The Wyoming Cowboys football team concluded its 2021 season with its biggest offensive performance, piling up the points on Tuesday in a 52-38 win over Kent State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise.

It was Wyoming’s third consecutive bowl victory, having also won the 2019 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl and the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. 

“What a great experience for our players,” said Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl, adding, “We played well and accepted the challenge.”

Bohl praised the efforts of his seniors while adding that, “the future is bright for Cowboy football.”

Wyoming’s offensive attack was led by quarterback Levi Williams, who scored four rushing touchdowns and threw for a fifth. He rushed for an even 200 yards and completed 9-of-11 passes for 127 yards and no interceptions. Williams was named the MVP of the game.

Running back Xazavaian Valladay became only the fourth Wyoming Cowboy in the 125-year history of Cowboy Football to record two 1,000-yard rushing seasons.  His 87 rushing yards against Kent State gave him 1,071 rushing yards this season; he rushed for 1,265 yards in the 2019 season. Valladay also added a 3-yard TD run in the win over Kent State.

The Pokes’ other two touchdowns were scored by wide receiver Isaiah Neyor, who caught a 42-yard  TD pass from Williams, and by running back Trey Smith, who scored on a 49-yard touchdown run for his first of the 2021 season. Neyor led the Cowboys in receiving, catching five passes for 87 yards. Wyoming’s remaining points were scored by place-kicker John Hoyland, who kicked a career long field goal of 44 yards.

Cowboy linebacker Chad Muma recorded his 11th double-figure tackle game of the 2021 season, with 13 against the Golden Flashes, including a half sack.  That improved his season total to 142 tackles, which ranks as the fourth best single-season total in Wyoming school history.

Other Cowboy defenders who had excellent days in the win over Kent State were linebacker Easton Gibbs, with 11 tackles, and nose tackle Cole Godbout, who was credited with a career best 10 tackles and one sack.

Wyoming’s defense took the field first for the Cowboys and stopped Kent State on a fourth-and-6 from the Wyoming 33-yard line, when UW cornerback C.J. Coldon broke up a pass attempt.

The Cowboys then marched down the field, with Williams concluding a 67-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to give Wyoming a 7-0 lead. 

Kent State responded immediately, when quarterback Dustin Crum connected with wide receiver Dante Cephas for 80 yards to tie the game. After forcing a three-and-out from Wyoming, the Golden Flashes moved the ball 71 yards in 11 plays capped off by a 12-yard TD run by Crum. Following another three-and-out for the Pokes, Kent State got a 36-yard field goal to take a 17-7 lead with 12:21 remaining in the first half.

But UW’s Williams took over on the next Cowboy possession. He would explode down the right sideline on a 50-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown to make it 17-14.

 The Cowboy defense came up with a big stop on the next Kent State offensive series, followed by a 42-yard TD pass from Williams to Neyor. Wyoming retook a 21-17 lead with only 1:42 remaining in the half, but Crum quickly led the Golden Flashes down the field for another touchdown to make it 24-21 at halftime.

The third quarter was all Wyoming’s. The Pokes scored two touchdowns while holding the Golden Flashes scoreless.  UW’s touchdowns came on a 27-yard TD run by Williams and a 3-yard touchdown run by Valladay to give the Cowboys a 35-24 lead. Early in the fourth period, the Pokes got a huge momentum swing. Kent State missed a 29-yard field goal to turn the ball over, then Williams immediately broke loose down the sideline for 80 yards and a touchdown. That built Wyoming’s lead to 42-24.

Kent State quickly answered, but UW place-kicker John Hoyland added a career long 44-yard field goal and running back Smith broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run. That put the Pokes up 52-31 with only 3:11 remaining. Kent State immediately responded when Crum found wide receiver Devontez Walker on a 73-yard TD catch and run, but that was as close as the Golden Flashes would get. 

The 52-38 win improved Wyoming’s record to 7-6 — the fourth time in the past six seasons that the Cowboys have posted a winning record and earned a bowl bid. Kent State fell to 7-7.  

Bohl became the first head coach in Wyoming football history to take four Cowboy teams to bowl games and holds the team record with three bowl wins.