LARAMIE — The Wyoming Cowboys leaned on opportunistic offense and a sequence of Hawaii miscues to secure a 27-10 victory Saturday at War Memorial Stadium, handing the Rainbow Warriors their second conference loss and leaving them 1-3 overall.
Holman provides spark; Cowboys take advantage of turnovers and penalties
Backup running back Markell Holman scored his first two touchdowns of the season to help put the Cowboys ahead in front of a homecoming crowd. The game swung decisively in the third quarter after a series of possessions that underscored Hawaii’s miscues and Wyoming’s ability to convert second chances.
The Warriors rallied to close to 20-10 on a 20-yard touchdown pass from Micah Alejado to tight end Devon Tauaefa with 12:11 remaining, and they got the ball back with a chance to make it a one-score game. But a 54-yard field-goal attempt by Sean Olvera-Harle came up wide right on fourth-and-long, leaving Hawaii unable to climb back into contention.
Decisive sequence after halftime
Hawaii’s struggles surfaced early in the second half. The Warriors opened with a 74-yard drive that stalled at the goal line on fourth-and-1 after Cowboys pressure forced Alejado out of the pocket and an incomplete pass. Special-teams miscues then compounded Hawaii’s problems.
Wyoming appeared to be stopped deep in its own territory on the next possession, but a punt by Bart Edmiston was shanked and returned to midfield. Officials flagged Hawaii for having two players with identical numbers on the punt-return unit — a pre-snap infraction that was enforced retroactively, resulting in a first down for the Cowboys and allowing the drive to continue.
From there, quarterback Tyler Hughes completed throws of 26 and 19 yards — the latter play extended by a 15-yard targeting penalty — to reach the Hawaii 18. Holman then broke to the right, shed a tackle and raced into the end zone to make the score 20-3 with 14:52 left in the game.
Key moments and momentum
- Holman: two rushing touchdowns, his first scores of the season.
- Alejado: connected on the scoring pass to Devon Tauaefa that brought Hawaii within 10 in the fourth quarter.
- Olvera-Harle: missed a 54-yard field-goal attempt late, keeping Hawaii from making it a one-score game.
- Special teams penalty for Hawaii (duplicate jersey numbers) turned a likely Cowboys punt into a prolonged drive.
In a symbolic moment of the Warriors’ frustrating first half, the final 40 seconds before halftime were allowed to run out after a Hawaii player suffered a non-serious injury and the team had no timeouts remaining. That sequence left Hawaii trailing 13-3 at intermission.
Defensive plays and controversial rulings
Earlier in the game, when the score was tied at 3, a play involving Hawaii safety Kona Moore and Wyoming tight end Jake Wilson drew attention. Moore appeared to punch the ball free following what was ruled an apparent reception; Hawaii initially recovered and returned the loose ball 50 yards for what looked like a scoop-and-score. The play was reviewed, and the officials ruled that Wilson did not have clear possession as the sequence unfolded.
The ruling stood and the potential return score was negated, a turning point that kept momentum from swinging fully in Hawaii’s favor. The review and its result were among several officiating moments that influenced field position and drive outcomes for both teams.
What it means
The win improves the Cowboys’ position in Mountain West play and provides a boost to their home-field résumé during a high-profile weekend in Laramie. For Hawaii, the loss drops the Warriors to 1-3 overall and 0-2 in Mountain West, raising questions about special teams execution and situational play in tight games.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Final score | Wyoming 27, Hawaii 10 |
| Hawaii record | 1-3 overall, 0-2 MW |
| Notable scoring | Holman: two TDs; Alejado-to-Tauaefa: 20-yard TD |
Wyoming’s ability to convert when Hawaii stumbled — and to avoid critical errors of their own — proved decisive. The Cowboys took advantage of penalties and field-position swings, while Hawaii’s missed opportunities and special-teams penalties ultimately stymied a comeback.
Game officials and coaching staffs from both sides will likely review the finishing sequences in greater detail this week, but for Wyoming the result is clear: a home victory earned in front of a packed War Memorial Stadium and a boost as the conference schedule presses on.
Coverage from the sideline and postgame remarks from coaches and players will follow as the teams return to their campuses and prepare for upcoming matchups.
