Field Level Media
Dec 31, 2019
True freshman quarterback Levi Williams threw for 234 yards and accounted for four touchdowns in his first his first career start Tuesday afternoon, helping Wyoming to a 38-17 win over Georgia State in the Arizona Bowl in Tucson.
Along with throwing for three scores, Williams ran for 53 yards and another touchdown, and running back Xazavian Valladay rushed for 204 yards on 26 carries and caught three passes for 91 yards to go with a rushing and receiving touchdown for the Cowboys (8-5).
Williams' most impressive throw was a sidearm fling while under pressure and going out of bounds with less than a minute left before halftime. The ball found wide receiver Ayden Eberhardt, who broke tackles and cut back on his way to a 51-yard touchdown to give Wyoming a 24-10 lead with 32 seconds to play.
Valladay caught a 63-yard pass to set up a touchdown and broke off a 62-yard run late in the fourth quarter. Wyoming gained 524 yards of total offense to the Panthers' 355.
In his final college football game, Panthers quarterback Dan Ellington -- playing with a torn ACL -- completed 13 of 26 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 70 yards and a score.
Ellington capped off the Panthers' first drive with a 4-yard touchdown run with 12:59 to go in the first quarter.
Williams got the start at quarterback once Cowboys sophomore Tyler Vander Waal entered the NCAA transfer portal. Williams led a scoring drive with Wyoming's opening possession, ending in a 53-yard Cooper Rothe field goal.
Later in the first, the Cowboys had what looked like a fumble on fourth down returned for a touchdown called back when the play was ruled an incomplete pass. Wyoming scored a touchdown after the turnover on downs, Williams with an 18-yard pass to Austin Conway for a 10-7 lead with 2:12 left in the first quarter.
It was Williams' first collegiate touchdown pass. The Cowboys took a 17-7 lead after an interception and another Williams scoring pass to Valladay before the first quarter ended.
Sophomore Cornelius McCoy caught five passes for 78 yards and a touchdown for the Panthers (7-6).
--Field Level Media