Wyoming stuns Boise State, upends Mountain West race

Cowboys break tie with late safety, upset No. 13 Broncos

LARAMIE, Wyo. — Wyoming defensive tackle Chase Appleby didn’t practice at all during the week in preparation for No. 13 Boise State because of a concussion he suffered in the previous game and then a bout of food poisoning.

But Appleby, who described himself as “dog sick” Thursday, highlighted a resurgent Wyoming program when he sacked Brett Rypien and forced a fumble that bounced out of the end zone for a safety with 1:25 left to give the Cowboys a 3028 upset over the Broncos on Saturday night.

“I tried to put a good hit on him, and I saw the ball fly out,” Appleby said. “I wanted to recover it for another score but we’ll take the safety.”

It was Wyoming’s first win over the Broncos in 11 games between the teams and the program’s first victory over a Top 25 opponent since beating No. 22 Air Force in 2002. Thousands of fans swarmed the field and the Cowboys’ players as the final seconds ticked off.

By climbing to 4-0 in the Mountain West Mountain Division, the Cowboys (6-2) are now favored to reach the conference championship game Dec. 3. Division foe Boise State dropped to 7-1, 3-1, and had its hopes dashed for a Top 10 ranking and eventual spot in College Football Playoff. The Broncos needed an unblemished record to do that.

Josh Allen completed 18 of 31 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns, and Brian Hill rushing for 146 yards for Wyoming.

Rypien completed 22 of 35 passes for 295 yards, and caught a 33-yard TD pass on a trick play for Boise State. Jeremey McNichols ran for 143 yards and two TDs, and Jake Hollister caught six passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.

The game featured two of the top running backs in the nation in Hill, who entered the weekend second in rushing, and McNichols, who was No. 6. Wyoming edged Boise State 489-487 in total yardage.

Wyoming, which trailed 21-7 in the first half, tied it 28-all on a 27-yard pass from Allen to Tanner Gentry, followed by a 2-point conversion pass from Allen to Jake Maulhardt with 6:42 remaining.

The teams traded possessions with Boise State getting the ball at its own 10-yard line with 1:38 remaining. After an incompletion, Rypien was sacked by Appleby near the goal line and the ball bounced through the back of the end zone.

“We trust Brett, and they made a play,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. “He’s trying to get the ball out. This is football, this is every week football and sometimes that ball bounces funny. It came out and they got the safety at a critical time in the game.”