Gold Team Holds Off Brown Team, 38-35, in Cowboys Spring Game [VIDEOS]

Nick Smith threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, as the Gold held on to beat the Brown, 38-35, in the Wyoming Cowboys Spring Game Saturday in Laramie.

Smith went 12-of-19 for 216 yards passing and added another eight on the ground.

The Gold opened with a 25-yard Smith to Josh Harshman touchdown pass on their first possession. They went up 14-0 when Carl Granderson sacked Brown QB Josh Allen and stripped the football. Christian Irving recovered it and returned it 35-yards for a score.

Smith added a 6-yard TD run for a 21-7 Gold lead midway through the second quarter. His 66-yard TD pass to Joseph Parker early in the second half gave the Gold a 35-14 lead.

After a pair of Shaun Wick touchdown runs for the Brown team, Justin Martin connected on the winning 43-yard field goal with five minutes left.

Brown responded quickly with a 62-yard Allen to C.J. Johnson TD pass and pulled within 38-35 with 3:30 left. After a forced punt, the Brown had one last chance. They picked up one first down, but a Granderson sack and an incomplete pass made it fourth down and 16 yards to go.

Allen connected with tight end Jacob Hollister on an underneath route. He fought off defenders, but Hollister came up one yard short.

Gold ran the ball twice to run out the clock and preserve victory.

Nico Evans added 115 yards rushing with a touchdown for the Gold team. Defensively, Andrew Wingard had two interceptions and four tackles, while Granderson finished with four tackles, including two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss and that forced fumble.

Brown was led by Wick, who ran 126 yards and three touchdowns. Allen was 13-of-21 for 267 yards and two touchdowns. He was sacked twice and intercepted once. Johnson finished with four catches for 118 yards and one TD. The Brown defense was led by Adam Pilapil with six tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss.

The Cowboys will return to practice in August for Fall Camp. The 2016 season will start Sept. 3 at home versus Northern Illinois.