Talk about your Cowboy, talk about your true freshman quarterback Brett Smith! The Wyoming Cowboys opened their 2011 football season in exciting, and heart stopping fashion. The FCS Wildcats from Weber State came to Laramie to play some football and gave the Cowboys all they could handle. Hanging with the Cowboys for the better part of the game the Wildcats made things interesting when they look the lead with 12 minutes to play in the 4th quarter. The Cowboy defense, who had been poor all day, giving up over 500 yards total offense to Weber, had to clamp down and hold Weber to give the offense a chance to win the football game. With :22 seconds left in the 4th quarter the true freshman Brett Smith hit WR Robert Herron in the corner of the end zone to give the Cowboys a 35-32 lead. The Pokes held Weber back and the Wildcats missed a 52 yard field goal to end the game in regulation.
Weber State started the scoring on their first drive when Tanner Hinds ran in a 2 yard score. From there the scoring was wide open for both teams. The Cowboys responded on their next drive when Brett Smith took a touchdown in from 1 yard out to even the score at 7. The Cowboys took the lead when Alvester Alexander took a touchdown in from four yards. The Cowboys punched in another touchdown when SR WR Mazi Ogbonna caught a pass from Brett Smith for the Cowboys to take a 21-10 lead. Weber State added a pair of scores before halftime, a field goal and touchdown pass from quarterback Mike Hoke to Xavian Johnson on a 35 yard score. The Cowboys took their first drive of the 2nd half for a score as Robert Herron took in his first touchdown grab of the day on a 45 yard pass from Brett Smith. Weber clawed back again when RB Josh Booker ran in a touchdown from 12 yards.
Weber took the lead when Mike Hoke tossed a touchdown to Xavian Johnson for their second TD hook-up of the game. Weber failed on their 2 point conversion try. The Cowboys got the ball back and marched down field looking to take the lead. The drive stalled at the Weber State 10 yard line when Brett Smith’s rush failed on 4th down and Weber got the ball back. Weber took possession and the Cowboys managed to hold Weber back and forced a punt. With 2:00 to go the Pokes drove down the field where Smith hit Herron in the back corner of the endzone for the touchdown.
The Cowboys will next play FCS transitioning team Texas State, who will be making their debut in the WAC next season. This season they are an FCS independent and not eligible for the playoffs. The Bobcats from San Marcos, Texas will be making their first trip to Laramie and will be looking to upset the home team. The Bobcats were brutally beaten by Texas Tech this past weekend, 50-10, allowing 40 second half points to the Red Raiders. It will be a 4:00pm kickoff in Laramie.
Go Pokes!