Wyoming Cowboys Win a Wild, Triple OT Season Opener [VIDEOS]
After a lengthy weather delay, the 2016 season started with an amazing triple overtime victory for the Wyoming Cowboys over Northern Illinois, 40-34.
Wyoming (1-0) sophomore quarterback Josh Allen avoided three tacklers during a scramble and dove into the end zone for a 7-yard touchdown that concluded the win.
Third-year head coach Craig Bohl knew it was an unbelievable victory for his squad.
The game started one hour, 43 minutes late due to severe weather in Laramie. It lasted 4 hours, 14 minutes, the longest game in both programs history. Kick-off was at 10:20 p.m. and the final play was at 2:34 a.m. It’s also the latest game for both UW and NIU.
The Huskies missed a 38-yard field goal wide left to start the third overtime.
Both teams scored in the second OT. Brian Hill ran in from 5-yards, while NIU QB Drew Hare countered with a 1-yard TD.
In the first OT, the Huskies fumbled and Wyoming recovered, but the Pokes missed a game-winning field goal from 37-yards out. Freshman kicker Cooper Rothe also missed a 48-yarder at the end of regulation.
Northern Illinois (0-1) forced OT with 1:13 remaining. Hare found Shane Wimann for a 19-yard TD pass. That tied it at 27.
The Cowboy trailed 13-3 early in the second quarter, but rallied with 17 unanswered for a 20-13 lead. After NIU tied it, Allen found Jacob Hollister from 2-yards out for a 27-20 lead late in the third quarter.
Allen went 19-of-29 for 245 yards and two touchdowns. Hill added 125 yards rushing and a pair of scores. Andrew Wingard led the Wyoming defense with 9.5 tackles.
Allen and senior LB Lucas Wacha took us through the game-wining play; everything that was part of the game and how it show their character.
The Cowboys return to action at Nebraska next Saturday. Kick-off will be at 10 a.m., Mountain Time in Lincoln.