LARAMIE — The Wyoming Cowboys played from behind for more than 50 minutes at Utah State last weekend, including trailing the entire second half by more than three touchdowns.
The scenario put a serious dent in the Cowboys’ game plan as they were forced to throw nearly 20 more times than they ran in a 63-19 loss.
“We want to be balanced,” Cowboys coach Dave Christensen said. “I wouldn’t say we’re going to just sit there and say we’re just going to run the football. But we definitely want to be more balanced.”
Wyoming (3-2) hopes to get that balance back today against UNLV (1-4) in the Mountain West Conference opener for both teams.
In the Cowboys’ first four games, they ran the ball 152 times and attempted 146 passes. Against Utah State, they rushed just 27 times — the first time this season they’ve been under 30 — and passed 46 times.
“If we’re behind, we’ve got to pass the ball,” said running back Brandon Miller, who shouldered much of the load early on. “I trust in the offensive coordinator (Gregg Brandon) and the coaching staff to get us the right plays.”
But the lack of a rushing attack against the Aggies had at least one of the Cowboys’ trio of backs disappointed.
Alvester Alexander, who carried the ball six times for a team-high 49 yards against the Aggies, said he wants Wyoming’s running game to get rolling today against a UNLV team that allowed 240 rushing yards in a loss to Nevada.
“Definitely, I feel like I’ve got a good ability to run the ball, and I feel like if they can use me and get out there and get me some runs, I can make some things happen,” Alexander said.
