Behind the numbers: Pokes vs. Lobos

LAS VEGAS -- Most of the numbers from Wyoming's stunning 17-16 setback against New Mexico are, um, not pretty.

The first two on the list make this loss even more cringe worthy. Actually, most of them are not ideal if you are a fan of the guys in Brown and Gold.

Let's face it, every dog -- or Lobo -- has its day.

Saturday belonged to a displaced New Mexico team that hadn't won a game since early in the 2019 season.

14

That's how many losses in a row New Mexico had coming into this one. That was the second longest streak in the nation until Akron snapped its 21-game skid earlier in the day with a win over Bowling Green.

20

New Mexico had also lost 20 straight Mountain West Conference games. That dubious streak is now a thing of the past, too.

91

That's how many passing yards Levi Williams and Gavin Beerup combined for against the 121st-ranked pass defense in the nation. Fifty-four of those came on one pass from Williams to Isaiah Neyor.

1

That's how many third downs the Cowboys' converted in 11 tries Saturday night. To compound things, Wyoming was just 1-fo-4 on third downs that were four yards or less. That's typically this team's strength.

3

That's how many times the Cowboys scored in the red zone in Las Vegas. Why is that an issues? Well, they were inside the Lobos' 20-yard line four times. Three ended with a John Hoyland field goal. The fourth was halted on a Trey Smith fumble late in the fourth.

223

That's how many rushing yards New Mexico piled up on the Cowboys. The last time a Craig Bohl team surrendered that many yards came in a 35-27 win over Air Force back in 2018. The Falcons gashed the Pokes for 362 that snowy day in Laramie.

17

Remember the part above about the Lobos having a bad pass defense? This is how many attempts Wyoming quarterbacks made through the air Saturday night. They completed just five of them.

154

Unfortunately for Trey Smith, this night will be remembered for that late fumble. What should be recalled is the sixth-year senior rushed for 154 yards on 24 carries, including a 58-yard touchdown run in place of the injured Xazavian Valladay.

0

That's how many sacks the Cowboys registered Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium. Granted, New Mexico dropped back for just 18 passes all night, but the Lobos line has allowed 13 sacks through five games entering this one.

1

That's the number of sacks New Mexico tallied. It might be a devastating one at that. Ben Gansallo hammered Levi Williams late in the fourth quarter. The redshirt freshman left the game and never returned.

1

CJ Coldon picked off his first career pass in a Wyoming uniform against New Mexico.

5

As in fifth. New Mexico started redshirt freshman and walk-on Connor Genal against the Cowboys. He suffered a left wrist injury and Danny Gonzales was forced to go with his fifth option this season, another freshman walk-on, Isaiah Chavez.

46

Esaias Gandy (14), Garrett Crall (12), Chad Muma (10) and Easton Gibbs (10) combined for 46 of the Cowboys' 87 tackles against New Mexico. Not too shabby considering Muma was ejected in the second quarter for targeting.

1

That's how many games the Cowboys are guaranteed to have left this season. Boise State comes to Laramie next Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. MST.