Know Wyoming’s Foe: Air Force Falcons
* A University of Wyoming press release contributed to this report
LARAMIE -- The Wyoming Cowboys return to War Memorial Stadium this Saturday, hosting Air Force at 6 p.m. on Homecoming in Laramie. It is the Mountain West opener for the Brown and Gold.
Wyoming is 13-12 in MW openers.
The contest will be televised on CBS Sports Network with Rich Waltz on the call along with Robert Turbin analyzing the action and Amanda Guerra on the sidelines.
Ticket Information
Fans may order tickets online, via email or by phone at:
- Go to GoWyo.com/tickets
- Emailtickets@uwyo.edu
- Call (307) 766-7220
- Stop by the UW Athletics Ticket Office on the West Side of the Arena-Auditorium on the corner of Willett Drive and 19th Street.
Mountain West Openers: The 2024 season marks the 26th season of the Mountain West Conference, and this year’s Wyoming-Air Force contest is the conference opener for the Cowboys. Wyoming is 13-12 (.500) in Mountain West openers. UW is 9-6 (.600) when opening MW play at home and is 4-6 (.400) when opening on the road. The Cowboys have won 7 of their last 11 MW openers. The Cowboys and Falcons opened the 2022 conference season in Laramie with the Cowboys earning a 17-14 victory.
Wyoming Hosts 99th Homecoming Game This Week: This week’s game versus Air Force will mark the 99th Homecoming game in University of Wyoming history, and the 74th Homecoming game to be played in War Memorial Stadium. Last season, Wyoming defeated New Mexico on Homecoming by a score of 35-26.
UW’s Overall Record in Homecoming Games: 49-46-3
UW’s Homecoming Record in War Memorial: 44-27-2
Cowboys Missing with Injuries: The Cowboys have had numerous injuries to open the season on both sides of the ball. Wyoming has 12 players on the roster that have had injuries this season that have started a game in their career. Those 12 players have combined for 26 missed games this season. That includes a pair of running backs in Daiwaiian McNeely and Harrison Waylee along with safeties Wyett Ekeler and Isaac White among other players.
King to the House: Wide receiver Tyler King has been excellent this season returning kicks. In fact, King ranks third in the nation and first in the Mountain West averaging 36.7 yards per kick return. He recorded a 100-yard return for the Brown and Gold at North Texas tying the school record held by Sonny Jones, as he recorded a 100-yard return against Colorado State College in 1948.
Scott Does It All: Running back Sam Scott paced the Cowboy offense against North Texas. He rushed for 39 yards to lead the team and also added three catches tying a career-high and recorded a career-high 52 yards receiving. He hauled in a 41-yard reception for a score in the second quarter for the first of his career. He leads the team with six receptions on the season averaging 12.5 yards per catch.
Gyllenborg Back in Form: Tight end John Michael Gyllenborg is working his way back into the offense after an injury. He grabbed five catches for a team-high 56 yards against North Texas. The five catches tied a career-high for the tight end, as he had five last season against Texas Tech in the season opener.
MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:
* Wyoming Cowboys in the NFL: Week 3
* Cowboys getting 'buried' in the middle eight
* Wyoming's Waylee plans to redshirt, play in four games this fall
* Wyoming Football: News and Notes Ahead of Air Force
* Tuck's Take: Winless Cowboys Suffering Identity Crisis
* Turning point, unsung hero and what's next for UW Football
* North Texas Thumps Sawvel's Cowboys, 44-17
* LIVE FILE: Wyoming Cowboys at North Texas Mean Green
* Rants and Raves: North Texas Edition
* Nanke: 'I got my opportunity and I'm going to take it'
Suiaunoa Passes 200 Tackles: Linebacker Shae Suiaunoa recorded nine tackles to lead the Cowboys at North Texas. He has now recorded 206 tackles in his career in 51 games for the Brown and Gold. He also has 12 tackles for loss in his career and has recorded 119 solo stops for UW.
Shay Settles in as Starter: Linebacker Connor Shay has settled into his role at linebacker for the Pokes. He recorded eight tackles for a career-high against North Texas. This season, Shay has recorded 25 tackles to rank third on the Cowboys. Him and Suiaunoa have combined for 52 stops this season.
Singleton Makes First Start: Nickelback Malique Singleton made his first-career start at North Texas for Wrook Brown, as he was suspended for targeting in the first half of the game against the Mean Green. Singleton, a native of Alaska, alongside linebacker Read Sunn, recorded a career-high four tackles in the contest.
Running Backs in Passing Game: The Cowboy running back duo of Sam Scott and DJ Jones combined for five catches for 72 yards against the Mean Green. Both had career-highs in the game with Scott recording 52 yards receiving and Jones adding 20 yards on a pair of catches including one for 11 yards on a third-down conversion.
Hoyland Adds to School Record: Kicker John Hoyland knocked in a 30-yard kick in the first quarter for the 61st of his career as he continues to build on his school record. He also added a pair of extra points. For his career, Hoyland has scored 311 points and is currently third at UW in career scoring.
Rk. Player, Position Years TDs Points Goals Points
- Cooper Rothe, pk 2016-19 0 165 59 342
- Sean Fleming, pk 1988-91 0 153 57 324
- John Hoyland, pk 2020-Pres. 0 128 61 311
Home Stretch: The Cowboys return home for homecoming on Saturday against Air Force. The Pokes will remain in Laramie for a while now with the next road action at San Jose State on Oct. 19. UW will enjoy a bye week after the Falcons before returning to action against San Diego State in Laramie on Oct. 12.
Bertagnole and Tackles for Loss: Defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole is moving up the tackles for loss list at UW. He has 24 in his career with the Brown and Gold.
- 39.0 Eddie Yarbrough 2012-15
- 36.0 John Fletcher 2005-09
- 35.5 Carl Granderson, 2015-2018
- 35.0 Logan Wilson, 2016-19
- 31.0 Josh Biezuns 2008-11
- 26.5 Zach Morris 2001-04
- 25.5 Cole Godbout 2019-23
- 25.0 Andrew Wingard, 2015-2018
- 24.0 Ward Dobbs 2005-08
24.0 Jordan Bertagnole, 2020-Pres.
About Air Force: The Falcons (1-2 overall, 0-1 Mountain West) are coming off an open date after losing back-to-back games to San Jose State (17-7) and Baylor (31-3).
Air Force opened the season with a 17-7 victory over FCS Merrimack.
Defensively, the Falcons rank 40th in the FBS in points allowed (18.0 ppg) and 61st in yards allowed (335.7 ypg). Air Force is averaging 167.3 yards rushing (64th), 50 yards passing (134th) and 10.3 points (132nd) through three games.
Cade Harris, a senior wide receiver, leads the team in rushing with 132 yards and three touchdowns. Junior quarterback John Busha, a 6-2 junior, is 13-for-39 (33.3%) passing for 125 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
"They had a week off to prepare for us," Jay Sawvel said Monday during his weekly press conference. "So, that's always a challenge, too, especially when you defend their offense, because there's always going to be some wrinkles that you got to deal with through the course of the game. So, it's a game that you have to be on top of it, from a coaching standpoint. We're going to have to play really well."
In Sawvel's first meeting with the Falcons back in 2021, the then-defensive coordinator put together a game plan that limited the home team to just 211 yards on the ground on 64 attempts. That's an average of just 3.3 yards per carry. Wyoming fared even better the following season, holding Air Force to 171 rushing yards in a 17-14 victory in Laramie.
Calhoun's Falcons flexed last fall, rolling up 356 yards on the ground. They averaged 6.7 per attempt. A 58-yard touchdown jaunt, courtesy of John Lee Eldridge III, certainly helped.
Where the Cowboys have surprisingly struggled against their Front Range rivals, is in the passing game.
Haaziq Daniels connected on 7-of-10 throws for 110 yards in the '21 win. The dagger came in the form of a 13-yard touchdown toss to Micah Davis. Daniels threw two more scoring strikes inside War Memorial Stadium the following season, including a 41-yard pitch and catch to Cade Harris from 41 yards out. That gave the visitors a brief 14-10 lead early in the fourth.
Zac Larrier also threw a touchdown pass in last season's meeting. That helped erase a 14-0 deficit and the Falcons held on for the 34-27 victory.
The Cowboys will be playing Saturday without both starting safeties, Wyett Ekeler (thumbs) and Isaac White (foot). Wrook Brown, who typically starts at the nickel spot, will move to free safety. Malique Singleton, who made his first-career start last Saturday at North Texas, will fill in for Brown. Despite also suffering a broken thumb, Cheyenne product Andrew Johnson will start at strong safety.
Is this a good week to be inexperienced on the back end?
While the Falcons won't spread you out, Sawvel said he isn't about to call this a "blessing."
"It's a constant eye-fest in the fact that your eyes better be in the right spot or they could pop a pass on you," Wyoming's rookie head coach said. "And part of it is, too, you have to play very well in the pass game. And people go, 'What do you mean? Air Force?' What happens is, so much of it is because you have to do certain things in the run and have all these things accounted for, It leaves you in a lot of one on ones.
"... There's a lot of chapters to their book. You know, it makes it challenging when you can go into one phase of it and then all of a sudden maybe they'll rip that page out and go to something else. They did that a little bit on us last year."
The Falcons lost their top-three leading rushers from a season ago, including Larrier under center. Back-up signal caller Jensen Jones is also gone, along with nearly the entire starting offensive line. Leading receiver Jared Roznos, who caught 12 passes for 374 yards and three touchdowns, is currently injured. His status for Saturday is unknown.
The top-six tacklers from 2023 are also no longer on the roster, including Trey Taylor, who claimed the Jim Thorpe Award last fall, given to the best safety in the FBS.
Twenty-four players have made their first collegiate start in Air Force's first three games, according to the The Colorado Springs Gazette.
Air Force leads the all-time series with Wyoming 31-27-3, including a 34-27 victory in last year’s MW opener at the Academy. The Falcons have lost their last four games at War Memorial Stadium and are seeking their first victory in Laramie since a 28-27 win in 2012.
Meet the Falcons:
* Head coach: Troy Calhoun (18th year) 131-84 overall record, 77-55 in Mountain West play
* Offensive coordinator: Mike Thiessen (18th season); Defensive coordinator: Brian Knorr (3rd season)
* Record in 2023: 9-4 overall, 5-3 in Mountain West Conference
* Offense in 2024: Average 10.3 ppg, 217.3 ypg (167.3 rush, 50 pass)
* Defense in 2024: Allow 18 ppg, 335.7 ypg (131.3 rush, 204.3 pass)
* Key Returners/ Newcomers - Offense: John Busha (QB - 13-39, 125 yds, 2 INT; 38 rush, 98 yds), Cade Harris (RB/WR - 21 rush, 132 yds, 3 TD; 3 catch, 13 yds), Owen Allen (RB - 23 rush, 84 yds), Roman Bradley (FB - 21 rush, 56 yds), Aiden Calvert (RB - 15 rush, 37 yds, TD), Quin Smith (WR - 4 catch, 48 yds), Tre Roberson (TE - 2 catch, 26 yds)
* Key Returners - Defense: Osaro Aihie (LB - 16 tackles, FR), Grant Uyl (LB - 16 tackles, 2 FF, FR), Luke Fisher (LB - 11 tackles, FR), David Santiago (LB - 10 tackles, 2 PBU, FF), Jamari Bellamy (DB - 10 tackles), Trey Williams (DB - 10 tackles), Payton Zdrolik (DL - 8 tackles, 3 sacks, FF), Jerome Gaillard Jr. (DB - 4 tackles, INT, FF)
* Injured/ questionable: Kade Frew (RB - 2 rush, 4 yds), Terrence Gist (FB - 10 rush, 29 yds), Dylan Carson (RB - 7 rush, 14 yds, TD; 4 catch, 7 yds)
University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
Gallery Credit: 7220Sports.com
- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players
More From 7220 Sports
