LARAMIE, Wyo. — During the Cowboys’ unsuccessful outing against the University of Idaho Vandals Saturday, junior kicker John Hoyland entered the history books as the new school record holder for successful made field goals over a school career.
Hoyland joined the hallowed halls of Cowboy legend on a uniquely sour note. The lost game was the 400th ever played at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, the first since the recent renovations made to audience seating and the first stadium seating sellout since 2011. All 25,070 fans in attendance watched as the Vandals defeated the Cowboys for the first time in 103 years.
The kick that sent Hoyland over the hump and into history was also the result of a sloppy offense and nonconstructive possession. Just moments before, an apparent three-yard run to a touchdown from starting quarterback Evan Svoboda was overturned and sent the cowboys back to the one-yard line. A false start, a two-yard loss run and an incomplete third down then completely diminished Wyoming’s hopes of putting another six on the board.
Then came Hoyland with a 22-yard field goal to make the score 17–13 with 14:57 minutes of game left, in which the Cowboys would ultimately fail to prevail. Despite the loss, #46 and the 2024 Cowboys have something to celebrate.
Hoyland has the opportunity to extend that record and to continue contributing to the Wyoming Cowboys next Saturday, when UW takes on Brigham Young University at home at 7 p.m. To stay up to date on the Wyoming Cowboys, visit the University of Wyoming Athletics program website.
