LARAMIE, Wyoming - It was billed as the biggest game in school history. It was two top 15 teams squaring off, in a rivalry game, on national television. To the winner would go the Bronze Boot, area bragging rights, valuable recruiting points and an inside track to the conference title. To the loser, the frustration of defeat and an almost certain fall from the BCS standings.

It was the most hype a Mountain West conference game had ever received, and the contest was every bit as good as promised, as two closely matched teams left it all on the field and battled to a 24 - 21 finish in front of a capacity crowd at raucous War Memorial Stadium and a national television audience.

When the final horn sounded, it was the Cowboys who had the ball and a three point win. Fans rushed the field, and an overmatched security staff could only watch as the frenzied Cowboy faithful dismantled the south goal posts.

It took the player of the game, quarterback Kenneth Wingate, nearly an hour and a half to make it off the field. "Nothing could top this feeling," Wingate screamed. "The Rams are a great team, but we knew what we had to do to win, and every one of these guys came out inspired and determined to do exactly that. This is a great way for all us seniors to finish our last Border War. What great memories."

Wingate credited defensive tackle Vic Bennett for giving the Cowboys the early momentum with a sack on third and seven on the Rams' first offensive possession.

"Vic started the whole thing off with that monster sack of his. It really fired the offense up, and really steeled in our minds that we could play with those guys and beat them. It was just a spectacular play."

Apparently inspired by the sack, the Cowboys took their first possession and drove 53 yards down the field. Though it ended with just three points, you could tell the drive gave the Wyoming sideline a boost of confidence that lasted the entire game.

It was that confidence that allowed Wingate to step up and deliver strike after strike to his receivers and allowed Wyoming head coach Joe Glenn to leave his offense on the field for six fourth down attempts, five of which were converted.

"We never went for anything longer than fourth and two," Glenn explained. "The staff felt that if we wanted to win, we were going to have to hang onto the ball on offense. To do that, we needed to know we could convert on fourth and short, and our guys did an excellent job of that today.

"I couldn't be happier for these guys, or more proud of the way they performed. This was obviously a very big win for this program, and something we can use to continue to improve our standing in the eyes of the college football world."

The stars of the game for Wyoming were Wingate, who went 19 of 28 for 217 yards and a touchdown, senior safety Scott Potts, who led the Cowboys defense with nine tackles, tailback Terrence Billings, who carried for 60 tough yards on 17 carries, and fullback Anthony Mack, who had a career high nine carries for 33 yards.

The monumental victory moves the Cowboys to an impressive 8 - 1 on the year, including a perfect 4 - 0 in conference play. It is the best start for a Wyoming team since the 1967 team started 10 - 0 before losing 20 - 13 in the 1968 Sugar Bowl. The 2007 Cowboys have the week off before traveling to Salt Lake City to face the Utes of Utah on November 17th.