MWC Weekly Gridiron Release

Five games on tap this weekend, including four conference tilts.

TCU's defense leads the nation in fumble recoveries (11), total takeaways (23) and turnover margin (+2.17).
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Oct. 10, 2005

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -

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Weekly Report
Four of five games involving MWC teams on Saturday were decided in the waning minutes of the game, including two contests decided on field goals in the final 10 seconds.

TCU used a 19-point second quarter to pull away from Wyoming 28-14 in Laramie Saturday, while Colorado State held Utah out of the end zone on four straight plays inside the 1-yard line with time winding down to preserve a 21-17 victory over the Utes. In other league action, BYU scored a pair of fourth-quarter TDs, including the final score with just 1:40 remaining, to rally for a 27-24 win at New Mexico, while UNLV hit a 52-yard field goal with just nine seconds remaining in the game to post a 13-10 win over San Diego State.

The only non-conference game last week saw Air Force fall at Navy as the Midshipmen nailed a 46-yard field goal with one second remaining in regulation. In all non-league games, the MWC is 12-12. The MWC is 4-5 in road/neutral games vs. automatic-qualifying BCS conferences and 5-7 overall.

Comebacks Highlight Week 6
Three of the four Conference games in Week 6 featured come-from-behind victories. Colorado State trailed Utah, 14-3 entering the fourth quarter before prevailing, 21-17. It was the Rams third-largest fourth-quarter comeback in school history. BYU was behind 24-13 with under eight minutes remaining in the game before using two 80-plus yard drives to pull out a 27-24 victory at New Mexico. UNLV was down 10-7 to San Diego State with just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter and relied on two 52-yard field goals to secure a 13-10 victory.

MWC Teams Have Eye for Interceptions
Four of the nine MWC teams rank in the top 15 in interceptions in the latest NCAA rankings released Oct. 9. TCU is tied for the national lead with Georgia Tech and La.-Monroe with 12, followed by Wyoming tied for fourth (Ohio) with 11. New Mexico and Utah each have eight interceptions on the year to rank tied for 14 with several teams. TCU has recorded four interceptions in back-to-back games to move the season total to 12. The Horned Frogs had nine INTs in all of 2004

TCU Leads Nation in Turnovers and Turnover Margin
TCU leads the nation in fumble recoveries (11), total takeaways (23) and turnover margin (+2.17). In their last two games, the Frogs have forced 13 turnovers while committing just three (+10). The TCU defense had seven takeaways against Wyoming and six vs. New Mexico. Over the last three games, TCU is a +13 (16 takeaways, 3 giveaways) in turnover margin. The Frogs are +16 in their five wins and a -3 in its lone loss.

What You May Have Missed in Week Six...

+ BYU TE Jonny Harline recorded his second-consecutive 100-yard game, registering a career-high 10 receptions for 123 yards against New Mexico. He tied his career high for yards in a game, which he set last week on seven catches at San Diego State.

+ Colorado State wideout David Anderson caught eight passes for 120 yards in the 21-17 win over Utah. It was Andersen's third 100-yard receiving game of the year and 13th of his career.

+ Colorado State DE Jesse Nading made seven tackles (3 solo), including the game-clinching stop at the goal line with 22 second left to play in the game against Utah. Nading also collected the first interception of his career.

+ New Mexico QB Kole McKamey rushed for 103 yards and passed for 218 in the 27-24 loss to BYU. He became the first Lobo to rush and pass for 100 yards in a game three times, accomplishing the feat in the past seven contests. He had 138 yards rushing and 207 yards passing in last year's Emerald Bowl against Navy and recorded 152 yards rushing and 172 yards passing earlier this season against New Mexico State.

+ New Mexico WR Hank Baskett had a career-high 11 catches for 141 yards against BYU, raising his season totals to 43 catches for 684 yards. It was his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and seventh of his career. Baskett has gone over 100 yards five times in his last nine games.

+ Utah RB Quinton Ganther, RB rushed 18 times for 112 yards (6.2 yards per carry) in the 21-17 loss at Colorado State. It was his second 100-yard game this year and the fifth of his career.

+ San Diego State LB Freddy Keiaho had team-high 13 tackles, including five solos, in the 13-10 loss at UNLV. He also recovered his first career fumble and returned it 39 yards. Keiaho has three double-figure tackle games this season and currently leads the MWC with 66 total tackles.