QB swap re-energized offense

L ARAMIE, WYO. » Before Wyoming coach Craig Bohl decided to change quarterbacks late in the third quarter of the Cowboys’ 24-21 loss to Tulsa last week, Sean Chambers and his receiving corps were once again sputtering.

Chambers was just 5 of 16 for 59 yards at the time, and after six straight Wyoming punts, Bohl turned to Tyler Vander Waal.

Two series later, a different Chambers trotted back into Wyoming’s huddle. Chambers went 4 of 9 for 124 yards passing in the final quarter, including a 53yard touchdown connection with Ayden Eberhardt to cut into Tulsa’s 10-point lead. There was a thirddown completion of 22 yards to Rocket Ismail Jr. on Wyoming’s next possession that Chambers eventually capped with a go-ahead scoring run.

After Tulsa scored a touchdown to retake the lead in the waning minutes, there was a fourth-down hookup with Dontae Crow that went for 34 yards to get Wyoming in the red zone before the Cowboys’ comeback attempt was thwarted inside the 5 when Chambers was stripped trying to fight for extra yardage.

“That was a decision I made,” Bohl said of the quarterback change. “We needed to shake things up.

“Sean didn’t like being pulled out, and that’s OK. This is not about saving people’s feelings. I think he and I had a good conversation afterward, and there was no doubt our offense got a little bit re-energized, and we need that.”

If there’s anyone who understands the struggle the redshirt freshman is going through, it’s Vander Waal.

“On Saturday, right before I went in, I was like, ‘Hey, I’ve been in your situation. Our roles are just reversed right now. I’ve got your back no matter what, and I hope you’ve got mine,’” Vander Waal told the Casper Star-Tribune.

It was Vander Waal whom Chambers replaced late last season when things weren’t going well for an offense that tied Air Force for the fewest passing yards in the Mountain West.