LARAMIE, Wyoming - The 31,267 who paid to see the Wyoming Cowboys take on the San Diego State Aztecs got their money's worth - and then some - Saturday, as the Cowboys kicked a 27-yard field goal as time expired to send the game into overtime, and outscored the Aztecs 28 - 25 in the extra series to pull out a thrilling 45 - 42 victory in the longest game ever played in any NCAA Football Dynasty.

Neither offense was able to get into much of a rhythm, as each team scored on their first possession, then struggled to ten more points during the remainder of regulation.

The Cowboys were hurt offensively by a slow start by quarterback Kenneth Wingate and numerous dropped passes, but both Wingate and his receivers made plays when they needed them most. As time was winding down in the fourth quarter, Wingate converted a crucial fourth and two from their own 27 yard line to keep the game-tying drive alive. In that same drive, Johnson made the longest reception by any Cowboy on the afternoon, a 32 yard leaping catch down to the 36 yard line of San Diego State.

"I'm not quite sure why our offense struggled so much today," head coach Joe Glenn said after the game. "The Aztecs have a good defense, but it isn't anything we haven't seen before. My sense is that we just had an off game, but we'll know for sure next week. We certainly can't afford to miss passes like that against the Rams."

In overtime, each team scored a touchdown on their first three possessions, and converted the required two point conversion on the third possession. The fourth series was the exact opposite; dominated by the defenses. The Aztecs forced a missed field goal from Wyoming, but the Cowboys returned the favor when safety Herbert Holland intercepted an Aztec pass at the 17 yard line to end the series.

In the fifth and final series, the Cowboys defense held again, forcing the Aztecs to kick a short field goal. Wyoming took over on offense and marched the 25 yards in six plays, capped by a three yard touchdown plunge by halfback Terrence Billings.

Despite the win and a 7 - 1 overall record, the Cowboys fell out of the top 25, only one week after their first appearance of the year.

"I always tell the team, there's nothing we can do about the polls, and this year is no different," Glenn said. It isn't our job to worry about where we are ranked. Our job is to worry about winning football games, and the rest will take care of itself."

Next week, the Cowboys travel to Fort Collins, Colorado to take on the 11th ranked Rams of Colorado State. A win in the Border War would almost certainly push the Cowboys back into the Top 25.