LARAMIE — The Wyoming wind didn’t whip away the Cowboys’ woes.
Instead, turnovers burned the Cowboys as they were blown out 40-7 by No. 14 Utah in front of a homecoming crowd of 17,123.
Wyoming (2-5, 0-4 Mountain West) lost its fourth straight game, but managed to avoid being shutout for the third time in four games. The Cowboys have been outscored 131-10 in conference play, and 153-23 in the past four games.
The revolving door quarterback controversy was suppose to stop after the loss to Bowling Green, but the Cowboys again played four quarterbacks against Utah.
Karsten Sween threw three interceptions before Dax Crum got the call, but just for one three-and-out series. Ian Hetrick saw time intermittently during Sween and Stutreim’s run. Crum was replaced by Chris Stutzreim, who finished the game.
Stutzreim did what the Wyoming coaches have been asking all along: lead the offense, scored and protected the ball. With 45 yards rushing by Devin Moore, Stutzreim took the Cowboys 80 yards for the first score in seven quarters with 7:47 remaining in the game. Stutzreim tossed the ball up on the sideline, and while the wind held it up, Greg Bolling made his first and only catch on an 18-yard touchdown.
Sween’s troubles started on his second pass, when Utah defensive end Paul Kruger tipped up it to defensive back Sean Smith, who returned the ball 25 yards for a touchdown. Smith notched a second interception on a one-handed grab from Sween’s pass to Brandon Stewart in the end zone. Sween finished 8-of-18 for 52 yards.
Even as the Cowboys were able to stay turnover free in a three-and-out possession 10 minutes into the second quarter, Utah’s Aiona Key charged up the middle to block Austin McCoy’s punt at the 5-yard line, picked up the ball and ran it in for a touchdown for a 19-0 lead.
Utah running back Matt Asiata put the Utes up 34-0 scoring a 3-yard rushing touchdown and a 13-yard receiving touchdown on consecutive possessions.
With 3:19 remaining, Wyoming punt returner Tashaun Gipson was unable to handle Louie Sakota’s 44-yard kick and when it bounced into the end zone Utah’s R.J. Rice recovered for a 40-7 lead.
Sakoda hit field goals of 50 and 39 yards and had a career-long 81-yard punt with the wind at his back.
