LARAMIE, Wyo. -- In a matchup between the top two quarterbacks in the Mountain West Conference, BYU's Kevin Feterik and Wyoming's Jay Stoner put up big numbers.
While Feterik completed 30 of 46 passes for 362 yards, an interception and a touchdown in a 31-17 loss, Stoner was 20 of 30 for 302 yards, no picks and three TDs.For Stoner, his fine play was personally satisfying for more reason than one.
"BYU was recruiting me and they signed Feterik and his backup over me," said the junior from Colorado Springs. "I probably wouldn't have gone to BYU anyway. I probably would have gotten kicked out of school already for swearing or something."
Cougar coach LaVell Edwards was impressed with the Cowboy QB. "I thought Stoner was particularly impressive tonight and they executed their offense very well," he said.
As for Feterik, he moved into fifth place on the Cougars' all-time passing list, over Steve Sarkisian. The senior now has 7,756 career passing yards.
INJURY UPDATE: A backfield that is already banged up suffered another loss against Wyoming. Kalani Sitake fractured his left fibula in the second quarter, ending his season. Luke Staley, who didn't play after knee surgery earlier in the week, is expected to return next week against Utah.
50 YEARS AT WAR: In 1999, Wyoming is celebrating its 50th season at War Memorial Stadium, which is advertised as the stadium with the highest elevation in the country at 7,220 feet. BYU has been a part of some of the 33,500-seat facility's most memorable moments, including Saturday night.
The Cougars played the 75th game at War, a 26-10 loss to the Cowboys in 1967. In 1981, No. 13 BYU and quarterback Jim McMahon had a comfortable lead on the Pokes when a blizzard hit town and Wyoming rallied to win, 33-20.
In 1988, Wyoming played BYU in the first night game in Laramie. It was also ESPN's first-ever Thursday-night broadcast and marked quarterback Ty Detmer's first collegiate contest. (The future Heisman Trophy-winner relieved an injured Sean Covey.) The Cowboys won, 24-14, and went on to take the WAC title.
LOSS LINGERS: BYU's return to Laramie brought back some bitter memories for Wyoming fans.
They still remember that 1996 loss to the Cougars in the first-ever WAC Championship game in Las Vegas. They haven't forgiven then-coach Joe Tiller for his controversial decision to take a safety late in the game, which pulled BYU to within a field goal, 25-22.
Ethan Pochman, brother of current Cougar kicker Owen Pochman, drilled a field goal with no time remaining on the clock to force overtime. In the extra period, Pochman hit another field goal to give BYU the crown and an invitation to the Cotton Bowl.
Wyoming, on the other hand, stayed home for the holidays despite one of its best seasons in history.