Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith returned from injury and led the Wyoming Cowboys (1-3) to a 40-37 overtime victory against the Idaho Vandals (0-4) by throwing five touchdown passes. He threw the game-winning score on Wyoming's first play during overtime, a 25-yard strike to Jalen Claiborne.
The Vandals sent the game to overtime when quarterback Dominique Blackman found Mike Scott for a nine-yard touchdown pass. Trey Farquhar kicked the extra point to tie the game at 34. He then added a 49-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime to temporarily put the Cowboys in a 37-34 lead.
Earlier in the third quarter, Wyoming kicker Stuart Williams missed an extra point attempt, which, if made, could have led the Cowboys to a victory in regulations even if things still played out as they actually did. Instead, the miss allowed this game to remain in the balance. Idaho took a 27-20 lead on a Blackman 19-yard touchdown pass, but Brett Smith threw two touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to potentially give Wyoming the victory.
Well, that was until Blackman threw that touchdown pass as time expired.
Smith finished the game 25-of-35 for 365 yards, including a 73-yard pass that went for one of his five touchdowns. In the losing effort, Blackman completed 35 of 47 passes for 309 yards and three touchdowns.
Wyoming takes next weekend off before playing Nevada on the road on Oct. 6. Idaho takes to the road next week for a non-conference game against North Carolina.
For more on Cowboys football, visit Wyoming blog Cowboy Altitude, plus MWC blog Mountain West Connection.