Wyoming Beats Air Force 28-14 as Hughes Opens With 68-Yard Touchdown Run

Wyoming beat Air Force 28-14 on Friday night, October 23, 2026, at Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie. Quarterback Tyler Hughes ran 68 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the game, and Wyoming never trailed on its way to a third straight win.

Hughes gave Wyoming a lead it held all night with the longest touchdown run by a Wyoming player since 2023. He finished 10-for-17 passing for 133 yards with two touchdowns and added 146 rushing yards on 12 carries. Wyoming improved to 5-3 overall and 4-1 in the Mountain West. Air Force fell to 5-2 overall and 3-2 in conference play.

A fast start in Laramie

Wyoming built on the early score with help from its defense. Defensive end Esaia Bogar recovered an Air Force fumble on the drive after the opening touchdown. It was the first lost fumble of the season for Air Force, ending a run the Falcons put at 554 consecutive plays without a lost fumble.

Air Force kicker Carter Cremascoli kicked two field goals in the first half to keep the Falcons close. Hughes answered with a 4-yard touchdown pass to tight end Jake Wilson with 8:40 left in the first half, a score that made it 14-3.

Wyoming closed the half with a hook-and-ladder touchdown. Hughes passed to wide receiver Eric Richardson, who lateraled to running back Samuel Harris for the score. Wyoming led 21-6 at halftime. Quarter scores were Wyoming 7, 14, 0 and 7, and Air Force 0, 6, 8 and 0.

Air Force closes, Wyoming answers

Air Force scored its only touchdown in the third quarter. Quarterback Evan Medders threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Grant Wayne, then ran in the two-point conversion to cut the Wyoming lead to 21-14.

Wyoming held that lead through the rest of the third quarter and closed the scoring late in the fourth. Running back Markell Holman scored on a 1-yard run with 3:04 remaining, making the final score 28-14.

Linebacker Steven Perez led the Wyoming defense with a game-high 17 tackles, including 10 solo tackles, and he added a fumble recovery. Conditions at kickoff were clear and 50 degrees, with humidity at 38 percent and wind from the west at 13 mph.

Head coach Jay Sawvel said his team would take extra time to enjoy the result. "It's a great night for the Cowboys. It's not a 24-hour rule on this one. We're going to take 48 (hours to celebrate) this one," Sawvel said. He also praised his quarterback and his staff. "Tyler Hughes was phenomenal tonight. Our offensive staff did a great job of getting us in spots to where we were effective," Sawvel said.