Wyoming Football: News and Notes Ahead of Air Force

LARAMIE -- Aaron Bohl said Monday he understands the faithful have plenty of questions right now regarding this winless team, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

That unit was a staple of his father's decade-long run in Laramie.

Wyoming's first-year coordinator didn't shy away from the head-scratching stats, either.

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* Allowing 429 yards per game (115th out of 133 FBS teams)

* 36 points per game (122nd)

* 180 yards per game on the ground (102nd)

* 249 passing yards an outing (106th)

* Red-zone defense (15 scores, 16 opportunities: 106th)

* Sacks: 3

* Turnovers: 1

What gives?

"We have to be better -- and we will be," Bohl said bluntly. "And, you know, the thing that we really have to make sure we improve on, I think, is just making plays in certain situations. As you know, last year -- in the past couple years -- we had very timely plays made. We have to do the same this year."

There was Wrook Brown's second-quarter interception that turned a 17-3 deficit against Texas Tech into a seven-point game. The Cowboys would eventually pull off the 35-33 stunner in double overtime.

The junior nickel back also sealed a victory over visiting Appalachian State in Week 4.

Senior nose tackle Cole Godbout hauled in a game-winning interception to knock off No. 24 Fresno State, too. Linebackers Shae Suiaunoa and Easton Gibbs helped bury Border War rival Colorado State with interceptions on back-to-back second-half interceptions.

Toledo quarterback Tucker Gleason was dropped by edge rusher Sabastian Harsh for a 3-yard loss late in the fourth quarter of the Arizona Bowl. That stop forced the Rockets right out of field-goal range. Wyoming would march 87 yards on 12 snaps, setting up kicker John Hoyland for the 24-yard game-sealing boot.

Brown has the Cowboys' lone turnover this fall. That was an interception at the goal line, courtesy of BYU signal caller Jake Retzlaff. This team, as a whole, also has just three sacks and 10 tackles for loss in four games.

"We have to have more timely play making on our side, and that's on us as coaches to make sure we're putting them in those positions to excel," Bohl said. "That's going to come with some of these young guys getting some confidence. But, at the end of the day, football's us putting them in positions to make plays and then making plays when the opportunity rises."

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* Wyoming Football: News and Notes Ahead of North Texas

The oddest stat so far of the 2024 season is this one: 15-of-53.

That's Wyoming's third-down defense. It's one of the best marks in the nation. Still, that unit has forced just 15 punts through 16 quarters.

Huh?

Bohl's boys have given up 10 fourth-down conversions on a dozen attempts.

"I have not seen that," he said, followed with a grin and a slight shake of the head. "You see something new every year ... We just have to make sure our guys really embrace the opportunity of a team going for it on fourth down."

Air Force, the Cowboys next opponent, has already gone for it 11 times on that money down. It has converted six of those opportunities.

Here's some other news and notes from Jay Sawvel's weekly press conference:

* Injuries are also playing a part in the lack of playmaking. While some look at that as an excuse -- Sawvel says he's not one of those -- missing senior safeties like Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White, doesn't help. Those two were on the field for 842 and 894 snaps last fall, respectively. Ekeler will not play Saturday against the Falcons. He has two broken thumbs. White has a foot injury. Sawvel said he is doubtful. Braden Siders is also an unknown. The edge rusher missed the North Texas game in concussion protocol. Fellow defensive end DeVonne Harris is still listed as out with an elbow injury he sustained in the season opener. Safety Andrew Johnson will play despite having a cast on his right hand. He also broke his thumb in Denton. He will undergo surgery during the team's bye week. Cornerback Tyrese Boss (hand) will likely start practicing after the bye, according to Sawvel.

* The offense has lost some bodies, too. Fullback Caleb Driskill (thumb), wide receiver/ returner Caleb Cooley (ankle) offensive linemen Luke Sandy (knee) and Nate Geiger (knee), along with running backs Dawaiian McNeely (knee) and Harrison Waylee (knee) will not be ready to go this weekend. In fact, McNeely and Gieger are done for the season. Waylee, per Sawvel, will attempt to play four games this season to preserve his redshirt status and get an additional year. Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg (ankle) did not suffer any setbacks against the Mean Green after catching a team-best five passes for 56 yards.

* Sawvel isn't about to give away any secrets, let alone his game plan, against the rival Falcons. Still, he said after Saturday night's loss in Denton, this staff would "redefine" what they were doing after such a lackluster start to the year. The details are murky, but the gist is -- get the ball in the hands of speedster TK King, who returned a kickoff 103 yards for a score in the second quarter. Also, feed Gyllenborg. Sam Scott impressed the head coach, too. The junior running back didn't do any dancing in the backfield, instead hitting holes to the tune of 39 yards on 11 carries. He also caught a 41-yard touchdown pass.

* Wyoming has been outscored 52-0 in the third quarter this season. Sawvel said a new focus has to be shifted to the "middle eight," meaning the final four minutes of the second quarter and the same amount of time in the second half.

* UNLV, Air Force and San Jose State have agreed to recommit to the Mountain West Conference, according to ESPN senior writer Pete Thamel. He also said Utah State has received and will accept an offer to join fellow league defectors Colorado State, Boise State, Fresno State and San Diego State in the new-look Pac-12. Memphis, Tulane, UTSA and USF turned down that conference earlier today and will remain in the AAC.

* The Cowboys (0-4) and Falcons (1-2) will meet for the 62nd time Saturday night in Laramie. Air Force holds a slim 31-27-2 advantage in the overall series and has won three of the last four. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m. Mountain Time and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

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