Wyoming Football: News and Notes Ahead of Air Force

LARAMIE -- Will Harrison Waylee be ready to go Saturday night in Colorado Springs?

That's still TBA, according to Craig Bohl.

"It's going to be a little bit day-to-day," Wyoming's head coach said Monday about the Cowboys' star running back, who appeared to suffer a right leg injury late in the 24-19 victory over visiting Fresno State. "I don't think he'll practice today, but we're in hopes we will have him for the game."

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Waylee, a junior transfer from Northern Illinois, got his legs rolled up on with 1:53 remaining in regulation. He stayed on the ground for a matter of minutes, appearing to reach for his knee. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound Iowa product underwent a "reconstruction" of his left knee during the offseason, forcing him to miss the first two games of the season.

Wyoming quarterback Andrew Peasley said postgame Waylee was "doing better than when he came off the field." Trainers had to assist him to the home bench, while he put virtually no weight on his right foot.

Waylee has 540 yards rushing on 75 carries this fall. He has also added three touchdowns on the ground.

MORE UW FOOTBALL NEWS VIA 7220SPORTS:

* Tuck's Takes: Bohl's 'Boys keep finding ways

* Turning point, unsung hero and what's next for UW football 

* Three stars of the game: Pokes vs. Bulldogs

* Bohl: UW running back Harrison Waylee's injury not 'season ending'

* Wyoming hangs on late in 24-19 victory over No. 24 Fresno State

* Behind the numbers: Wyoming vs. Fresno State

* Rants & Raves: Fresno State Edition

* Gear up for game day: Fresno State

* Wyoming's offensive captains call player's only meeting

* Know Wyoming's foe: Fresno State

There is good news on the injury front as the Cowboys prepare to face Front Range rival Air Force.

Sabastian Harsh should be ready to go, Bohl said.

"Yes, I'm almost confident he'll be in good shape," he said, referring to the 6-foot-3, 235-pound edge rusher. "I'll find out a little bit more, but he practiced last week. We didn't feel like he was in that position to where we were going to play him."

Harsh, a sophomore from Scottsbluff, Neb., has 21 tackles, a sack and a pass breakup to his credit through five games.

Here are some other news and notes ahead of the Pokes showdown with the Falcons:

* If Waylee can't go, who steps up? "He'll have an opportunity to play quite a bit. He played a little bit last week," Bohl said, talking about Sam Scott, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound sophomore from Omaha. "Not only Sam, but Jamari (Farrell). He is a good player, too." Scott has rushed for 118 yards on 20 attempts. That's an average of nearly six yards per carry. He's also scored a touchdown, along with the game-winning two-point conversion against Texas Tech. Farrell has 57 yards on 17 carries and has scored once.

* You're not the only one who is happy the Cowboys scored 24 first-half points against the 24th-ranked Bulldogs. "I knew that they would come back in the second half and be a little bit more of a challenge for us than what they were in the first half," Bohl said. "I'm glad we got a great start."

* About that start. Peasley completed 16 of his first 20 throws in the night, including throwing three touchdown passes on three consecutive drives. Wyatt Wieland snagged the first two. Treyton Welch grabbed the other. The Cowboys put on a clinic. "Andrew Peasley was in really good poised position and his reads were great," Bohl said. "He utilized his legs, receivers were on point and some of the passes were pinpoint. There were a couple laser strikes, some finesse balls ... I thought his performance Saturday night, you know, was a breakout performance. He has been good, but, I mean, one of those throws -- it was like (an NFL) throw. I mean, a laser. So, it was great to see."

* Bohl and Co. have been in search of a clean game in all three phases. During the first half, the Cowboys did just that. "I think that was probably as complete a half of football that we've had with offense, defense, and then special teams. It was really complimentary football and needed to be to defeat a team like that."

* Air Force, Bohl said, they are playing like, well, Air Force. "They're prolific on offense, averaging 38 points a game," he said. "They do have the ability to throw the ball along with running the football. They're great on third down, great on fourth down and they're plus-four in the turnover margin." He said a big reason for 5-0 start this fall is the play of quarterback Zac Larrier, who has completed 14-of-19 throws for 410 yards and three touchdowns. The senior has also rushed for 362 yards and three more scores while orchestrating Air Force's patented triple-option attack.

* The unsung hero this week could be the Cowboys' scout team QB, who will be tasked with mimicking the Falcons' option offense. Bohl did not disclose who that player will be, but said plenty of focus goes into this game, including during spring camp. "This has been a game that our defense takes a great deal of pride in," he said. "You know, we spent a great deal of time in the offseason with them schematically, and then we work really hard with the scout team. We're confident we'll have somebody that can replicate that as close as what it can be."

* As you know, Wyoming has played a number of tight, emotional games this season, including a double-overtime victory over Texas Tech, a nail-biter against visiting Appalachian State and last Saturday night against the Bulldogs. Does this team have enough juice left to get up for this first-place battle at the Academy? "I think we're going to find out a little bit more today," Bohl said. "... It is hard to come up and put it on the line and then reach that same peak. You know, for us to beat Fresno, we were going to need to peak. To replicate that when the opponent has an open week, plus, it's there, this is going to be a big challenge. It's going to take all the gas we have in our tank."

* "Bloody Tuesday." That is the term Bohl and his players affectionately call the second practice of every week during the regular season. It's about as brutal as it sounds. Left tackle Frank Crum said it's littered with runs up the middle and crashes in the trenches. Bohl said not a lot has changed over his 10 years in Laramie, but this particular practice has undergone some tweaking. "We've cranked it up a little bit, yeah," he said. "I mean, we have. There have been some things that we've done this year that are different. They're not earth-shattering things, but we've really challenged our guys to find that extra 2%. We've hung on that."

* The Cowboys and Falcons are scheduled to kickoff at 5 p.m. Mountain Time and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.

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