Zach’s Running Blog: Lobos vs. WYO 11/2/24

by Zach

The Lobos (3-5, 2-2) return home after spending the last couple of weeks on the road (a win at USU, and a loss at CSU), to face the Wyoming Cowboys (1-7, 1-3). The Lobos are still fighting for a Bowl Game in year 1 of the Bronco Mendenhall Era, and a win today against Wyoming will go a long way in making that possible. The Lobos will look to finish drives after struggling in big plays against CSU, as they only scored 6 points in the loss to the Rams. Dampier and Co. look to get the offense going early and often against this Wyoming defense. I will be updating this during the game so tag along for the ride today.

Injury news: Looks like Luke Wysong will be full go, as well as Caleb Medford.

Beautiful November afternoon day at University Stadium. We’ll see how well the Student Section shows up.

Wyoming wins the toss and defers. Lobos will get the ball to start the day.

  • Touchback on the kickoff, the Lobos will start their day at the 25. Dampier to Ryan Davis to start the day for 17-yards. Dampier find Buckler for 8 yards on 2nd and 10. Sanders breaks one for 24-yards. Another strong run for Sanders for the first down. Dampier to Davis for the score. Lobos attempt the 2-point conversion, but WYO gets the stop. 12:33 1Q: Lobos 6 WYO 0.
  • WYO will start their day at the 25. After a first down play to start the drive the WYO offense has a 3rd and 12 after a false start. Huge pass play for WYO as they hit on a 47-yard pass play. The Lobos jumping offsides for the free play didn’t help on that pass play, which allowed WYO to take that shot downfield. WYO with the TD. 8:41 1Q: WYO 7 Lobos 6.
  • Lobos will start the drive at the 25. Dampier finds Davis against for a first down. Sanders is running with purpose early in this game. Broken play and Dampier makes the most of it with a scramble for the first down. Another broken play and another Dampier scramble for a first down. Sander with a 34-yard TOUCHDOWN run.  5:56 1Q: Lobos 13 WYO 7. Sanders already has 78 yards on 5 carries and a TD.
  • Great return by WYO on the kickoff. WYO will start their drive at the Lobos 45. Lobos get the stop on 3rd and 3. Looks like WYO will be going for it. WYO picks up the first down. WYO is thankful for the stickem gloves on the first catch on 3rd down. WYO scores their second TD of the game on a pass play on 4th and 2. 2:02 1Q: WYO 14 Lobos 13.
  • Lobos will start their next drive at the 25. First empty drive of the game will result in a Lobo punt.
  • Awful punt will put the ball at the 30 for WYO. WYO goes for a shot on 2nd down and 6, but the Lobos get a PBU. WYO will have a 3rd and 6. Another huge play for WYO on 3rd and 6 for a first down.
  • End of the first quarter: WYO 14 Lobos 13. WYO will have a first and goal from the 7. WYO with a TD. 14:55 2Q: WYO 21 Lobos 13. WYO is 3 of 5 on 3rd downs, and 2-2 on 4th downs. Lobos need to find a way to get off the field.
  • Great drive by the Lobos. Dampier finds Davis for a few big gains. Dampier with the keeper for the score! What a finish by Bruckler for the 2-point conversion! 11:22 2Q: Lobos 21 WYO 21.
  • WYO hits on a 68-yard pass play for the score. 9:54 2Q: WYO 28 Lobos 21.
  • Unwise decision to return that kickoff. The Lobos drive will start at the 16. Lobos with a couple of penalties setting the drive back, WYO forces a punt that just gets into the end zone.
  • Bad snap by WYO sets them back at the 4. Lobos are able to force the punt. Punt hits a Lobo blocker but the Lobos are able to recover.
  • Dampier breaks one for 40 yards for the score. 5:20 2Q: Lobos 28 WYO 28.
  • WYO will start this big drive at the 25. No resistance from the Lobos defense. WYO retakes the lead. 1:57 2Q: WYO 35 Lobos 28.
  • Lobos have to score on this drive. Sanders breaks it for 75 yards. Sanders has 168 yards on 11 carries and 2 scores. 1:36 2Q: Lobos 35 WYO 35.
  • Halftime: Lobos 35 WYO 35. WYO will get the ball to start the 3rd Q. 383 yards of offense for the Lobos, WYO with 334 yards of offense. We’ll be in for a wild and crazy 2nd half.
  • This first half was very similar to the game against UNLV in 2013. That game was tied at 35-35 at halftime. UNLV ended up winning that game 56-42.
  • WYO is able to move the ball down the field, thanks to a 15-yard penalty on the Lobos. But the Lobos defense makes the stop on 3rd and 4th down to get the ball back.
  • Lobos start their drive at the 37. Lobos just miss on a big pass play. Dampier makes up for with a first down run. Sanders with a 35 yard rush to go over 200 yards on the day. Lobos have to settle for a field goal after a drop on 3rd down. 9:29 3Q: Lobos 38 WYO 35.
  • Lobos get their second straight stop on defense.
  • Lobos will start their drive at the 19. Dampier to Medford for the first down. Dampier with a nice juke to pick up 8 yards. Lobos will have a 3rd and 1 from the 40.
  • Lobos had to punt. WYO will start at the 10. WYO with a 3rd and 5. They are able to pick up the first down. What a play by Avinger with the pick!
  • Dampier breaks it for 85 yards for the score! That puts Dampier at 193 rushing yards. :40 3Q: Lobos 45 WYO 35.
  • WYO gets into field goal range, but they miss the FG. Lobos defense has stepped up in a big way in the second half. Holding WYO to turnover on downs, punt, INT, and a missed FG.
  • The Lobos will start their drive at the 23. WYO with a pick 6 on the first play of the drive. 12:55 4Q: Lobos 45 WYO 42.
  • Nothing doing for the Lobos on that drive. They have to punt, and WYO will take over at the 12.
  • Lobos get WYO to a 3rd and 6, but a great catch give WYO the first down. WYO with another big pass play to set them up at the 19. 8:05 4Q: Lobos 45 WYO 42. Lobos need the stop on 3rd and 6. WYO picks up the first down. Delay of game before first down, makes it 1st and goal from the 13. OPI on WYO makes it 2nd and goal from the 27. WYO with a TD to take the lead back. 4:44 4Q: WYO 49 Lobos 45.
  • DPI to start the drive. The Lobos will have the ball at the 40. Welp, that strip-sack will likely do it for the Lobos.