Wyoming Defense Sets Sack Pace for 2022 Record

Wyoming is currently on pace for more than 33 sacks this season, a total that would mark the highest output for the program since 2022. That year, the Cowboys finished with 37 sacks. The current trajectory stands in sharp contrast to recent seasons, as Wyoming recorded only 17 sacks in 2025 and 15 the year before.

Defensive coordinator Aaron Bohl stated that the current pass rush is the best he has had since taking the job in 2024. He noted that the group has executed well, with pressure coming from multiple positions rather than relying on one or two players. The team’s current four-game winning streak includes 16 of its 25 combined sacks, indicating a sustained effort across the roster.

Edge rusher Esias Bogar leads the team with 5.5 sacks. Middle linebacker Ethan Stuhlsatz has recorded three, including a hat-trick against UNLV quarterback Jackson Arnold in a 41-34 victory at Allegiant Stadium last Saturday. Defensive tackle Jayden Williams and Cade Brook also have three sacks each, while Gary Rutherford and Dante Drake have two.

The pressure extends beyond the sack count. Pro Football Focus data shows Bogar has 22 pressures this season. Stuhlsatz follows with 19, and defensive tackle Jayden Williams has 14. Defensive ends Donnie Wingate and Jack Dunkley each have 10. This distribution of pressure helps disrupt opponents even when a quarterback is not taken down.

In the recent win over UNLV, the defense forced errors that preserved the lead. With the Rebels inside Wyoming’s 15-yard line and trailing by six with under two minutes remaining in regulation, Bogar rushed the passer. He forced a throw into the end zone, where cornerback Tyson Shamsid-Deen intercepted the ball for his second interception of the game.

The offense also performed strongly in Las Vegas, scoring 34 points in the first two quarters. That total is the most for the team since a home victory over Ball State in 2021. Christian Taylor’s unit scored on its first four drives, which included three touchdowns and a field goal. The Cowboys finished the game with 351 rushing yards, an average of 6.3 per attempt.

Markell Holman rushed for 110 yards, including a 49-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Samuel Harris added two scores on 71 yards. Kicker Erik Sandvik was perfect from the field, making his 12th of 13 attempts this season. He earned Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance.

Wyoming enters its next game against UTEP with a two-game advantage in the conference series. The Miners have allowed 41 sacks this season, the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision. A win in El Paso would secure the Cowboys the top seed, setting up a winner-take-all matchup against New Mexico the following week.