Three Stars of the Game: Pokes vs. Vikings

LARAMIE -- This list, as always, is objective.

Wyatt Wieland, Wyoming's super senior receiver, caught a 29-yard touchdown pass in this one. Running back Jamari Ferrell found the end zone from a yard out in the first quarter. That was the first of his colorful career.

Wyett Ekeler picked off a pass that arguably turned the tide in the 31-17 victory over Portland State Saturday afternoon inside a sun-spanked War Memorial Stadium.

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John Hoyland, again, was true from 56 yards out. This is the second straight week that the preseason All-American has hit from that distance. Easton Gibbs and Wrook Brown both led the way with eight tackles.

Any of those guys could've landed on this list. And maybe they should've. Here are my picks:

1st star: Andrew Peasley - Quarterback

Andrew Peasley has appeared in 31 college football games.

Only once has he thrown three touchdown passes in a single outing. That is until today.

The 6-foot-2, 212-pound Oregon product connected with Ayir Asante on a 64-yard scoring strike in the first quarter. That was the longest hook up in his career and the longest for a Wyoming signal caller since Tyler Vander Waal hit James Price on a 72-yard touchdown against Boise State back in 2018.

In the second quarter, Peasley found Weiland all alone in the end zone from 29 yards out to put the Cowboys up 21-7.

Asante grabbed another 14-yard pass from Peasley in the third before racing into the brown-and-gold paint.

Peasley finished the day 11-of-16 for 201 yards. He was picked off in the second half, but that's likely only because his intended target, Ryan Marquez, slipped and fell coming out of his break.

Peasley also rushed for 43 yards on just six carries. Twenty-two of those came on one run.

"I thought Andrew was throwing the ball well, we were catching the ball well and they did a good job protecting him," head coach Craig Bohl said postgame.

Wyoming's QB was my selection for No.1 star of the week in the Cowboys' 35-33 double-overtime win over Texas Tech in last Saturday's opener. He took a pounding in that one, telling Bohl at halftime "everything hurts." Still, he tossed a pair of touchdowns and ran for another in the upset.

"Andrew has an amazing command over the offense," Asante said. "I think that's the biggest difference from last year to this year. He makes decisions on his own and he understands why he's doing the things that he's doing. That dude is just one of the toughest guys I've ever played with."

2nd star: Ayir Asante - Wide Receiver

Wyoming's newest outside threat makes it no secret he plans to play at the next level.

He also knows he only has one more season to prove he can be an asset at the next level.

Ayir Asante took a major step in the right direction Saturday hauling in a pair of touchdown passes in the win over the Vikings.

Peasley found Asante all alone in the seam during the first quarter. The super senior made the grab and turned upfield, outracing the PSU secondary 64 yards to the end zone with ease. Asante caught his second touchdown of the day in the third, once again making the catch, this time inside the 10, before turning on the jets and reaching the ball over the white stripe.

Bohl said he thinks the Holy Cross transfer can make a big impact this fall.

Asante agrees.

He didn't want to talk about his big day, though. Instead he was focused on a diving touchdown he didn't come up with against the Red Raiders.

"That's stuck with me all week," Asante said. "I mean, I told Peas, I was like, 'I'm going to get it back'. You know, he never wavered in any faith in me."

Asante finished the day with just two grabs for 78 yards. Those were pretty important grabs, too.

3rd star: Cole Godbout - Nose Tackle

We haven't seen Cole Godbout bust out the "Cotton-Eye Joe" celebration dance since the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in 2021.

That problem was rectified today, just not sure if we'll ever see the dance again.

"You know, I hadn't done my little dance there for a couple of years and it kind of felt good to be back," the 6-foot-4, 290-pound super senior said. "I almost got flagged. The ref talked to me about it. I was like, dang, I've been doing it for half a decade now. But it felt good. It was cool."

The Wisconsin product added another half-a-sack when he and Braden Siders had a second-half meeting with Portland State quarterback Dante Chachere. He also tacked on six stops and 2.5 tackles for loss in the win.

Those stops behind the line of scrimmage give Godbout 24 for his career, which ties him with former linebacker Ward Dobbs for ninth all-time.

Godbout missed six games last season, dealing with a broken second metatarsal bone in his right foot. He returned for the Cowboys' bowl game in Tucson, but his time on the field was short-lived. A tendon injury in his other foot sent him to the sideline.

He's back now, fully healthy and looks better than ever, helping hold PSU to just 2.2 yards per carry a week after holding Texas Tech to just 2.8.

"It's great to see Cole playing and for him to come back as a sixth-year captain," Bohl said. "It has been great."

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

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* Behind the numbers: Wyoming vs. PSU

* Turning point, unsung hero and what's next for UW football

* Tuck's Takes: Wyoming, this is your wake-up call

* 7220sports.com Kickoff Show: Fooling around with the FCS

* Gear up for game day: Portland State

* Know Wyoming's foe: Portland State Vikings

* Show us your picks: Week 2

* Wyoming's Sabastian Harsh 'I was just feeling so blessed'