Pokes scores go ahead touchdown with 24 seconds left
Pullman, Wash. (Nov. 30, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowboys used a 14-play 90-yard drive for the go-ahead touchdown with 24 seconds left to defeat Washington State inside Martin Stadium in Pullman, Wash, on Saturday evening in the season finale for the Brown and Gold. Quarterback Evan Svoboda found John Michael Gyllenborg from 18 yards for the game-winning score on fourth down.
“This isn’t the year that we want, and we’ll never have this type of year again, but I think what happens is within the building our guys never stopped fighting,” UW head coach Jay Sawvel Said. “We lost four games by four points or less. We kept finding ways to get better. We’ve got work to do, we’ve got to get a lot better, but I couldn’t be more proud of everybody for continuing to fight, continuing to improve and continuing to buy into the program and playing Cowboy football.”
“I think it’s tremendous for Evan. I’m so proud of him. He was beat up at the end of the game. I don’t know how much more he could have ran or anything like that. He still found a way to get us a win so I’m really happy for him. For everything he’s taken he deserves it.”
Wyoming finished the night with 340 yards of total offense, 134 on the ground and 206 through the air. Washington State recorded 285 yards, 182 through the air and 103 on the ground. WSU averaged 434 yards of total offense heading into the game. Wyoming held onto the ball for over 34 minutes in the contest.
The Cowboy offense was paced by quarterback Evan Svoboda, recording 206 yards passing going 21-of-34. He also added 33 yards on the ground. rushing yards. Wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. added five catches for 57 yards to lead the team. Gyllenborg added four catches for 61 yards and a score. Running back Harrison Waylee recorded 69 rushing yards on 12 rushes for 5.8 per carry.
The Wyoming defense was led by the senior trio of linebackers Connor Shay, Shae Suiaunoa and cornerback Tyrecus Davis with seven tackles each. Shay had his first career sack in the contest. Davis tied a career-high in tackles and added his second career interception to seal the game.
The Cougars got on the board first with a touchdown in the first quarter, the Cowboys responded with a field goal from John Hoyland to make it a 7-3 in the first frame. Washington State tacked on another touchdown, but a late turnover forced by the Cowboys turned into a field goal to make it a 14-6 game at the half.
Neither team could find the endzone in the third quarter, but the Cowboys did tack on a field goal to make it a 14-9 game heading into the final frame of the season. The Cowboy defense would continue to get stops as Wyoming drove down the field for the win followed by an interception to take the contest 15-14.
Washington State was led by quarterback John Mateer with 182 yards passing on 16-of-22. He also led the team with 56 rushing yards.
The Cowboys saw 17 seniors play their final game in the Brown and Gold.
Team Notes
•The Cowboys and Cougars met for the eighth time on Saturday.
•The Cowboys are now 3-5 all-time against Washington State.
•The Cowboys are 3-2 all-time against Washington State in Pullman.
•The contest saw the Cowboy face former defensive coordinator Jake Dickert, as he enters is third season as head coach at Washington State.
•The Cowboy defense did not allow a point in the third quarter and over the last eight games of the season. In fact, Wyoming held the Cougars scoreless for the entire second half.
•The Cowboy defense held Washington State to 1of-10 on third down and ranked third in the nation in the stat heading into the game.
Offensive Notes
•Running back Harrison Waylee rushed for 69 yards on 12 carries with a long of 17 yards.
•Waylee came into the game with 3,130 and now has 3,199 for his career.
•Wide receiver Chris Durr finished the game with 5 catches for 57 yards with a long reception of 32 yards. He came into the game as the co-leader with 26 receptions on the season.
•Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg’s game-winning touchdown on fourth-and-14 was his team-leading third score of the season. Justin Stevenson also has three. Gyllenborg led the team with 61 yards receiving.
Defensive Notes
•Defensive end Ethan Day recorded a half sack in the contest for the first of his career.
•Defensive tackle Jaden Williams recorded a half sack for the first of his career. He also chipped in four tackles.
•Defensive end Tyce Westland added a half sack and now has three on the season. He added four tackles.
•Linebacker Connor Shay added 1.5 tackles for loss for his firsts of the season and first of his career. He added 1.5 sacks, as well, to go alongside seven tackles, which tied for the team lead.
•Linebacker Shae Suiaunoa tied a team high with seven tackles.
•Cornerback Tyrecus Davis tied for the team lead with seven tackles. His previous career high was seven tackles against Texas Tech last season. He had four or more tackles in five of his last six games.
•Davis logged his second career interception on Washington State’s final drive that sealed the win for Wyoming.
•Defensive tackle Ben Florentine boasted his first-career sack to go alongside three tackles.
Special Notes
•Kicker John Hoyland recorded three field goals. He came into the game 12-of-16 for the season and now has 73 career field goals, a school record for the Brown and Gold
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