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Brett Smith threw a touchdown pass to Robert Herron with 22 seconds left to lift Wyoming to a 35-32 victory over Weber State on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Smith threw for 294 yards and three touchdowns on 27-for-41 passing. The first pass attempt of his college career was intercepted by a defensive lineman when the ball slipped out of Smith's hand. The turnover resulted in a Weber State touchdown.
''It surely wasn't a clean or pretty win, but it's a win,'' Smith said.
Smith recovered on Wyoming's next series, capping a six-play, 76-yard drive with a 1-yard run. Smith keyed the drive with a 43-yard pass to Alvester Alexander and a 28-yard pass to Brandon Miller.
Wyoming went up 21-19 at the half thanks to a 4-yard TD run by Alexander and a 9-yard TD pass from Smith to Mazi Ogbonna.
The Cowboys scored on their first possession of the third quarter when Smith connected with Herron on a 45-yard pass play. Herron finished with a career-high seven receptions for 104 yards and two TDs.
Weber State, which amassed 541 yards total offense, answered with a 12-yard score by Josh Booker in the third quarter and a 49-yard TD pass from Mike Hoke to Xavian Johnson with 1:48 left for a 32-28 lead.
Smith then led a 13-play, 73-yard drive for the winning score. The drive included a 19-yard pass play on 4th and 11 from Smith to Chris McNeill that moved the Cowboys down to the Wildcats' 9-yard line.
Weber State's last drive stalled at the Wyoming 35-yard line, and a 53-yard field goal attempt by Shaun McClain with 2 seconds left fell well short.
Hoke led Weber State, passing for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Booker rushed for 117 yards and a score.
The Wildcats have lost 22 straight games to FBS opponents.
Weber State hasn't beaten an upper division team since 1993 and hasn't won a season opener on the road since 1990.
''Played hard enough to win,''' Wildcats coach Ron McBride said. ''It's just one of those deals. You got to close the show.'''
