Wyoming Goes on a Duck Hunt [VIDEO]
The day that many Wyoming fans have talked about is finally here. The Cowboys take on the Oregon Ducks at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie.
Wyoming (1-1) is coming off a shutout victory in their last game against Gardner-Webb. It was their first shutout in seven years and has the Cowboy defense ranked among the top 20 in pass defense, total defense and scoring defense. The Pokes are No. 3 against the pass allowing 73.5 yards per game. They are No. 12 in total defense, giving up only 229 yards per game. UW is No. 19 in scoring defense, as they allow just 12 points per game.
Oregon (2-0) is high profile program out of the PAC-12 Conference. The Ducks have wins over Southern Utah (77-21) and Nebraska (42-35) at home. Today will be their first road game under first year head coach Willie Taggart. Oregon enters with a very potent offense that averages 59.5 points (No. 3 nationally) and 634.5 yards per game (No. 2 nationally). They possess a very balanced attack with 360 yards per game through the air (No. 13 nationally) and 274.5 yards per game on the ground (No. 16 nationally).
It will be strength versus strength.
The Cowboys’ offense got going last week behind junior QB Josh Allen’s 328 yards passing and two touchdown passes. Allen said in his weekly press conference back on Monday he’s looking forward to redeeming himself after struggling at Iowa two weeks ago.
One issue the Pokes have had is getting the ground game going. Redshirt sophomore Kellen Overstreet is one of four guys UW has used at running back this season. KOWB’s David Settle visited with Kellen about seeing improvement from game one to game two, why they’re struggling so far, looking ahead to facing Oregon and more.
Both Cowboys’ head coach Craig Bohl and QB Josh Allen discussed the need to make more plays offensively to have a chance versus the Ducks in their weekly press conference earlier in the week.
Today will be just the second meeting between the two schools. Oregon won the first three years ago in Eugene, OR, 48-14. This will be the Ducks first visit to Wyoming. It also marks the first visit by a PAC-12 team to Laramie since Oregon State came to the Gem City in 1993.
UW’s last win over a PAC-12 opponent was against UCLA in the 2004 Las Vegas Bowl. Their last victory over a Power Five team was at Tennessee in 2008, while the last time the Pokes beat a Power Five conference school at home was against Virginia at the start of the 2007 season.
Kick-off is at 5 p.m. in War Memorial Stadium. You can listen the game on KOWB radio (AM 1290) in Laramie, through KOWB’s stream or take the game mobile with the radioPup app. The game is being televised on CBS Sports Network.