Cowboy Classics: Fleming field goal buries Birds

LARAMIE -- The Associated Press story the day after arguably the biggest comeback win in Wyoming history read just like this:

Freshman Sean Fleming kicked a 27-yard field goal with 1 second left to give Wyoming a 48-45 comeback victory over the Air Force Saturday in Western Athletic Conference game at Air Force Academy, Colo., Saturday.

Fleming’s field goal came 90 seconds after Wyoming’s Steve Bena ran for a 9-yard touchdown and Fleming kicked the extra point when Wyoming Coach Paul Roach elected to go for a 45-45 tie.

The winning field goal came after Wyoming’s Ron Dean recovered a fumble by Air Force quarterback Dee Dowis on the Falcons’ 42-yard line with 45 seconds left.

Wyoming quarterback Randy Welniak then completed a 14-yard pass to Freddy Dussett and gained 10 more yards on a quarterback keeper. Dabby Dawson then rushed for 8 yards, bringing the ball to the 10-yard line to set the stage for Fleming’s kick.

Dowis gave the Air Force a 45-38 lead with 2:42 left to go on a 69-yard sprint around right end.

Welniak, a fifth-year senior, threw 3 touchdown passes and ran for another.

But the Cowboys had to overcome a 4-touchdown explosion by Air Force in the third quarter that gave the Falcons a 38-17 lead going into the final quarter.

Wyoming, 4-0 overall, is 2-0 in the WAC. Air Force falls to 2-2 and 1-2.

7220sports.com cartoonist, Chad Blakely, brings that day back to life with his latest illustration. This was one of those games that every Cowboys fan claims they were at. Either way, it was one for the ages.