Tucson, Ariz. (Dec. 30, 2023) -- It was a storybook ending for the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday as they sent retiring head coach Craig Bohl out with a dramatic 16-15 walk-off victory in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. Cowboy place-kicker John Hoyland made a 24-yard field goal as time expired to give the Pokes their ninth win of the season. Wyoming quarterback Andrew Peasley was forced to leave the field on numerous occasions during the game following big hits, but fought through to return and lead the Cowboy offense, while the Wyoming defense came up with big stop after big stop to keep the Pokes in the game.
The Cowboys finished the season with a 9-4 record. It was Wyoming’s first nine-win season since 1996 when UW posted a 10-2 season. It was also the fourth season of eight or more wins during the Craig Bohl era and the sixth winning season during Bohl’s 10-year tenure as Cowboy head coach. The bowl victory marks the fourth for the Pokes under the direction of Bohl, who announced his retirement back on Dec. 6.
Hoyland was named the game’s MVP, making all three of his field-goal attempts on the day from 34 yards, 52 yards and the game-winner from 24 yards out.
Like all of Wyoming’s nine victories this season, it was a total team effort by the Cowboys. Peasley was outstanding on the day, completing 20 of 25 passes (80.0 percent) for 168 yards to nine different receivers. He also rushed for 16 yards on nine carries for 184 yards of total offense. When Peasley was unable to return during Wyoming’s final drive of the game due to what Peasley himself described as an oblique injury, back-up QB Evan Svoboda came in to help finish off the game-winning drive. Svoboda completed 1 of 2 passes (50.0 percent) in the game for 16 yards and carried the ball five times for 26 yards, including Wyoming’s lone touchdown of the game midway through the fourth quarter to pull the Pokes to within two points at 13-15. Running back Harrison Waylee was a workhorse, carrying the ball 18 times for 91 yards. Wide receiver Wyatt Wieland caught a team high five passes for 55 yards. Tight ends John Michael Gyllenborg and Treyton Welch added four catches each. Gyllenborg accounted for 44 receiving yards and Welch had 22. Wide receiver Ayir Asante also had a big catch of 26 yards to start the final game-winning drive for the Cowboys.
Defensively, the Pokes had 20 different defenders make at least one tackle in the game, led by linebacker Shae Suiaunoa, who finished with five tackles and one quarterback hurry. Linebacker Easton Gibbs made three tackles and broke up one pass. Defensive tackle Jordan Bertagnole was credited with three tackles and one quarterback hurry, and nose tackle Cole Godbout also made three tackles. Strong safety Isaac White came up with the lone turnover in the game on an interception on the Wyoming two-yard line in the first quarter to end a Toledo scoring drive. Defensive ends Sabastian Harsh and Tyce Westland each came up with one key tackle for loss in the game. Westland also added a pass break-up as did defensive end DeVonne Harris, and defensive backs Wrook Brown, Tyrecus Davis and Wyett Ekeler were each credited with a pass break-up.
Wyoming accounted for 354 yards of total offense, while Toledo finished with 328 total yards. The Cowboys out gained the Rockets on the ground with 170 rushing yards to Toledo’s 144. Each team finished with the exact same passing yard total of 184 yards.
Bohl steps away from Wyoming Football after one of the most sustained periods of success in program history, including: more bowl victories (4) and more bowl appearances (6) than any coach in school history; six winning seasons -- second most of any Wyoming coach; and more NFL players developed than at any time in program history.
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