Wyoming Outlaws-26, Utah Cobras-48
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Pleasant Grove, Utah- Pleasant Grove High School Field

 

The Wyoming Outlaws visited the Utah Cobras in Pleasant Grove on Saturday with hopes of gaining their first victory of the season. Regardless of the score, the Outlaws put up a fight until the end.

 

Utah’s defense started strong with a quick 3-and-out on the first drive of the game.  The offense would also start strong and never look back from start to finish.  The first Cobra drive resulted in a score, as QB Ryan Workman connected with WR Steven Kinyon on a short pass to put the Cobras ahead 6-0.  Brady Young’s PAT extended the Cobra lead 7-0.

 

On the following drive, the Outlaws offense committed their first turnover on a fumble that was recovered by Cobra DE Ryan Tumanavao to set the offense in position for a two-possession game.  That is just what the Cobras offense would do.  Workman hit WR Illiott Alexander on another short pass to extend the Cobras lead, 13-0.  Young’s PAT added to the score making it 14-0.

 

Wyoming was able to move the ball on their next drive, but did not put together any solutions to produce points and were forced to punt the ball back to the Cobras.  The Cobras offense continued their success through the air, as Workman drove the field and found Kinyon on a 7-yard pass for the tandem’s second score of the day.  Utah’s lead increased to 21-0 following Young’s successful PAT.

 

The Cobras defense came through once more and created a stop against the Outlaws offense, forcing a second punt.  However, the next Cobra possession turned to success for the Outlaws defense, as DB Keith Lewis intercepted Workman returning it 37 yards for the first Wyoming points of the game.  The Jacob Blakeman extra point was blocked and the score would remain 21-6.

 

Wyoming’s defense continued to make plays.  DB Micah Roper intercepted Workman to increase momentum for the Outlaws offense.  Big plays prevailed for Wyoming, as QB Hugo Herrera connected with WR Michael Williams on an 80-yard score that would bring the Outlaws closer at 21-12.  Jamis Short added 2 points following a successful play to bring the score to 21-14.

 

Just when momentum began to change in favor of the Outlaws, Utah created big plays of their own before halftime.  On the ensuing drive, the Outlaws had the Cobras offense inside the 5-yard line and a chance to go in at half trailing by 7 points.  Workman would keep the ball and find his way through the Outlaw defense and past the secondary, resulting in a 97-yard touchdown run.  With the PAT by Young, the Cobras went into halftime with a 28-14 lead.

 

The first possession of the second half was received by the Cobras, who drove down the field only to fail on a field goal attempt by Young.  Wyoming would also fail to generate points, giving the Cobras another opportunity that would be executed by Workman and Alexander on a 60-yard touchdown connection.  Young’s missed PAT would keep the score at 34-14.

 

On the ensuing drive, the Cobras defense created yet another turnover on the Outlaws with the fumble recovery from DL Joshua Guanajuato.  However, the Cobras offense would be forced to punt.  As a result of the Wyoming defensive stop, the offense was able to create points on the following drive with Herrera's touchdown strike to Shad Anderson.  Blakeman’s missed PAT kept the score at 34-20.

 

The following Cobra drive was an answer to the Outlaw score, as Workman found Alexander for their third connection of the day.  Brady’s PAT increased the Cobra lead once again, 41-20.  Wyoming’s offense would also have an answer to the recent Cobra score.  The Outlaw drive, highlighted by a 50-yard running back pass from John Herrera to Tanner McQuillan and a crucial pass interference call that gave the Outlaws a fresh set of downs, resulted in a short-pass from Hugo Herrera to Williams for the touchdown.  The score remained, 41-26, following the failed PAT by Blakeman.

 

Utah would find the end zone for one last time on their next possession of the game.  Workman threw his 6th touchdown pass of the day to WR Ladale Jackson from 20 yards out.  Young’s successful PAT put the score at 48-26, which was the result of the contest.  Wyoming attempted to score one last time, but the Cobra defense kept them at bay.  The Cobras ran out the clock and ended the game with almost 500 yards of offense.

 

Ryan Workman threw for 240 yards on 15 completions and 6 touchdowns.  3 went to Illiott Alexander, who finished with 97 yards on 4 receptions; 2 to Steven Kinyon, who finished with 56 yards on 4 catches; and 1 for 20 yards to Ladale Jackson.  Workman also led the rushing efforts mostly on his 97-yard touchdown run that would help the results as he ran 12 times for 112 yards.  John Nyondweh and Weston Miller contributed to the Cobras offense.  Nyondweh ran for 52 yards on 11 carries and Miller rushed for 44 yards on 11 carries as well.

 

Jeremy Covington led the Cobras defense with 5.5 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.  Ryan Birrenkott had his second interception of the season and finished with 3 tackles.

 

Hugo Herrera completed 8 passes for 169 yards and 3 touchdowns against the Cobras defense.  Herrera connected with Michael Williams on 2 touchdowns and Shad Anderson for another.  Williams finished with 116 receiving yards on 3 catches and Anderson caught 2 passes for 24 yards.  John Herrera contributed with 28 rushing yards on 13 carries.

 

Wayne Cook led the Outlaws defense with 7.5 tackles and Justin Antonino provided support with 7 tackles.  Keith Lewis had 5.5 tackles and a crucial interception returned for a touchdown.

 

This week, the Utah Cobras host the Uintah Basin Oilers, who defeated the Nevada Warriors 28-0 last week, in Pleasant Grove, UT.  The Wyoming Outlaws will host their first home game of the season as they take on the Nevada Warriors in Lyman, WY.