App State Dominates on Defense But Drops Road Game at Wyoming, 22-19

Despite a valiant defensive effort, the Appalachian State Mountaineers fell short against the Wyoming Cowboys, 22-19, on Saturday night in Laramie. A late field goal attempt that would have put the game out of reach for the Mountaineers was instead blocked and returned for a Wyoming touchdown that ended up being the winning margin in the game. App State drove again to the Wyoming twenty-yard-line, but a Wyoming interception sealed the deal and handed the Mountaineers their second road loss on the season.

App State kicker Michael Hughes accounted for all of App State's offensive points
Photo Credit: David Katzenmaier
App State Athletics

Defensively, the App State squad held Wyoming at bay for most of the evening. Wyoming’s lone first-half points were the result of a short field, and the Cowboys scored on one long run early in the fourth quarter. The fourth-quarter run alone accounted for thirty-six percent of Wyoming’s total offense in the game. Wyoming’s quarterback was held to only five completed passes for thirty-one yards.

App State did everything a team needs to do to win except getting the ball in the end zone. Although the Mountaineers outgained the Cowboys 417-208, controlled the time of possession 40:25 to 19:35, and even ran ninety plays to the Cowboys’ 42, App State’s offense never scored a touchdown in the game and was forced to settle for four Michael Hughes field goals. App State’s lone touchdown on the evening was scored by the defense on a pick-six by Tyrek Funderburk.

Nate Noel rushed for 109 yards to lead the Mountaineers on offense. Andrew Parker, Jr. and Nate Johnson each recorded a sack for the App State defense.