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Deric Yaussi Lifts Wyoming Over Air Force, 29-28 Corey Bramlet completes passes of 29, 4 and 19 to Michael Ford on the deciding drive.
Sept. 17, 2005
AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AP) - Quarterback Corey Bramlet dove in from the 1-yard line to cap a 65-yard drive with 1:25 left Saturday and Deric Yaussi made the deciding extra point to lift Wyoming to a 29-28 victory over Air Force. Bramlet completed passes of 29, 4 and 19 to Michael Ford on the deciding drive. Wyoming (2-1, 1-0 Mountain West) had a chance to win because the Falcons (2-1, 1-1) had missed an extra point on the previous drive when holder Donny Heaton was unable to handle a high snap from Bryan Jones. The exchange on the game-winner for Wyoming was perfect, though. Cowboys safety John Wendling intercepted Shaun Carney on Air Force's final drive to secure Wyoming's second straight victory after a season-opening loss to No. 6 Florida. Bramlet finished 19-for-29 for 267 yards and a touchdown pass. Jovon Bouknight had six receptions for 132 yards, including a 63-yard TD from Bramlet in the first. Air Force ran the triple option well. Carney had 78 yards, Jacobe Kendrick had 66 and two Falcons backs - Justin Handley and Chad Hall - scored their first career touchdowns. But in a game with so many strong performances, it was extra points - of the made, missed and 2-point variety - that set up the fantastic finish in this one. After Hall's 16-yard run early in the fourth put Air Force ahead 20-16, coach Fisher DeBerry called for a 2-point conversion. Offensive lineman Robert Kraay took a crossfield lateral from Carney and walked in to make it 22-16.
Wyoming answered with a touchdown, but Yaussi booted his extra point into the line and the score remained tied at 22. With 6:20 remaining, Carney threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Jason Brown, but the high snap followed and Heaton was tackled on the sideline, leaving the Falcons with only a six-point lead. That set the stage for Wyoming's final drive, a six-play march highlighted by connections between Bramlet and Ford. Their 19-yard pass and catch gave Wyoming the ball at the 1, and after Bramlet's score, Yaussi made the "routine" extra point for the final margin. Wyoming's John Flora was the defensive player of the game. He had a sack and forced fumble on Carney in the third quarter. Then, with Wyoming trailing 22-16 early in the fourth, Flora stripped Kendrick and the Cowboys recovered at the Air Force 30. Five plays later, Wynel Seldon scored from 2 yards to tie the game at 22. |
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