The Wyoming Cowboys had nine heaters on their sideline Saturday night. UNLV had four, but the Cowboy offense remained ice cold during a 17-31 loss home.
The Cowboys offense showed a little life on what was billed as "Energy Day." Despite Wyoming's 350 yards of total offense, compared to 255 for the Rebels, the Cowboys could not get out of their own way.
The contest started with a solid Wyoming tilt that went nowhere. The Rebels fumbled the ball away on their first offensive play of the game at their own 19-yard line. The Wyoming offense sputtered, gaining only five yards and were forced to kick a field goal to take a 3-0 lead with less than 2 minutes off the clock.
The Rebels came back, scoring a touchdown on a 6-play, 67-yard drive to make it a 3-7 game.
The next Cowboy drive stalled and ended in disaster when the Rebels blocked a Wyoming punt and UNLV red-shirt freshman Kaden McGee blocked the Cowboy punt. Jaden Braden grabbed the loose ball and returned it for a 16-yard score.
The Cowboys were down 3-14 with 6:43 remaining in the first quarter.
With less than a minute to go in the second quarter, McGee blocked another field goal, which Bradley returned. 13 yards for a touchdown, as Wyoming's special teams sputtered on the snow-covered field in Laramie.
The Rebels went into the locker room at the half with a 3-24 lead.
The Cowboys would threaten in the second half but could not pull themselves all the way back into the game. At the start of the third quarter, the Cowboys showed some life. Freshman Wide receiver Deion DeBlanc capped off a five-play Wyoming drive with a 12-yard touchdown run.
Keith Kelly had the call on the Wyoming sports Network as the Cowboys threatened for the first time. The Pokes wouldn't score again until under the two-minute mark in the fourth quarter to make it a 17-31 game.
Head Coach Jay Sawvel, after the game, said that putting mistakes on special teams that resulted in two UNLV touchdowns were inexcusable. Sawvel acknowledged the pair of blunders were a major factor in the opening loss in conference play.
Wyoming is now 2-and-3 overall on the 2025 season, 0-1 in conference play. UNLV improves to a perfect 5-0.
Cowboy's freshman running back, Tote Harris, missed part of the game because of concussion protocol. The 5-11, freshman Running Back from Texas returned to the game late in the second half.
Wide receiver Chris Durr, Junior from Chicago also suffered a shoulder injury which he will likely play through for the next few weeks.
Elsewhere, in Mountain West football, Colorado State fell Friday night in San Diego 45-24. The Rams are now 1-4 on the season and 0-1 in Mountain West play. CSU's lone win came on a controversial ref's call against FCS foe Northern Colorado.
San Jose State moved to 1-0 in conference play with 35-28 win over New Mexico. The Lobos fall to 0-1 in the Mountain West.
#21 Notre Dame crushed Mountain West lame duck Boise State 28-7.
Air Force fell to undefeated Navy by a field goal, 34-31.
Fresno State edged Nevada 20-17. The Bulldogs are now 2-0 in conference play.