The Wyoming Cowboys had a lot on the line this past weekend as they prepared for a home game versus the New Mexico Lobos. The Lobos have had a tough season as their coach Mike Locksley was fired mid-way through the season due to poor performance as well as some not-so-legal activities of a recruit while visiting. The Cowboys were trying to get bowl eligible for the first time since 2009 and New Mexico was next on the list for the Pokes Revenge Tour of 2011.
The Cowboys got on the board first with a 26 yard screen pass from Brett Smith to Brandon Miller. The Cowboys played most of the first half pretty sluggish, scoring only once more on a 3 yard Alvester Alexander rush to the endzone. At the half the Pokes were up 14-10 on a frigid day in Laramie. The Pokes were heavily favored in this contest. In the second half there was no doubt who was going to take over this game.
Brett Smith took over the 2nd half and showed why he should be the Mountain West freshman of the year. Smith is also in the running for the national freshman of the year according to some publications. Smith took over with his feet after the half and ran in two scores, the first a 10 yard scramble to the endzone. His second rushing touchdown of the game was far more impressive as Smith read the quarterback draw to perfection, hit the lane and ran for 69 yards. Smith was pulling away from the defense on his scramble down the field. The Cowboys finished the game with a 31-10 victory over the Lobos. The Lobos fall to 1-10 on the season, while the Cowboys are now 7-3, 4-1 in conference play.
The Pokes will next play Boise State on their “famous’ blue turf. It will be a 12:00opm kickoff and can be found on TheMTN.
The Cowboy basketball team picked up a win and a loss this past weekend, a win over Northern Colorado of the Big Sky conference and a loss at UW-Green Bay. They will next play at home vs. South Dakota on 11-22 at the AA. The Cowgirls picked up their first win of the season as they were able to defeat Chadron State on the home floor. They will next play in the Loyola Marymount tournament in Los Angeles and will play Northern Iowa first on 11-25. The Cowboy wrestling team fared very well in the Kearney Open, having six wrestlers win individual titles. Also competing was Joe LeBlanc and Shane Onufer in the NWCA all-star classic, which the elite wrestlers, one from each weight class, are paired off in one on one matches. Joe LeBlanc won his match by defeating Ben Bennett of Central Michigan while Shane Onufer fell to Josh Asper of Maryland. Great exposure for an up and coming Cowboy wrestling program.
Go Pokes!