Team, coach rally around Rothe

BOISE, Idaho -- Boise State players stormed the field.

Cooper Rothe looked on in disbelief.

Teammates consoled him.

The life of a kicker isn't one for the faint of heart. That was on display Saturday night in Boise as Rothe's 37-yard field goal attempt went wide right in overtime, giving the No. 22 Broncos the 20-17 overtime victory.

“I feel for Cooper," Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl said post game. "He is a guy who takes ownership of what he does. I know he’s disappointed, but we need to support this football team, lick our wounds and get ready to play another game."

Rothe, a senior from Longmont, Colo., was considered one of the top kickers in the nation coming into his final season in Laramie. Last season he nailed 16-of-17 attempts. Rothe was a perfect 28-for-28 on extra-point attempts. He was named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award. He was also dubbed Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year before the season.

This season hasn't gone to plan.

Rothe is now 10-of-15 on the season. He has missed three point-after attempts. Most of his miscues have sailed wide left. Rothe said earlier this season he was still getting used to added weight he gained in the offseason.

Bohl, who is Rothe's personal kicking coach, pointed to a dip in the turf at War Memorial Stadium as being an issue. He has also all put called out snapper, Jesse Hooper, and holder Nick Szpor, saying "a kick takes three."

Wyoming linebacker Logan Wilson knows this feeling all-too well. He was a kicker in high school. He missed the biggest kick of his career.

"I lost the state championship my junior year on one," he said. "It's tough it sucks."

Natrona County fell to Cheyenne East 14-13 as Wilson's 36-yard attempt sailed wide left.

He knows it's a lonely feeling.

"He needs to know that he did not lose the game for us," Wilson said of Rothe. "We lost the game as a team. He needs to know that. Not one play wins or loses a game. I think he knows that, but ill make sure he does. It's tough. You never want to lose a game as a kicker."

Wilson said he was caught up in the moment after the game and never made it over to talk to Rothe. That will come later.

"Not yet, but I will," he said. "I'll make sure and talk to him. That game is not lost because of him."