LARAMIE — The Wyoming Cowboys return to the road Saturday for their second road game of the season, traveling to Mount Pleasant, Michigan, to face Central Michigan. The Cowboys enter the matchup 1-1 after rallying past Northern Colorado 21-13 in their home opener, while the Chippewas are also 1-1 following a 13-10 victory over Colgate last Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 11 a.m. Mountain Time.
Fans can listen to the game live across the 26 stations of the Cowboy Sports Network, with Keith Kelley calling the action, Kevin McKinney providing color commentary and TRN Media’s Erick Pauley reporting from the sidelines. In Sweetwater County, you can listen to the game on KUGR 104.9 FM and 1490 AM.
The game will also stream on ESPN+ with Doug Sherman on the call and Marcus Ray providing analysis.
Wyoming and Central Michigan will meet for the first time since the Cowboys defeated the Chippewas 37-14 in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 22, 2017. Wyoming forced a school-record eight turnovers in that game, while Josh Allen was named the bowl’s Most Valuable Player after throwing three touchdown passes in the first quarter. The eight turnovers also set a Famous Idaho Potato Bowl record, and Wyoming added five sacks in the victory.
The Cowboys are 13-6 all-time against teams from the Mid-American Conference. Wyoming is 5-3 against MAC opponents at home, 5-2 on the road and 3-1 at neutral sites. The Cowboys defeated Akron 10-0 in last season’s opener and also own a 15-14 victory over Toledo in the 2023 Arizona Bowl.
Wyoming’s defense enters Saturday’s game after a strong finish against Northern Colorado. The Cowboys held the Bears to three yards of total offense in the fourth quarter, including four passing yards and minus-1 rushing yard. Wyoming also forced two punts and recorded an interception during the final 12 minutes as the Cowboys erased a seven-point deficit and scored 14 unanswered points.
Linebacker Ethan Stuhlsatz led Wyoming with 11 tackles against Northern Colorado and has recorded double-digit tackles in each of the Cowboys’ first two games. He has 26 tackles this season, an average of 13 per game that ranks first in the Mountain West and second nationally.
Safety Jones Thomas also played a key role in the comeback, recording two interceptions against Northern Colorado. It was the first multi-interception game of his career and made him the first Wyoming player with two interceptions in a game since Andrew Wingard did so against New Mexico on Oct. 28, 2017. Thomas has interceptions in two of his last three games dating to last season.
Defensive ends Jack Dunkley and Esaia Bogar each recorded a sack against Northern Colorado. Dunkley now has 15.5 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss in his collegiate career, while Bogar recorded his second career sack. Both players are tied for the team lead with 2.5 tackles for loss this season.
Redshirt freshman linebacker Steven Perez also had a career performance against Northern Colorado, recording six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss, both career highs. He also recorded the first half sack of his career.
Wyoming’s offense received significant contributions from running back Markell Holman in the home opener. Holman rushed for 80 yards on 11 carries and added five receptions for 27 yards, giving him 107 total yards on 16 touches. He enters Saturday ranked second on the team with 94 rushing yards this season.
Wide receiver Charlie Coenen caught the game-winning touchdown against Northern Colorado, hauling in a 15-yard pass from Tyler Hughes during Wyoming’s fourth-quarter comeback. Coenen finished with three receptions for 34 yards and is tied for the team lead with five catches this season.
Tight end Kyle Frendt also recorded the first touchdown reception of his career against Northern Colorado, making a diving 18-yard catch in the end zone. The reception was also the longest of his career.
Hughes completed 18 of 26 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns against Northern Colorado while adding 35 rushing yards. He completed both of Wyoming’s touchdown passes during the final 12 minutes, including the 15-yard score to Coenen and an 18-yard touchdown to Frendt.
Wyoming’s special teams have also been productive early in the season. Punter Bart Edmiston enters the week averaging 49.4 yards per punt, which ranks first in the Mountain West and second nationally. Edmiston was named to the preseason Ray Guy Award watch list.
Central Michigan enters the matchup averaging 212.5 yards of total offense per game, including 159.5 rushing yards per contest. The Chippewas are allowing 291.5 yards of total offense per game.
Quarterback Angel Flores leads Central Michigan with 149 rushing yards and one touchdown this season, including a 50-yard run. He has completed 10 of 19 passes for 71 yards. Vaughn Blue has added 52 rushing yards.
Central Michigan also has a Wyoming connection on its roster in freshman kicker Braxton Doak, who previously played at Green River High School.
Defensively, Xavier White leads the Chippewas with 17 tackles. Mayson Hitchens has 15 tackles and an interception, while Darrell Bryant Jr. has 13 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.
