Cowboys Earn Bowl Eligibility with 31-10 Win over New Mexico

Brett Smith ran for two touchdowns and threw for another, as the Wyoming Cowboys picked up their all-important seventh win of the season with a 31-10 victory over the New Mexico Lobos Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.  Smith accounted for 352 yards of total offense and set a new Mountain West Conference record for most total yards by a Freshman in a season.

Smith ran for a career-high 140 yards and had touchdown runs of 10 and 69 yards in the fourth quarter for his first career 100-yard rushing day.  He also went 23-of-38 passing for 212 yards and one touchdown.  He surpassed the MW Freshman record for Total Offense in a season held by former TCU QB Andy Dalton of 2691 yards in 2007.

The win got the Wyoming Cowboys (7-3,4-1) eligible for a post-season bowl game in 2011.  UW needed seven wins instead of six because they played two FCS teams to begin the season.

Smith's 26 yard scoring pass to Brandon Miller gave the Cowboys a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

New Mexico (1-10, 1-5) answered the Wyoming score with a James Aho 29-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter.  The Lobos took their only lead with 1:41 to play in the first half on B.R. Holbrook's five-yard scoring run, which put them up 10-7.

The Pokes answered with a quick nine-play drive capped off by Alvester Alexander's 3-yard touchdown run with 25 seconds left in the half for a 14-10 lead at the break.  For Alexander, it was his 26th career rushing touchdown, which moved him into a tie for third place with Kevin Lowe and Walt Goffigan on the UW All-time Career Rushing Touchdown list.

Wyoming added a 34 yard field goal by Daniel Sullivan in the third quarter, before Smith scored twice on the ground in the fourth to seal the win.

UW out-gained New Mexico 462-296 in total offense thanks to a balanced attack that featured 250 yards on the ground and 212 through the air.

Alexander finished with 93 yards on 16 carries.  Mazi Ogbonna, Brandon Miller and Dominic Rufran each caught six passes in the game to lead the receivers.  Ogbonna finished with 78 yards, while Miller had 77.

Tashaun Gipson led the Wyoming defense with ten total tackles, an interception and two pass break-ups.  Korey Jones added eight tackles.

B.R. Holbrook threw for 162 yards with an interception and ran for 48 yards and a touchdown in the loss.  Carmen Messina led the Lobos defense with 11 tackles, two of which were for loss.

The Cowboys return to action at #10 Boise State next Saturday.  Kick-off on the "Blue Turf" is set for Noon, Mountain time.  You can listen to Cowboy football on KOWB (Am 1290) with coverage starting next Saturday at 11 am.