Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl
Arizona Stadium -- Tuscon, AZ -- Barstool Sports App
The 'Cats will be facing . . .
Wyoming will be making its fifth bowl appearance in the last seven seasons. It's the Cowboys' second Arizona Bowl appearance. They defeated Georgia State 38-17 in 2019. More recently, Wyoming defeated Kent State 52-38 in the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Ohio and Wyoming have met twice previously. Both were narrow Cowboy victories: 34-33 in 2007 (Athens) and 21-20 in 2008 (Laramie).
Here's more on the two teams . . .
WYOMING COWBOYS (7-5, 5-3 MWC)
~~ All seven UW wins came during two win streaks. The Cowboys won three straight in Weeks two through four. After losing two, Wyoming then ran off four straight victories.
~~ UW lost its last two games, including a 30-0 loss at Fresno State in the regular season finale.
~~ Two Wyoming players earned First Team All-Mountain West honors: PK John Hoyland and LB Easton Gibbs. Five Cowboys received Honorable Mention All-Conference recognition this season. Those five include three juniors in: quarterback Andrew Peasley, punter Clayton Stewart and tight end
Treyton Welch. Two Wyoming sophomores also earned Honorable Mention honors in: defensive
end DeVonne Harris and cornerback Cam Stone.
~~ The Cowboys ranked eighth among Mountain West team in scoring offense (20.8 ppg) and sixth in scoring defense (23.4 ppg). They were ninth in total offense (315.5 ypg) and eight in total defense (369.4 ypg).
~~ Wyoming picked up 187.8 ypg rushing (third MWC) and 149.7 ypg passing (fifth MWC).
~~ The UW defense ranked fifth (MWC) in rush defense (149.7 ypg) and ninth in pass defense (219.8 ypg). The team was sixth in pass defense efficiency.
~~ Junior QB Andrew Peasley has completed 51.4 percent of his attempts, totaling 1,388 yards with nine TDs and eight inteceptions. Peasley has created 28 explosive pass plays of 15 yards or more this season for 752 yards. He has added 14 explosive running plays of 10 yards or more for
274 yards. All total, Peasley has been responsible for 42 explosive plays for 1,026 yards. Among those explosive plays are a season best 51-yard TD pass against Tulsa and a 61-yard run against San Jose State to set up another Cowboy touchdown.
~~ Joshua Cobbs leads Cowboy receiving with 35 catches for 407 yards and two TDs. Tight end Treyton Welch has four scores among his 17 catches for a total of 217 yards.
~~ The Cowboys have 10 passing TDs and 14 rushing scores.
~~ Junior Titus Swen (5-11, 206) has been UW's workhorse in the ground game. He has registered 207 carries totaling 1,039 yards with eight touchdowns.
~~ Kicker John Hoyland hit all 25 PATs and 20-of-23 field goals. His long was 55 yards. He was good on four-of-five on kicks between 40 and 49 yards and three-of-four from 50 yards or more.
~~ Sophomore linebacker Easton Gibbs led the Wyoming defense with 111 tackles. DEs DeVonne Harris and Oluwaseyi Omotosho combined for 15 sacks. Cameron Stone led the defensive backs with 10 PD and two interceptions.
~~ Through 12 games, Wyoming has 34 total sacks and is averaging 2.83 sacks per game. That
ranks the Pokes No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 20 in the nation.
~~ The Cowboys are once again one of the most disciplined and least penalized teams in
the country. The Pokes are No. 2 in the MW and No. 1 in the FBS in fewest penalty yards per game
(38.33 yards per game). Wyoming is No. 3 in the Mountain West and No. 11 among all FBS teams
in fewest penalties per game (4.42 penalties per game).
~~The Cowboy defensive unit has scored two defensive touchdowns this season to rank No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 29 in the nation in defensive touchdowns scored for the 2022 season.
OHIO BOBCATS (9-4, 7-1 MAC)
~~ After dropping its opener at Kent State, Ohio ran off seven straight wins to close the regular season.
~~ MAC Offensive Player of the Year Kurtis Rourke was injured in the Bobcats finale against Bowling Green. He missed the second half of that game and all of the MAC Championship tilt, which Toledo won 17-7. Rourke will not play in the bowl game.
~~ Sophomore CJ Harris filled in for Rourke against UT, completing 17-of-31 for a total of 163 yards with one interception.
~~ Ohio led the MAC in scoring (31.9 ppg) and total offense (424.2 ypg). However, the 'Cats scored just seven points and gained 262 yards against Toledo.
~~ Ohio's one touchdown in the championship game was a 2-yard run by Sieh Bangura, who earned MAC Freshman of the Year honors for 2022.
~~ Bangura (6-0, 200) averaged 2.8 ypc against UT. However, he averaged 4.8 ypc on the season, carrying 197 times for a total of 940 yards and 12 TDs. He also caught 23 passes, good for 208 yards and two TDs.
~~ Former Ohio State receiver Sam Wiglusz led Ohio receivers with 69 catches for a total of 850 yards with 11 touchdowns. Jacoby Jones registered 42 catches, good for 732 yards and five TDs.
~~ Kicker Nathanial Vakos hit 48-of-49 PATs. He was good on 19-of-23 field goals, with a long of 55.
~~ Linebacker Keye Thompson led Ohio defenders with 96 tackles. Bryce Houston had 5.5 sacks among his 72 hits.
~~ Tim Albin won MAC Coach of the Year honors in his second year after taking over for Frank Solich.
~~ Bobcats earned First Team All-MAC honors: QB Kurtis Rourke, OL Hagen Meservy, WR Sam Wiglusz, KR Keegan Wilburn. Second Team honors went to K Nathanial Vakos. Third Team members were RB Sieh Bangura DL Jack McCrory, LB Keye Thompson and DB Tariq Drake