ALBUQUERQUE — Wyoming coach Dave Christensen knew Temple’s game plan in the New Mexico Bowl would be to play smash-mouth football.
It was just something the Cowboys couldn’t do much about as the Owls roared to a 37-15 rout Saturday.
“It was disappointing,” Christensen said. “We knew they were going to run the football, which they did. We missed some tackles. They just played physically, played better than us. My hat’s off to them. They’re a good running football team. They were the better team today.”
Temple (9-4) compiled 424 total yards — 255 coming on the ground. Bernard Pierce had 100 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, while quarterback Chris Coyer had 240 total yards and one touchdown pass.
That physicality extended to the other side of the ball as well, with Temple limiting the Cowboys (8-5) to 267 total yards. Wyoming freshman QB Brett Smith struggled to find open receivers and open running lanes.
“He had some struggles today, without a doubt,” Christensen said of Smith. “Certainly not from a lack of wanting to get it done. Obviously, when he has struggles, generally other people are struggling with protection or getting open in a route.”
The Owls made three interceptions — tying a New Mexico Bowl record — en route to their second bowl victory in school history. The first interception came at the start of the second quarter when Temple’s Kee-arye Griffin picked off Smith, which set up Matt Brown’s 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Owls a 21-0 lead.
The loss dropped the Mountain West’s Cowboys to 6-7 in bowl games.
