The Cowboys make a tackle during a pre-conference game against the Cal Poly Mustangs. This Cowboys face the Nevada Wolf Pack at 5 p.m. Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.
The Wyoming Cowboys kick off their conference season against the Nevada Wolf Pack this Saturday at War Memorial Stadium. It will be the 14th game played in the Mountain West this season.
Wyoming enters the game with a 1-3 overall record while the Wolf Pack is 4-1 overall and 1-0 in the Mountain West this season. All MW schools, except UW, have already played at least one conference game this season.
The Cowboys are coming off their only bye week of the 2012 season. The week prior to its bye, UW took their first victory of 2012 by defeating Idaho 40-37 in overtime in Moscow, Idaho.
According to Wyoming Athletics, this week’s Mountain West opener with first-year conference member Nevada will mark the third time in the 14 seasons of the conference that the Cowboys have opened Mountain West play against a team from the state of Nevada. The other two MW openers vs. teams from the state of Nevada were against the UNLV Rebels, including a 41-14 Cowboy win last season. Cowboy head coach Dave Christensen is 2-1 in his three previous conference openers. Wyoming has won five of its last eight MW openers.
Wyoming and Nevada will be meeting for the fifth time in the two schools’ histories. The series is tied at 2-2. This week’s meeting will be the first time that Wyoming and Nevada have played each other as conference foes.
Reports from the Athletics Department state that some of the most dynamic offensive performers in the nation will be on display when the Wyoming Cowboys and Nevada Wolf Pack play on Saturday. Cowboy quarterback Brett Smith leads the MW and ranks in the Top 10 in the NCAA in passing yards, total offense and passing efficiency. Nevada running back Stefphon Jefferson ranks No. 1 in the nation in rushing offense.
On defense, three Cowboy seniors rank among the top individuals in the nation in tackles this season, according to reports from the MW. Linebacker Korey Jones ranks No. 1 in the Mountain West and No. 34 in the nation in tackles this season. Defensive tackle Mike Purcell ranks No. 3 in the MW and No. 57 in the NCAA, and free safety Luke Ruff ranks No. 8 in the MW and No. 88 in the nation.
Wyoming player Blair Burns was named First Team Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America in 2011. In 2012, he has continued to distinguish himself as one of the top defensive backs and punt returners in the MW and in the nation. Burns has broken up 6.0 passes this season, two each against Texas, Toledo and Cal Poly ranking him No. 3 in the MW and tied for No. 22 in the nation in passes defended. He is averaging 12.6 yards per punt return this season, ranking him No. 2 in the MW and No. 29 in the NCAA.
The Cowboy Sports Network will broadcast Saturday’s game live over its 25 affiliate stations, beginning with the pregame show at 4 p.m. Saturday’s Wyoming-Nevada game will kick off at 5 p.m.
