WLM Fall 2013 | Page 38

WLM | athletics who started two games in 2012. The five combined to start the final six games of last season together. Two starters return on the defensive line in senior defensive tackle Patrick Mertens and junior defensive end Sonny Puletasi. Add to that group sophomore linebacker Siaosi Hala’api’api, who started nine games as a true freshman at middle linebacker, and you have experience at every level of the defense. During spring drills, Hala’api’api was utilized at the “Buck” position, which is a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end. Also returning on the defensive line are senior defensive tackle/defensive end Justin Bernthaler and sophomore defensive tackle/defensive end Eddie Yarbrough, who both started three games at the end of last season. On special teams, junior place-kicker Stuart Williams returns as the starter. Williams successfully converted 7 of 12 field-goal attempts in 2012, and made 35 of 37 point-after-touchdown attempts. Sophomore kick-off specialist Justin Martin also returns. The Cowboys did not have luck on their side in 2012. Smith was knocked out of the second game of the year versus Toledo -- a game that UW lost by three points, 31-34. He was forced to miss the next week’s game against Cal Poly, which ended in a two-point loss, 22-24. The third game Smith missed due to injury was the sixth game of the season versus Air Force. That game resulted in a one-point loss to the Falcons, 27-28. Add to those three close losses a seven-point loss, 28-35, at Nevada in overtime, and the Pokes lost four games by a total of 13 points or an average of 3.3 points per game in those four losses. The Cowboy offense will have a new play-caller this season as head coach Dave Christensen will be calling the plays for the first time in his five seasons at Wyoming. Christensen is no stranger to play calling. He was the offensive coordinator at Missouri and Toledo for the 12 seasons prior to taking over as head coach at Wyoming. Christensen named running back p. 36 Robert Herron; p. 38 Marqueston Huff (top); #95 Patrick Mertens (middle); Brett Smith (bottom) 38 Wyoming Lifestyle Magazine | Fall 2013