The Wyoming Cowboys stunned the Washington State Cougars with a late-game surge, orchestrating a 14-play, 90-yard drive that culminated in a game-winning touchdown with 24 seconds remaining, earning a 15-14 victory at Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, on Saturday.
The upset marks the Cougars’ only home loss of the season, despite entering the game as 17.5-point favorites.
Quarterback Evan Svoboda connected with tight end John Michael Gyllenborg on a pivotal fourth-and-14 play for the decisive score. Svoboda, who passed for a career-high 206 yards, also contributed 33 rushing yards.
“I’m so proud of Evan… He found a way to get us a win, despite being beat up by the end of the game,” said Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel.
Washington State led 14-6 at halftime, but Wyoming’s defense held the Cougars scoreless throughout the second half. Kicker John Hoyland contributed three field goals, including one in the fourth quarter, narrowing the gap and setting the stage for the final touchdown.
Wyoming’s defense dominated the second half, holding Washington State to just 56 yards and forcing a crucial interception by cornerback Tyrecus Davis on WSU’s final drive. Linebacker Connor Shay led the defense with seven tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Davis tied a career-high with seven tackles and added his second career interception.
Washington State quarterback John Mateer threw for 182 yards and led his team with 56 rushing yards, but the Cougars were held to 1-of-10 on third downs, a testament to Wyoming’s strong defensive effort.
Wyoming controlled the ball for over 34 minutes, amassing 340 total yards compared to WSU’s 285. Running back Harrison Waylee led the Cowboys’ ground game with 69 yards on 12 carries, averaging 5.8 yards per rush. Receiver Chris Durr Jr. recorded five catches for 57 yards, while Gyllenborg totaled 61 receiving yards, including the game-winning touchdown.
With the win, Wyoming concludes its season on a high note, while Washington State finishes 8-4 and awaits its bowl game assignment, likely to be announced after conference championship games. Despite the loss, WSU will head to its eighth bowl in the last nine full seasons.
Notable Takeaways:
- Wyoming improved to 3-2 all-time against Washington State in Pullman.
- Wyoming’s defense has not allowed a third-quarter point in the last eight games.
- Kicker John Hoyland set a school record with 73 career field goals.
With input from Sports Illustrated and Cowboy State Daily.
