Saturday, September 29
Navy 31, Air Force 20 (Annapolis, Md.; Attendance - 37,615)
Utah 34, Utah State 18, (Salt Lake City, Utah; Attendance - 41,884)
TCU 24, Colorado State 12 (Fort Worth, Texas; Attendance - 32,807)
BYU 31, New Mexico 24 (Albuquerque, N.M.; Attendance - 34,204)
Nevada, Reno 27, UNLV 20 (Reno, Nev.; Attendance - 25,278)
#24 Cincinnati 52, San Diego State 23 (San Diego, Calif.; Attendance - 24,647)
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (SEPT. 24, 2007)
Offensive Player of the Week
AARON BROWN, TCU
Junior, Tail Back, Katy, Texas/Mayde Creek
Aaron Brown rushed for 124 yards on 22 carries in his first start since the season-opener against
Baylor. Brown missed two games due to an injury and come off-the-bench last week against
SMU. He also had three receptions for 26 yards for 150 all-purpose yards in TCU's 24-12 victory
over Colorado State.
Defensive Player of the Week
BRYAN KEHL, BYU
Senior, Linebacker, Salt Lake City, Utah/Brighton
Bryan Kehl was credited with 10 tackles, including five solo stops and a sack in BYU's 31-24
win at New Mexico. Kehl also was credited with a forced fumble and two turnovers, including
a recovered fumble and an interception with a 36-yard return for a touchdown. During the
Lobos' first drive, Kehl picked off quarterback Donovan Porterie and returned the ball 36 yards
to give the Cougars an early 7-0 lead. It was Kehl's first career interception.
Special Teams Player of the Week
DERREK RICHARDS, UTAH
Senior, Punt Returner, American Fork, Utah/American Fork
Derrek Richards collected 135 yards (33.75 average) on four punt returns and scored a
touchdown in Utah's 34-18 victory over Utah State. His 75-yard punt return for a touchdown
gave Utah its first lead of the game (14-7) on the second play of the second quarter and was the
first punt returned for a touchdown by a Ute since 2000 (Steve Smith vs. Cal, Sept. 9, 2000). The
75-yard return ties for the seventh-longest in Utah history, while his 135 yards in punt returns
is the third-best single-game mark at the school and the fourth-best in MWC history. The 135
punt return yards also set the MWC single-game record by a senior. The previous mark was
held by BYU's Mike Rigell (119 vs. Tulane, Aug. 25, 2001).
Week 4 Recap
BYU and TCU each picked up wins in Mountain West Conference football action last
Saturday, while Utah completed an MWC trifecta with a non-conference win over Utah State.
In Fort Worth, TCU (3-2, 1-1) won its second straight game and evened its record at .500 in
league play with a 24-12 win over Colorado State. The loss was the 11th in a row for the Rams,
who remain tied with Utah State for the nation's second-longest losing streak.
BYU (3-2, 2-0) tied the league record for most consecutive MWC wins with a 31-24 victory over
New Mexico (3-2, 0-1) in Albuquerque. The Cougars, who have not lost since dropping a 41-
34 overtime decision to Utah on Nov. 19, 2005, join the Utes and Colorado State as the only
teams in the league's eight-year history to win 10 consecutive games in conference play.
Utah (2-3, 0-2) became the third Mountain West team to defeat Utah State (0-5) this season,
handing the Aggies their 11th straight loss, 34-18, in Salt Lake City. The Utes recorded their
first punt return for a touchdown in seven years while extending their win streak against the
Aggies to 10 games.
In other non-conference action, Air Force (3-2, 2-1) dropped its fifth-straight meeting with
Navy (3-2), 31-20, while UNLV (2-3, 1-0) lost to in-state rival Nevada (2-2), 27-20 and San
Diego State (1-3) fell to No. 24 Cincinnati (5-0), 52-23.
Week 5 Preview
BYU and New Mexico will both be idle for Week 6 action. Utah travels to Louisville for a rare
Friday night appearance in the league's only non-conference tilt of the week. On Saturday, The
Mtn. will broadcast an MWC triple-header as UNLV travels to Air Force, while San Diego
State and Wyoming each kick off the conference portions of their schedules with the Aztecs
visiting Colorado State and the Cowboys hosting TCU.
TAKE NOTICE
BYU QB Max Hall has passed for over 250 yards and at least two touchdowns in each of the first five games this season. Hall leads the MWC and ranks sixth nationally in total offense (353.4) and 15th in passing offense (352.0).
New Mexico TB Rodney Ferguson rushed for 87 yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns in the loss to BYU. He also had a career-high 105 yards receiving on four catches. Ferguson has recorded over 100 yards from scrimmage (receiving & rushing) in each of his last nine games. He has six rushing TDs in the last two games and eight for the season. Ferguson has gone over 100 yards rushing six times in the last eight games and currently ranks 18th in the country with 112.0 yards per game.
San Diego State cornerback Vonnie Holmes has recorded one interception in each of the first four games this season. He is the first Aztec to have an interception in four consecutive games since Eric Lewis in 1995. Holmes' four picks in a season are the most by an Aztec since Marcus Demps had four in 2005. He returned his interception against Cincinnati for a 35-yard touchdown, the first of his career.
UNLV LB Beau Bell has recorded four straight double-figure tackle games. He leads the MWC and ranks tied for 20th in the NCAA in tackles per game with 10.6. Bell also is tied for sixth nationally and leads the MWC with three forced fumbles.
Utah P/PK Louie Sakoda ranks second in the MWC and ranks ninth in the NCAA with a punt average of 45.8 yards. He has recorded 12 punts inside the 20-yard-line and five punts inside the 6-yard line. Sakoda also is 7-of-8 in field goals this season with six of eight attempts coming from 40-yards or beyond.
MWC DEFENSES STAUNCH AGAINST THE RUN
Three MWC defenses have not allowed a 100-yard rusher through the first five weeks of the season (BYU, New Mexico and Wyoming). Wyoming (8th-72.0), New Mexico (20th-89.8) and BYU (25th-99.0) all rank in the Top-30 nationally in rush defense and are allowing less than 100 yards rushing per game. Wyoming ranks fourth in the NCAA and leads the MWC in total defense allowing 248.8 yards per game
ROAD WARRIORS
BYU extended its conference road win streak to eight games with the win at New Mexico. The eight-game streak equals the most consecutive road wins in league play since the Cougars won eight straight league games from September 30, 2995 through September 27, 1997. The current streak started with a 27-24 win at New Mexico during the 2005 season. The eight-game streak is also two behind the conference record of 10 held by Utah (Sept. 27, 2003 - Sept. 15, 2005).
RECORD BOOK WATCH
BYU has tied for the longest win streak in MWC games (10). The Cougars have not lost since dropping a 41-34 overtime decision to Utah on Nov. 19, 2005.
San Diego State's nine kick returns against Cincinnati tied for the second-highest single-game effort in MWC history.
Utah senior Derrek Richards collected 135 yards on four punt returns in the win over Utah State. His effort ranks as the fourth-best in MWC history and also set the single-game record for a senior. His 75-yard punt return for a TD in the second quarter also set the single-game record for a senior. TCU's Brian Bonner held the previous mark with a 64-yard punt return against Baylor earlier this season.
San Diego State junior Vincent Brown registered 142 kickoff return yards on eight touches against Cincinnati. His eight kickoff returns, which are the most ever for a freshman, ties for the second-best single-game effort in MWC history.
Air Force senior Shaun Carney (6,780 yds) and San Diego State's Kevin O'Connell (6,727 yds) have moved into 4th and 5th place, respectively, on the league's all-time list for total offense. In addition, Carney moved into 7th position on the MWC's Top-10 list for career rushing touchdowns (26). He is the highest-rated QB on the list. O'Connell has moved into 4th place on the league's list for all-time passing yardage (5,775 yds.) and into a tie for 4th place for career passing touchdowns (38).
UNLV senior kicker Sergio Aguayo has moved into a tie for 10th place on the league's all-time list for points scored (192). He also moved into 6th place on the league's list for all-time points scored by kicking.
Aguayo and San Diego State senior Garrett Palmer have moved into a two-way tie for 4th place on the league's all-time list for made field goals with 40 apiece.
Wyoming senior Hoost Marsh is second on the league's list for career punt return yardage (861). The record is held by Colorado State's Dexter Wynn (1,329 yards from 2000-03).
MWC NOTABLES
Air Force QB Shaun Carney had a record day in the loss at Navy. He had 300 yards of total offense to become Air Force's all-time leader with 6,780 yards from scrimmage. Carney also threw for a career-best 237 yards.
BYU has scored 20 touchdowns on the season with 12 of those coming via the passing game while seven have been scored on the ground. Running back Manase Tonga leads the team with five rushing touchdowns while WR Austin Collie has a team-leading four touchdown receptions.
New Mexico had five turnovers in the game against BYU, losing three fumbles and throwing two interceptions. The Lobos had committed only three in the first four games of the season.
San Diego State has recorded an interception in all four games this season and has a streak of five straight contests dating back to last season. Sophomore cornerback Aaron Moore and redshirt freshman safety Martrell Fantroy each notched their first career picks vs. Cincinnati, while junior cornerback Vonnie Holmes added his fourth. Fantroy and Moore are the fourth and fifth different Aztecs with an INT so far in 2007. SDSU has six interceptions in its last two contests after having two in its first two outings.
San Diego State committed just its second fumble of the year in the third quarter against Cincinnati, losing one for the first time this season. The Aztecs are tied for second nationally in fumbles lost (1), trailing only San Jose State, which has zero.
TCU has outscored its opponents 72-13 in the first half this season. In the first half of its last 13 games, TCU has outscored its opponents 264-26.
TCU TB Aaron Brown, who finished with 124 yards rushing against Colorado State, posted the fifth 100-yard game of his career. The Frogs are 5-0 in those contests. Two of Brown's five 100-yard efforts have come against Colorado State, including a career-best 166 yards in last year's win in Fort Collins.
Utah RB Darrell Mack had career-highs in rushing yards (132) and carries (26) against Utah State. His 132 yards are the most by a Ute since Quinton Ganther rushed for 155 vs. UNLV on Oct. 22, 2005.
UNLV dropped a 27-20 decision at in-state rival Nevada, Reno last week. It marked the second time this season that the Rebels lost a game by a touchdown in the last two minutes of regulation.
Wyoming is 3-1 for the third time (2004 & 2005) in head coach Joe Glenn's five years at the helm.
Wyoming overcame seven turnovers, five interceptions and two fumbles, and a 20-point deficit in the 34-33 road win at Ohio the last time out.
