John Hoyland's FG lifts Wyoming over Toledo in Arizona Bowl

Field Level Media|published: Sat 30th December, 20:25 2023

Dec 30, 2023; Tucson, AZ, USA; Wyoming Cowboys place kicker John Hoyland (46) celebrates with offensive MVP trophy after the Wyoming Cowboys beat the Toledo Rockets in the Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium. credits: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

John Hoyland kicked a 24-yard field goal with one second remaining to lift Wyoming to a 16-15 comeback win over Toledo in the Arizona Bowl on Saturday evening in Tucson, Ariz.

Hoyland's kick capped a game-winning, 12-play, 87-yard drive for Wyoming (9-4). Andrew Peasley completed 20 of 25 passes for 168 yards for the Cowboys, who won their final game under coach Craig Bohl before his retirement.

Tucker Gleason completed 14 of 34 passes for 184 yards and one interception for Toledo (11-3). Jacquez Stuart led the team with 99 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Wyoming trailed 15-13 when it got the ball on its own 6-yard line with 4:11 to play. Peasley set the tone with a 26-yard completion to Ayir Asante on the first play of the drive.

A 13-yard run by Evan Svoboda put the Cowboys in the red zone at the Toledo 10-yard line with 1:05 to go. Wyoming called one more running play before setting the stage for Hoyland's short kick.

Wyoming was first on the scoreboard with a field goal, which proved to be the only scoring play for either team in the first quarter. Hoyland made a 34-yard kick to give the Cowboys a 3-0 lead.

Hoyland struck again, this time from 52 yards, to make it 6-0 with 11:20 remaining in the first half.

Toledo pulled within 6-3 on a 33-yard field goal by Luke Pawlak on the next possession.

The Rockets grabbed a 10-6 lead on the biggest play of the game less than four minutes later. Stuart darted through the left side of the line, evaded a diving defender and outraced the rest of the Cowboys defense to the end zone for an 80-yard touchdown.

A safety by Toledo's defense made it 12-6 with 6:31 to go in the third quarter. On third-and-7, Peasley dropped back to pass, and Esean Carter sacked him from the blind side in the end zone.

Pawlak made a 33-yard field goal to boost Toledo's lead to 15-6 with 2:04 left in the third quarter.

Wyoming cut the deficit to 15-13 with 8:37 to go in the fourth quarter. Svoboda barreled into the end zone for a 1-yard rushing touchdown.

—Field Level Media

Latest