Turning point, unsung hero and what’s next for UW football

TURNING POINT:
Craig Bohl said the turning point of this game is just the fact that the Cowboys forced a defensive stop in the first quarter. Just one. As true as that statement is, it was a punishing hit delivered by Esaias Gandy, the fumble caused by Josiah Hall and the subsequent scoop and score that turned this one around. Wyoming wasn't just on its heels in the entire first 15 minutes, it was flat outclassed in every aspect of the game. Missouri racked up 144 yards of total offense on 26 plays and built a 14-0 lead on its first two possessions. It was having an awfully familiar feel to it. Kind of like the game we saw in Columbia last season when the Tigers took 91 snaps, rolled to 601 yards of offense and converted 14-of-20 third-down opportunities. Tonight, Mizzou was 3-of-5 on third and executed its only fourth-down attempt. That hit, a devastating form tackle just like your junior high coach taught you, was the spark that lit the home team and the 26,000-plus in attendance at War Memorial Stadium. Wyoming went on to score on its next drive thanks to a 61-yard outburst from sophomore running back, Xazavian Valladay. On the next possession, Sean Chambers raced 75 yards for another score to put the Pokes up for good.
FINAL: Wyoming 37, Missouri 31

READ MORE HERE:
3 quick takes: Wyoming stuns Tigers
Pokes earn their stripes
Spirit spotlight
'We're ready to go'

UNSUNG HERO:
Here's a name you don't hear very often -- and for good reason -- he's Logan Wilson's backup.

Sophomore linebacker Chad Muma brought his lunch pail to the yard Saturday night. The 6-foot, 3-inch, 220-pound Lone Tree, Colo., product tallied 10 tackles against Mizzou. Five came the solo way. The other five were helpers.

With Mizzou threatening late in the fourth, Muma laid out a Tiger running back. You could hear it from the press box.

You think this game meant something to this Cowboy? His father, Ty Muma, lettered for the Pokes in 1990 and '91. Yeah, it meant a lot.

Muma was a special teams guy last season. He registered just two tackles in 12 games. He almost did that tonight.

QUOTABLE:
"It feels great. It's crazy in there. Everyone is jumping around and throwing water bottles. I couldn’t get my hair wet though. It's electric in there. It's good to see those guys smiling and laughing. We get to enjoy it for the next 24 hours and then it's back to work next week."

-- UW sophomore running back, Xazavian Valladay, on the post-game celebration in the winning locker room.

WHAT'S NEXT:
Wyoming will travel to San Marcos, Texas, to tangle with the Texas State Bobcats next Saturday. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m. MST and will be televised on ESPN-plus. The Bobcats, under new head coach, Jake Spavital, took a 41-7 beat down in College Station in week one. The Aggies did whatever they wanted. Texas State didn't. The Bobcats only amassed eight rushing yards, and the two-quarterback combo of Gresch Jensen and Tyler Vitt threw for just 211 yards and four interceptions.