Wyoming’s 400th Game at War Memorial Ends in Loss to Idaho Vandals

Pokes face BYU Next Saturday

LARAMIE, Wyo. (Sept. 7, 2024) – The Wyoming Cowboys (0-2 Overall) dropped a 17-13 contest to Idaho (1-1 overall) in the home opener inside War Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon in Laramie. It marked the first sell-out in War Memorial Stadium since the Pokes hosted Nebraska in 2011, with 25,070 fans entering the stadium.

Wyoming’s defense held the Vandals in check in the second half, allowing only 80 yards of total offense, as UW held the Vandals to 225 yards for the game. Wyoming recorded 270 yards of total offense, with 144 yards on the ground and 126 through the air. The Cowboys held Idaho to 1-of-13 on third down but were hindered by nine penalties in the contest.

The Pokes got off to an early lead with a field goal from John Hoyland, who tied the school record of Cooper Rothe with the 59th of his career and later took a 10-7 lead on a touchdown pass from Evan Svoboda to Devin Boddie Jr. But the Vandals added 10 points in the second quarter and held the Cowboys to three points, as Hoyland hit the school record, the Vandals taking the win 17-13.

The contest marked the 400th game in War Memorial Stadium history with the Cowboys remain home next Saturday to take on BYU at 7 p.m. in a Stripe Out.

TEAM NOTES

•The Cowboys played their 400th game in War Memorial Stadium. Wyoming is 261-132-7 inside The War.

•The Cowboys and Idaho met for the ninth time on Saturday.

•The Cowboys move to 7-2 all-time against the Vandals in a series that dates back over 100 years.

•The contest featured 25,070 fans for the first Sell Out since Wyoming hosted Nebraska in 2011.

•The Cowboys move to 52-12-1 all-time in non-conference home openers.

OFFENSIVE NOTES

•Wide receiver Devin Boddie, Jr. hauled in a 20-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter for his first as a Cowboy. It was his first since scoring against Stanford at Vanderbilt during the 2021 season on Sept. 18. He finished the game with two catches for 34 yards.

•Quarterback Evan Svoboda threw the first touchdown pass of his career in the first quarter. He threw for 124 yards in the contest.

•Svoboda rushed for a career-high 45 yards in the contest.

•Running back DJ Jones rushed for 80. His previous career high came against Georgia State, rushing for 61 yards on Sept. 10, 2022, while at North Carolina.

•Jones also tied a career-high with 17 rushing attempts for the game.

•Wide receiver Justin Stevenson recorded a 16-yard rush for the longest of his career.

•Running back Jamari Ferrell recorded a career-high two catches.

DEFENSIVE NOTES

•Safety Andrew Johnson started his first career on Saturday. He finished the game with five tackles on the night.

•Linebacker Shae Suiaunoa recorded ten tackles for the Cowboys and has recorded double-digit tackles four times in his career.

•Suiaunoa also tied a career-high with 1.5 tackles for loss.

•Cornerback Keany Parks recorded a career-high five tackles in the contest.

•Wyoming recorded nine tackles for loss in the game, with Sabastian Harsh tying a career-high with two and a half in the contest.

•Nose tackle Ben Florentine recorded a career-high four tackles. He also recorded a career-high two tackles for loss in the contest.

SPECIAL NOTES

•Cowboy kicker John Hoyland connected on a 48-yard field goal on the opening drive, tying Cooper Rothe for the school record of 59 field goals.

•Hoyland later connected on a 22-yard field goal for the 60th field goal of his career, leaving him alone atop the all-time field goal leaders at Wyoming.

•Punter Jack Culbreath punted the ball five times, averaging 39.3 per punt, with three inside the 20-yard line.

*UW Press Release