorial Stadium back in 2015.
The last time the Rams beat the Cowboys was in 2020, when Colorado State won 34-24 inside Canvas Stadium. Due to COVID restrictions, no fans were allowed to watch that game.
A sellout crowd is expected inside Canvas Stadium on Friday night.
This time, head coach Jay Sawvel will be coaching the Cowboys for the first time in this rivalry.
The last time the two teams met at Canvas Stadium, the Cowboys gave up a 72-yard punt return for a touchdown, but the Cowboy defense only allowed two field goals in a 14-13 win for Wyoming back in 2022.
Things have not been going as promised for Wyoming, as the Cowboys are 2-7 and 2-3 in the Mountain West Conference. Wyoming is off of a bye week after beating New Mexico 49-45 on Nov. 2. The Cowboys were down 45-35 going into the fourth quarter, but Wyoming outscored New Mexico 14-0 down the stretch to win the game.
Quarterback Kaden Anderson and running back Harrison Waylee sparked the Cowboy offense in the win over the Lobos. In his first start, Anderson threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Waylee ran for 170 yards and one touchdown in his first game playing for the Cowboys.
Wyoming’s defense was vulnerable in the loss to the Lobos, as this unit gave up 412 yards on the ground and allowed 576 yards of total offense.
The defense has been stellar for the Rams since their brutal schedule. Colorado State has only been giving up 16 points per game against conference opponents, which has been big during their 4-0 start in conference play.
Wrook Brown ran back an interception for a touchdown, while Tyce Westland came up with a game-winning strip fumble to preserve the win for the Cowboys.
Colorado State is off to a 6-3 start, and the Rams are 4-0 in the Mountain West Conference. Colorado State dreams of possibly playing in the conference championship game. Colorado State is also bowl eligible for the first time since 2017. The Rams also have a favorable schedule as they avoid Boise State and UNLV.
The Rams are also off a bye week, but Colorado State did beat Nevada 38-21 in Reno back on Nov. 2. Avery Morrow and Justin Marshall combined for 145 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while Jordan Noyes drilled a 60-yard field goal.
Colorado State quarterback Brayden Fowler-Niccolosi has completed 61.7% of his passes for 1,611 yards, seven touchdowns, and five interceptions. Avery Morrow is fourth in the conference in rushing, running for 788 yards and eight touchdowns. Tory Horton suffered a season-ending injury, but receivers Caleb Goodie and Dane Olson combined for 111 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Nevada.
During the '24 season, the Rams have given up 24 points and 408 yards per game.
Samuel Burkett is a guest contributor, you can read more of his content here:
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