Wyoming holds off TCU 24-21
LARAMIE, Wyo. -- The Cowboys have now beaten every team in the Mountain West Conference, including TCU, at one time or another.
To be guaranteed a conference title, they must do that in a single season. But Wyoming's coaches say it's in their sights following a 24-21 win over TCU on Saturday.
"We had to beat TCU," Coach Joe Glenn said. "We know we can get in the ring and touch gloves and hang. We've beaten everybody else. I think everyone else has beaten us, too. But this is one the kids wanted won, the coaches wanted."
Next up for Wyoming will be New Mexico in Laramie this weekend.
The Horned Frogs (3-3, 1-2 Mountain West Conference) nearly got away on Saturday, scoring two fourth-quarter touchdowns but failing to tie the game with a field goal as time ran out. The kick by Chris Manfredini hit an upright, preventing overtime.
"I've got the headline for tomorrow," Glenn said. "Boink.' How about that?"
It was the Cowboys' first win over TCU in the Frogs' three years in the conference.
"This team was picked to win the conference," Glenn said of TCU. "They came in here healthy. So I didn't think it was going to be that easy, honestly. You know, we were sitting there kind of falling asleep, 24-6, and then all of a sudden they made that last run."
Cowboys quarterback Karsten Sween wasn't particularly worried about an overtime game, though. He said if the game had gone into overtime, the Pokes (4-1, 1-0) would have dealt with it.
"We put it all together today through four quarters," he said. "I said, 'I don't care if it goes into overtime, we're going to win this game."
Devin Moore ran for 135 yards while Wynel Seldon added 100 yards rushing and a touchdown, following up performances of 198 yards and 92 yards, respectively, in a 34-33 win at Ohio.
TCU coach Gary Patterson credited the duo.
"I have not given up that kind of yardage to two running backs, ever," Patterson said.
Hoost Marsh led Wyoming with two touchdown catches. He totaled 87 yards receiving.
Marsh was wide open in the third quarter for an 8-yard catch and a 14-6 Wyoming lead. The touchdown ended a 47-yard drive that began when Cowboys cornerback Michael Medina picked off Andy Dalton.
"Luckily, I was just able to hold onto the ball," Medina said of the interception. "It was good to get a good read."
On the Wyoming's next possession, three pass interference calls against TCU helped move the Cowboys to the Frogs' 2-yard line. Seldon scored his 2-yard touchdown for a 21-6 Wyoming lead.
Billy Vinnedge kicked a 23-yard field goal for a 24-6 Cowboys lead in the fourth quarter.
But TCU fought back, scoring the final 15 points.
Dalton connected with Ervin Dickerson for a 27-yard play and the Frogs' first touchdown of the game. Dalton then threw to Donald Massey for a 2-point conversion and a score of 24-14.
On TCU's next possession, Bart Johnson caught a 5-yard pass for the final score.
Patterson started with Marcus Jackson at quarterback, but switched to Dalton in the second quarter. After Dalton was intercepted, he put Marcus Jackson back in, but Dalton finished out the game, including the final two touchdowns.
"We changed quarterbacks because we got put into a throwing game and we went with the kid that has the stronger arm," Patterson explained.
Marsh's first touchdown, a 65-yard reception, put Wyoming ahead 7-3 in the first quarter.
TCU came within 7-6 on a 32-yard Manfredini field goal at the end of the first half. Manfredini also kicked a 51-yarder, a career best, on the Frogs' first possession.
"This is a big win," Cowboys defensive coordinator Mike Breske said. "We talked with all of our kids this week, to be 8-0" in the conference this year.
It was the 300th football game played in War Memorial Stadium. Wyoming's record in the stadium is 203-90-7.
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