Behind the Numbers: Wyoming Spring Football Game
LARAMIE -- All eyes -- per usual -- were on the Cowboys' offense Saturday afternoon inside a sun-spanked War Memorial Stadium.
Craig Bohl has said numerous times this spring that he wants to throw the ball more, especially when it comes to utilizing a pair of big, speedy tight ends like Treyton Welch and John Michael Gyllenborg.
They did just that in the annual Brown and Gold Game. But that was mostly out of necessity.
Wyoming was without its top-three running backs -- Dawaiian McNeely, Harrison Waylee and DQ James. Numerous offensive linemen were also sidelined for various reasons.
The QB combination of Andrew Peasley, Evan Svoboda and Jayden Clemons attempted 58 passes. Using a whole host of new blood in the backfield, UW ran the ball just 36 times.
Don't get used to that.
Here are some other stats that stood out Saturday afternoon in the Pokes' final dress rehearsal:
9-of-20
That's Peasley's completions and attempts in this one. Wyoming's starting quarterback connected on eight of his first 12 throws. Just before the half, though, the senior tossed an interception to Tyrecus Davis that was returned 42 yards for a touchdown. Peasley, who finished with 100 yards passing, threw another pick in the second half. Kolbey Taylor snagged that one.
10-play, 71-yard drive
That was the best offensive possession of the afternoon, led by Peasley. He hit Gyllenborg for a 27-yard gainer and wide out Wyatt Wieland hauled in a beauty on third down, plucking a pass off the turf while fully extended. LJ Richardson capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown run to give the Gold Team an early 14-0 lead.
6
That's how many tackles redshirt freshman Jaden Williams finished with. The 6-foot-4, 278-pound defensive tackle tallied four tackles for loss, including a pair of quarterback sacks. He also added a forced fumble, stripping running back Sam Scott in the backfield.
2
Nic Talich recovered that many fumbles for the Gold Team. The Cody product also finished with three tackles from the linebacker spot. Alabama transfer Keelan Cox was also credited with a recovery.
79
That's how many receiving yards Isaac Sell racked up in this one. The sophomore receiver from Laramie also hauled in a team-high eight catches. He's best snag was on a 30-yard strike from Svoboda. Sell made the adjustment to maneuver around the defensive back and catch the ball before falling at midfield.
2-of-2
John Hoyland had a perfect day in the field-goal kicking category, drilling one from 27 yards out and another from 32. He was also 3-for-3 on point-after attempts.
3
That's the number of interceptions tossed Saturday. Peasley was responsible for two of those and Svoboda was picked off on a long ball. Safety Buck Coors made a beautiful over-the-shoulder catch to haul that one in.
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3
That's how many forced fumbles the Gold Team finished with. Brent VanderVeen stripped tight end Isaac Schoenfeld after a nine-yard catch. Williams knocked the ball out of Scott's arms on a 1st and 10 from inside his own 25-yard line. Safety TJ Urban was also credited with an FF.
4
That's the total number of penalties. One was the 15-yard variety, courtesy of a crack-back block delivered by nickel corner Wrook Brown after the Coors interception. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Texas product de-cleated wide receiver Caleb Merritt on the 15-yard return. Merritt entered concussion protocol and suffered the only known injury of the game.
3-of-3
The Gold Team was perfect Saturday in the red zone. Peasley led back-to-back touchdown drives to open the game and Hoyland connected on a 27-yard field goal in the third quarter. Richardson scored the first touchdown. Fellow running back Jeremy Hollingsworth found the end zone for the second.
8
That's how many tackles for the loss the Gold Team racked up. Williams led the way with four of those and Cayden Hawkins, Cox, Daylen Wilson and VanderVeen each finished with one.
82
That's the combined number of plays Saturday. The Gold Team rolled up 218 yards of total offense, 113 of which came through the air. Brown, quarterbacked by Svoboda and Clemons, amassed 174 yards. Clemons was responsible for 102 of those in the passing game.
8
That's how many players finished with at least four tackles in this game. Malique Singleton and Williams both had a team-best six stops, while safeties Koa McIntyre and Coors both had five. Micah Young, Isaac White, Brown and Vander Veen all landed four.
4
That's the number of pass breakups. Linebacker Connor Shay had one. So did Singleton, Davis and Brown.
52
Richardson led all running backs with that many yards on just six carries. That's an average of 8.7 yards per attempt. He had a long of 22 and scored the first touchdown of the afternoon.
7
That's how many pass catchers hauled in at least two balls in this one. Sell led the way with eight and Charlie Coenen caught five for 33 yards. Scott also snagged three balls out of the backfield. Gyllenborg, Welch and Merritt all finished with two.
48.5
That's Ralph Fawaz's punting average on two kicks Saturday in Laramie. He boomed a long of 56 on a blustery day on the high plains. Incumbent Clayton Stewart landed an average of 46.7 on three attempts. He had a long of 54. Both punters had a touchback.
4
That's the number of "QB hits" in this one. Of course, no one was allowed to hit the signal callers, but the officials gave a "hit" to Ethan Day, Williams and two for Tyce Westland.
126
That's how many days until Wyoming's season opener. Texas Tech will pay a visit to War Memorial Stadium for a Sept. 2 showdown. Players will get a couple weeks off before returning to Laramie and summer workouts. Incoming transfers and freshmen will be on campus in early June.
PRESS PASS: Roaming The War
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