Boise State Escapes vs. Wyoming With Overtime Win
Broncos does just enough to get the win.
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Chase Cord is QB again as Boise State gets win.
Wyoming is coming into tonight’s game with Tyler Vander Waal at quarterback after starter Sean Chambers was injured in their last game against Nevada, which was a 31-3 domination. It’s tough to call Vander Waal a back up since he started nine games last season for the Cowboys. Wyoming will likely try to stick with their game plan of giving the football to Xazavian Valladay who had 206 yards on 26 carries against Nevada.
Boise State comes in off of a shootout, 52-42, win over over an improved San Jose State team. George Holani was dominant against the Spartans racking up four touchdowns in the win.
Wyoming is a better defense then San Jose State was so it’s unlikely we will see a repeat performance, but it’s still expected that Holani will add to his breakout season. Boise State is also looking to improve on their 12-1 all-time gains the Cowboys, with Wyoming’s lone win coming in 2016 in Laramie.
First Quarter:
Wyoming opened the game with the ball and put together a 10 play drive to start the game. The Broncos struggled again with allowing conversions on 3rd down allowing The Cowboys to convert on 2 of 3 on the first drive. Wyoming didn’t stray too far away from their game plan to run the ball but did have an 18-yard completion from Vander Waal to Raghib Ismail Jr.for 18 yards on the drive that stalled out at the Boise State 40 yard line.
The Bronco offense needed to get off to the same start that they did against BYU with Chase Cord at the helm. Boise State mixed everything into the first drive aside from the deep pass as Cord went 6 for 6 on the drive and the Broncos mixed in runs from 4 different carriers on the drive.
Using 12 plays, the Broncos covered 92 yards to get on the board first. Most of the play calling was on the conservative side, but coach Harsin threw in some of the misdirection that Boise State has been known for with a counter shovel pass to C.T. Thomas that gained 8 yards to the Wyoming 5-yard line. Chase Cord found Akilian Butler crossing the endzone for the touchdown to put Boise State on the board first.
Boise State 7, Wyoming 0
Second Quarter:
The second quarter left a lot to be desired from the Broncos. With 3 possessions on the quarter, they could only muster a total of 28 yards, 16 of which were on an end-around by John Hightower.
Wyoming, on the other hand, started to get into their game plan. They were also gifted with a couple of short fields on back-to-back drives, starting on the Boise State 47 and 48-yard lines respectively. Both of these drives resulted in points from the Cowboys and gave the Cowboys the 10-7 lead at half time.
Xazavian Valladay was able to break a couple of big runs on their touchdown drive gaining 32 of the 47-yards needed on the drive on just 2 plays. Vander Waal did the rest with an 11-yard completion to Josh Harshman and capped the drive with a 3-yard run for the score.
After forcing Boise State’s third straight punt, where Joel Valasquez was only able to muster a 19-yarder, the Cowboys went to work again with their second consecutive short field. Wyoming drove down to the Boise State 16-yard line, Curtis Weaver was finally able to bring down Vander Waal after getting contact on him multiple times, but not getting him to the ground. Weaver was able to get in the backfield and sack Vander Waal for a second time driving them back to the Boise State 31-yard line.
Wyoming was still able to grab the lead with a Cooper Rothe 39-yard field goal, but it pushed the Cowboys back far enough and took additional time off of the clock that it took a touchdown off the table.
Boise State 7, Wyoming 10
Third Quarter:
Boise State opened up the second half with a rather lackluster effort from the offense. After a short completion to Khalil Shakir, Cord was able to hit an open Garret Collingham for what looked like it would be a first down, but Collingham was unable to secure the catch.
Wyoming wasn’t able to do much with their first possession, matching the Broncos 3-and-out. Boise State took to the air to move the ball down the field. Opening up with a double pass that only went for 4 yards, the Broncos stuck to more conventional plays the rest of the way.
With a 20-yard completion and one for 43 to Hightower, Cord was able to lead the Broncos into the Cowboy red zone. With pass interference called a few plays later, the Broncos had a 1st and goal from the Cowboy 5-yard line.
After an incompletion and a run for a loss, Cord wasn’t able to complete an ill-advised shovel pass in the middle of the field. C.T. Thomas was called for an unsportsmanlike penalty called against him turning a 25-yard field goal attempt into a 40-yard attempt. Eric Sachse was able to come through and pull the Broncos even at 10-10.
Boise State was able to force another punt from the Cowboys and set out to get back in the lead. Opening with a quick 5 yard gain from George Holani, the Broncos handed it off again in a continued effort to get the run game going. The play initial looked positive until Wyoming defensive tackle Javaree Jackson shed the block of guard Eric Quevedo Sr., getting to Holani before he was prepared for constant to force and recover the fumble.
Set up with another short field, the Cowboys only needed 4 plays to get into the endzone for the lead. Vander Waal had a 13-yard completion to Raghib Ismail Jr., who took a hard hit after breaking loose of tackle that could have stopped him for a short gain, and Xazavian Valladay finished the drive off 2 plays later with a 21-yard run to reach the endzone.
Boise State 10, Wyoming 17
Fourth Quarter:
Both defenses made moving the ball difficult with both teams having to punt twice before either could gain any traction. Boise State was finally able to put together a drive with some substance. Getting the ball on their own 43, the Broncos put together the drive that they had been needing.
Chase Cord and Holani teamed up to move the ball down the field with both carrying that ball a combined 6 times on the 10 play drive. Cord also completed a pass to Holani for 5-yards along with passes to Akilian Butler for 14-yards and Khalil Shakir for 6-yards. Shakir made the biggest play by getting around to the edge and running the final 5 yards to the endzone for the Boise State touchdown.
From there the defenses were able to keep control of the game with Boise State’s ability to get a stop on 4th and 1 on their own 39-yard line to both keep Wyoming off the board and to get the ball back with 36 seconds left in the game. Wyoming responded by intercepting Chase Cord, ending Boise State’s push for the win and leading to overtime.
Boise State 17, Wyoming 17
Overtime:
Boise State got the ball first and were able to get a first down, but not much else. With only 25 yards to go in overtime, it was enough to get on the board with a 28-yard field goal from Eric Sachse. In overtime, you obviously always want to get touchdowns, but with the field goal, it forces Wyoming to produce something in order to keep their upset dreams alive.
That dream quickly almost became a nightmare when off a flea-flicker, Vander Waal launched a pass to the back of the endzone to the waiting hands of Riley Whimpey.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on the side of the ball you are on, Whimpey was unable to secure the interception and Wyoming had more opportunities to get on the board. After a 6-yard gain on 2nd down, Whimpey was able to come up big by getting into the backfield and tackling Valladay for a 2-yard loss and forcing a field goal attempt for Wyoming.
With Wyoming’s Cooper Rothe one of the best kickers in the country, it looked like both sides needed to prepare for the second overtime period. On the snap of the ball, everything looked good but Rothe succumbs to the pressure and pushed the kick wide right allowing Boise State to escape with the overtime win.
FINAL: Boise State 20, Wyoming 17
Moment Of The Game:
:36 left in the 4th quarter. Boise State was able to come up with the huge 4th and 1 stop to keep Wyoming off the board and to get the ball back for a chance to win the game.
Player Of The Game:
Wide receiver Khalil Shakir. With nine touches for 75 yards and a touchdown that tied the game late, Shakir was the most productive player for the Broncos
Final Thoughts:
This game was a battle of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Boise State often pulls this trick off in the same game, while Wyoming can show up and beat Missouri and also lose to Tulsa.
With Chase Cord starting, most feared that the whole game would be a Mr. Hyde performance like the game against BYU, so of course, the game went to overtime. Wyoming felt in control for most of the game, but Boise was able to make plays when it mattered in order to come away with the 20-17 overtime win.
Chase Cord had an almost identical performance as he did against BYU, but the big difference in this game would be the defense, although still missing opportunities, showing up when they needed to. Riley Whimpey and Curtis Weaver kept the pressure on the Cowboys all game with getting in the backfield and getting into passing lanes.
Whimpey made the play of the game stopping Xazavian Valladay on 3rd down in overtime to force a field goal. Wyoming played a great game and all congratulations are due to them for giving Boise State all they could handle. The Broncos came up big in big moments and hopefully, this is the point where they can consistently put together complete games against New Mexico, Utah State, and Colorado State.
Up Next:
Boise State hosts New Mexico for their final home game of the regular season on Saturday, November 16th at 8:15 PM MT on ESPN2
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