Wyoming's road matchup against San Jose State started with promise but ultimately fell short, as costly mistakes and missed opportunities handed the Cowboys a 24-14 loss. Sounds like a familiar tune right? San Jose State opened the game strong, marching down the field after the kickoff touchback. Running back Floyd Chalk broke free for a 39-yard touchdown, putting the Spartans up 7-0 just 1:20 into the game.
Wyoming's offense responded with some momentum of its own. A 19-yard reception by John Michael Gyllenborg and solid runs by Sam Scott and quarterback Evan Svoboda moved the Cowboys into scoring territory. However, a failed fourth-down conversion gave San Jose State the ball at their own 24-yard line. The Spartans marched into Wyoming territory, but Tyrecus Davis blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt, with Cole DeMarzo recovering the ball to shift momentum.
Despite the blocked kick, Wyoming couldn't capitalize, hampered by penalties and struggles to move the ball effectively. A short punt from Jack Culbreath gave San Jose State favorable field position, but Wyoming's defense stepped up. Wyett Ekeler, playing with two clubs on his hands, made an impressive interception at the Wyoming 12-yard line, returning it 11 yards. However, Wyoming's offense couldn't take advantage, going three-and-out and punting once again.
San Jose State, led by quarterback Walker Eget, orchestrated a 97-yard drive late in the second quarter, capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass to Nick Nash, putting the Spartans up 14-0 just before halftime.
Wyoming's offense struggled to find rhythm in the second half. A 22-yard return by TK King was nullified by a holding penalty, and another promising drive was derailed by mistakes. The defense kept Wyoming in the game, though, with Wrook Brown making a critical interception to give the Cowboys the ball at their own 45-yard line.
Finally, in the third quarter, Wyoming's offense found a spark. Svoboda connected with Justin Stevenson for an 18-yard touchdown, marking Stevenson's first career touchdown and cutting the deficit to 17-7. However, San Jose State immediately responded with a 57-yard pass, setting up a field goal to extend their lead to 17-7.
Wyoming had chances to claw back into the game, with Chris Durr Jr. hauling in a 40-yard reception—his longest career catch—and John Michael Gyllenborg continuing his strong night with multiple big catches. But mistakes, including a fumble on the snap and a costly interception by Svoboda, prevented the Cowboys from closing the gap.
In the final minute, backup quarterback Kaden Anderson threw a 63-yard touchdown pass to Gyllenborg, giving Wyoming a late spark, but it was too little too late as San Jose State held on for the 24-14 victory.
Despite flashes of potential on both sides of the ball, Wyoming's inconsistency on offense and struggles to convert in critical moments proved to be their downfall. The Cowboys will need to regroup... yet again... as they host Utah State at War Memorial Stadium on Saturday, kickoff will be 5pm. Stay tuned to PokesNews.com for updates!
Final Score: San Jose State 24, Wyoming 14.
Statistical Insights:
Offensive Comparison:
Total Yards:
SJSU significantly outgained Wyoming with 498 total yards to Wyoming's 366.
Wyoming's offensive struggles were particularly evident in the rushing game, as it gained just 56 yards compared to SJSU's 176.
Rushing Efficiency:
Wyoming managed only 1.5 yards per rush, showing difficulty establishing their ground game. SJSU was much more efficient with 7.0 yards per rush, gaining 188 yards and only losing 12 yards compared to Wyoming's 32 yards lost.
SJSU scored two rushing touchdowns, whereas Wyoming had none.
Passing Game:
Both teams had comparable net passing yards (Wyoming 310, SJSU 322).
Wyoming averaged more yards per completion (17.2) compared to SJSU (15.3), indicating Wyoming may have been pushing the ball further downfield on completions.
However, Wyoming had a lower completion percentage (47% vs. 54%) and more attempts (38 to SJSU's 39), suggesting Wyoming had difficulty with efficiency in their passing game.
Offensive Efficiency:
Red Zone Efficiency:
Wyoming struggled significantly in the red zone, converting just 1 of 3 opportunities, while SJSU converted all 3 of their red-zone trips into points. This led to SJSU scoring 17 points in the red zone compared to Wyoming's 7.
Wyoming had two turnovers in the red zone, which proved costly, while SJSU had none.
3rd Down Conversions:
Both teams struggled on third downs, but Wyoming's 4 of 17 (23%) was particularly low compared to SJSU's 3 of 11 (27%).
4th Down Efficiency:
Wyoming excelled on fourth downs, converting 3 of 4, while SJSU didn't attempt any.
Penalties:
Both teams had similar penalty issues, with Wyoming committing 8 for 69 yards and SJSU 8 for 60 yards.
Time of Possession:
Wyoming dominated time of possession with 36:16 compared to SJSU’s 23:44, but they couldn’t capitalize on it to outscore SJSU.
Special Teams Comparison:
Punting:
SJSU punted better, averaging 45.6 yards per punt to Wyoming's 37.5.
Wyoming pinned SJSU inside the 20 three times, while SJSU did not.
Field Goals:
SJSU made 1 of 2 field goal attempts, while Wyoming did not attempt any.
Defensive Comparison:
Tackling and Disruption:
SJSU's defense was much more disruptive, recording seven tackles for loss (31 yards lost) compared to Wyoming's two tackles for loss (11 yards lost).
SJSU also registered more sacks (2 for 13 yards vs. Wyoming's 1 for 10 yards).
Takeaways:
Wyoming excelled at creating turnovers with two fumble recoveries and two interceptions. SJSU also had three interceptions but did not recover any fumbles.
Key Insights:
Wyoming had trouble establishing a consistent rushing attack, while SJSU’s ground game was a major strength.
SJSU's red-zone efficiency was a game-changer, scoring on all their opportunities, while Wyoming’s failures in the red zone, including turnovers, hindered their scoring potential.
Despite dominating time of possession, Wyoming could not capitalize with points due to inefficiency in key areas like 3rd down conversions and the red zone.
SJSU's defensive pressure and ability to limit Wyoming's offensive effectiveness in crucial situations (tackles for loss, sacks) played a significant role in the outcome.
Wyoming Defense Summary:
Wyoming's defense totaled 49 tackles, 27 of which were solo. They recorded one sack and two tackles for loss. They grabbed two interceptions and defended seven passes, with one quarterback hurry and a forced fumble.
Key Players:
Wrook Brown (LB): 8 total tackles, 7 solo, one interception, one pass breakup.
Shae Suiaunoa (LB): 6 tackles, one solo, one pass breakup.
Tyrecus Davis (CB): 5 solo tackles, two pass breakups, one forced fumble.
Braden Siders (DE): 2 tackles, one solo, one sack, one tackle for loss.
They recovered two fumbles, one by Keany Parks and one by Cole DeMarzo
Wyoming QB Analysis
Evan Svoboda:
Stats: 14 completions out of 27 attempts (51.9%), 194 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 117 QB Rating.
Key Moments:
Best Plays:
He connected well on 3rd downs, especially with key targets like John Michael Gyllenborg and TK King. His 9-yard touchdown pass to Justin Stevenson (Q3, 8:49) was a critical drive finish.
Svoboda showed some ability to drive the offense down the field, including a 40-yard pass to Chris Durr (Q3, 3:34).
Challenges:
He was sacked twice, losing 13 yards, impacting Wyoming’s ability to stay ahead in crucial situations.
His interception on 3rd and 9 at the San Jose 14 (Q4, 11:59) was a game-shifting mistake, killing momentum at a pivotal point in the game.
Consistency:
Svoboda had a good rhythm at times, particularly connecting with Gyllenborg on multiple drives, but there were lapses in his accuracy as he finished just over 50% on completions. A lack of consistency was evident.
Kaden Anderson (Wyoming):
Stats: 4 completions out of 11 attempts (36.4%), 116 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT, 118.6 QB Rating.
Key Moments:
Best Play:
Anderson's 63-yard touchdown pass to Gyllenborg (Q4, 0:54) was a highlight,
Challenges:
Anderson struggled with accuracy, completing just 36.4% of his passes. His two interceptions, particularly the one on San Jose's 18 (Q4, 2:04), derailed promising drives.
Consistency:
He came into the game late, trying to rally, but his missed throws and interceptions hurt Wyoming’s chances. Still, his long TD pass shows potential if given more time to develop.
Additional Offensive Notes:
Wyoming's receiving corps combined for 18 catches, 310 yards, and two touchdowns. The standout performer was John Michael Gyllenborg, who recorded 137 yards, including a long 63-yard touchdown, averaging 27.4 yards per catch. TK King contributed 43 yards on three catches with a 75% catch rate, while Chris Durr Jr. added 53 yards on two catches, including a 40-yard play. Will Pelissier had 49 yards on two receptions, averaging 24.5 yards per catch. Jaylen Sargent, Nick Miles, and Justin Stevenson also contributed, with Stevenson scoring a touchdown on his lone 18-yard reception.
Wyoming struggled in the rushing game, gaining just 56 yards on 38 carries. S. Scott led the team with 35 yards on 14 attempts.
Wyoming's punter Jack Culbreath averaged 37.5 yards on eight punts, with a long of 47 yards.
Jonh Michael Gyllenborg led the team in all-purpose yards with 137, followed by TK King, who totaled 109 yards, including 64 yards on kick returns.
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