University Stadium (38,723) - Albuqerque, N.M.
6 p.m. MT
Series: UNM Leads 9-7
Last Meeting: 2008, UNLV 27-20
Idle This Week: Wyoming (4-3, 2-1)
Next Week: at Utah - Oct. 31
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS (OCT. 17)
Saturday, October 17
#19/18 BYU 38, San Diego State 28 (San Diego, Calif.; Attendance - 30,258)
#8/12 TCU 44, Colorado State 6 (Fort Worth, Texas; Attendance - 31,156)
Air Force 10, Wyoming 0 (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Attendance - 34,117)
rv/#24 Utah 35, UNLV 15 (Las Vegas, Nev.; Attendance - 26,315)
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (OCT. 18)
Offensive Player of the Week
MAX HALL, BYU
Senior, Quarterback, Mesa, Ariz./Arizona State
Max Hall accounted for 393 yards of offense and four touchdowns in No. 19 BYU's 38-28 win at San
Diego State. Hall completed 27-of-39 attempts for a season-high 346 yards and three touchdowns
through the air while adding a career-best 47 yards on 14 carries and one touchdown on the ground. The
senior quarterback scored his rushing touchdown as time expired in the first half to give BYU a sevenpoint
lead at the break. Hall connected on two touchdown passes on key third-down plays in the second
half to keep the Cougars in front, helping BYU convert 15-of-21 third-down plays in the game overall.
The Mesa, Ariz., native spread the ball around to nine different receivers and did not throw an
interception for the second straight game.
Defensive Player of the Week
BRIAN HENDRICKS, WYOMING
Sophomore, Linebacker, Burlington, Colo./Burlington HS
Brian Hendricks forced a fumble and registered a Wyoming single-game record with 23 total tackles (11
solo) in a 10-0 loss at Air Force. The sophomore linebacker's 23 stops, which also tied an MWC singlegame
record, shattered a Cowboy mark that had stood since 1972 when Frank Erzinger made 21 tackles
against New Mexico. Hendricks' biggest stops came midway through the second quarter with Air Force
having a first-and-goal at the Wyoming 10-yard line. The Burlington, Colo., product made tackles on
both first and second down, then helped the UW defense force a fourth-down incomplete pass to maintain
a 0-0 tie going into the half. Hendricks led a Cowboy defensive effort that held the Falcons to a seasonlow
10 points and just two yards through the air, the second-fewest passing yards in league history.
Wyoming also limited Air Force to 269 yards total offense, 90 yards under its season average. Hendricks
becomes only the third Cowboy in 113 seasons to record 20 or more tackles in a single game.
Special Teams Player of the Week
JEREMY KERLEY, TCU
Junior, Punt Returner, Hutto, Texas/Hutto HS
Jeremy Kerley registered 103 yards on three punt returns with a touchdown in No. 8 TCU's 44-6 win over
Colorado State. The junior's 69-yard punt return TD late in the second quarter put the Horned Frogs on
top, 17-6, heading into the break. His other two returns also set up TCU scores, accounting for 13 points
overall. Kerley, who hails from Hutto, Texas, averaged 34.3 yards per return in the game.
MWC GAME HIGHS - WEEK 7
Passing
Max Hall, Sr., QB, BYU - 346 yards on 27-of-39 passing, 3 Pass TDs, 47 yard rush, 1 Rush TD Rushing
Eddie Wide, Jr., RB, Utah - 111 yards on 17 carries, 1 TD Receiving
Vincent Brown, Sr., WR, San Diego State - 147 on 8 receptions Tackles
Brian Hendricks, So., LB, Wyoming - 23 Tackles (11 solo, 12 assisted), 1 TFL, 1 FF
WEEK 8 PREVIEW
Mountain West Conference play continues in Week 8 with four league match-ups that will be nationally
televised on October 24. Saturday's slate features a Beehive State doubleheader on VERSUS HD with
Air Force at #20/19 Utah at 2 p.m. MT, followed by #7/10 TCU at #16 BYU. The Mtn. - MountainWest
Sports Network will broadcast the San Diego State and Colorado State game in Fort Collins (2 p.m. MT),
as well as the UNLV at New Mexico match-up in Albuquerque (6 p.m. MT).
MWC IN THE TOP 25 POLLS
Three Mountain West teams are currently ranked in the national polls. TCU is the MWC's highest-ranked
team at No. 7 in the Coaches' poll, eighth in the Harris poll and 10th in the Associated Press poll. BYU is
16th in all three polls, while Utah is #19 in the AP and Harris polls and 20th in the Coaches' poll. BYU
has appeared in the polls for 28 consecutive weeks, followed by TCU at 18 straight weeks.
TCU's No. 7 position in this week's USA Today Coaches' Top 25 is its highest ranking this early in the polls
since the Horned Frogs were fourth in the Oct. 15, 1956 Associated Press poll.
MWC SHOWDOWN IN PROVO
The Mountain West Conference will showcase two of its Top 25 teams this weekend as No. 7 TCU faces
No. 16 BYU in Provo, Utah on Saturday, Oct. 24. The game will be broadcast live nationally on VERSUS,
with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m. MT. This will be the third match-up of Top 16 teams for the league
in the last 13 months. On Nov. 6, 2008, No. 9 Utah outlasted No. 11 TCU in Salt Lake City, 13-10. Two
weeks later, No. 7 Utah defeated No. 14 BYU, 48-24.
This year's battle features two teams that have won three of the last four MWC titles (TCU in 2005 and
BYU in 2006 and `07). Since TCU posted a 51-50 overtime victory over BYU in Provo in 2005, the
Cougars have lost just twice in their last 22 home games and are currently riding a 13-game Conference
home win streak.
ESPN College GameDay Built by The Home Depot will broadcast live from Provo on Saturday beginning
at 8 a.m. MT. College GameDay host Chris Fowler will be joined by ESPN analysts Lee Corso, Kirk
Herbstreit and Desmond Howard for the live television broadcast. College GameDay on ESPN Radio will
also broadcast from BYU on Saturday as Ryen Russillo, Trevor Matich and Brad Edwards cover the college
football scene. This will mark the fourth time in league history that ESPN College GameDay has appeared
on a Mountain West campus. Below are the previous occasions.
November 20, 2004 - BYU at #6 Utah
October 19, 2002 - #8 Notre Dame at #21 Air Force
November 3, 2001 - Army at Air Force
BCS STANDINGS
The first Bowl Championship Series Standings were released on Sunday, Oct. 18 and the Mountain West
has three teams in the Top 25. TCU leads all MWC teams at No. 8, while BYU is 16th and Utah is 18th.
The No. 8 ranking by the Horned Frogs is the highest debut for an MWC team in the first BCS poll of the
year. The best previous debut was Utah at No. 7 in 2004. The MWC has had three teams ranked in the
BCS Standings for nine consecutive weeks dating back to last season.
A LOOK INSIDE THE RANKINGS
The MWC has had at least two teams ranked in both of the Coaches' and AP polls since the preseason
rankings were released in August. This is the first time in league history it has accomplished that feat.
The only other time the league has had two or more teams ranked in both polls for consecutive weeks was
during the 2008 season when it had at least two teams in the polls for 16 straight weeks.
The MWC is one of six conferences (ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC) to have at least three teams
ranked in all four national polls this week. Below is a look at the teams tanked in Top 25 polls by
Conference.
Conference
USA Today
Harris
AP
BCS
SEC
5
3
4
4
Big 12
4
5
5
3
Big East
3
4
3
3
Big Ten
3
3
3
4
Mountain West
3
3
3
3
ACC
3
3
3
3
Pac-10
2
2
2
3
C-USA
1
1
1
1
WAC
1
1
1
1
TCU REMAINS UNDEFEATED
TCU is 6-0 for the first time since 2003, when it won its first 10 games, and for only the third time since
1942. The Horned Frogs are one of seven teams that are still undefeated this season (Alabama, Boise
State, Cincinnati, Iowa, Florida, Texas).
TCU'S WIN STREAK FOURTH NATIONALLY
TCU has won eight games in a row dating back to last season and has the fourth-longest win
streak in the country (Florida 16, Iowa 11, Texas 10).
UTAH'S CONFERENCE WIN STREAK
Utah has won 10 straight Conference games dating back to Nov. 24, 2007. The Utes' current
streak is the second-longest in the country behind Florida's 11 and one ahead of Boise State's
nine.
HOME WIN STREAKS
Utah has currently won 13 consecutive home games, while TCU has won 11 straight. The Utes'
13-game streak ranks second in league history, while the Frogs' 11-game streak is third.
Below is a look at how the current streaks rank in the league record book.
CONSECUTIVE HOME WINS - ALL GAMES
18
BYU
9/9/06-11/8/08
13
Utah
9/15/07 - Present
11
TCU
11/3/2007 - Present
10
Utah
11/15/03 - 9/22/05
10
BYU
10/26/00 - 9/6/02
CONFERENCE GAME HOME WIN STREAKS
BYU has won an MWC-record 13 straight Conference home games. The Cougars' last loss
in LaVell Edwards Stadium was to Utah, 41-34 in overtime, on Nov. 19, 2005.
CONFERENCE EVALUATION AFTER FIRST SEVEN WEEKS
After the first seven weeks of play, the MWC has five teams with four or more wins and
three teams with five or more victories.
The 2009 season marks the fourth time in league history that five teams have collected four
or more wins after seven weeks of play (2007, 2003, 1999). It's the third consecutive season,
and third time overall, that the MWC has had at least three teams with five or more wins after
the first seven weeks of the season.
ONE-LOSS TEAMS
The Mountain West Conference is one of four conferences with three teams with one or fewer
losses heading into Week 8 of the season. TCU is currently 6-0 and one of seven teams in
the country undefeated. BYU is 6-1 and Utah is 5-1.
Conference
No.
Big East
4
Mountain West
3
Big 12
3
SEC
3
Big Ten
2
ACC
2
WAC
2
Pac-10
2
C-USA
1
MAC
1
Sun Belt
0
BOWL ELIGIBILITY
With six wins apiece in 2009, BYU and TCU have earned bowl eligibility. The Cougars (6-
1 overall) and the Horned Frogs (6-0 overall) are each bowl eligible for the fifth consecutive
season. BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall is the only coach in school history to qualify
the Cougars for bowl games each of his first five seasons. TCU has earned bowl eligibility
in eight of the last nine seasons under the direction of head coach Gary Patterson. Utah
needs one more victory to become bowl eligible, while Air Force and Wyoming are two
victories away from gaining bowl eligibility. The MWC is one of four conferences with two
bowl-eligible teams heading into Week 8 of the season.
Mountain West - BYU, TCU
Big East - Cincinnati, Pittsburgh
Big Ten - Iowa, Penn State
SEC - Alabama, Florida
CONSECUTIVE GAMES THROWING A TOUCHDOWN PASS
UNLV QB Omar Clayton had his consecutive games with a touchdown pass come to an end at 14
game against Utah this past week, while San Diego State QB Ryan Lindley extended his streak to
12 games. Clayton's streak ends tied for second-longest in MWC history. Lindley is currently fourth
on the list.
Rk.
No
Player, Team
Dates
1.
15
John Beck, BYU
10/8/05 to 10/28/06
2.
14
Omar Clayton, UNLV
8/30/08 to 10/17/09
14
Brian Johnson, Utah
12/20/07 to 1/2/09
4.
12
Ryan Lindley, San Diego State
10/18/08 to present
5.
11
Lance Rice, Utah
10/6/01 to 9/21/02
BROWN BECOMES FAVORITE TARGET AT SAN DIEGO STATE
San Diego State WR Vincent Brown currently ranks third nationally in receiving yards per game
(129.67) and total receiving yards (778). Brown had 147 receiving yards on eight catches against
BYU last week and has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in five of six games this season. In fact, he has
140 or more yards receiving in three games and over 139 yards in four contests. Brown did not have
a touchdown reception against the Cougars, thus ending his five-game TD streak.
OPPORTUNISTIC DEFENSES
Air Force and Colorado State rank in the top 14 nationally in turnovers gained. The Falcons are third
in the NCAA with 21 turnovers gained, while the Rams are tied for 14th with 16. Air Force and
Wyoming are tied for seventh nationally with 10 interceptions apiece, while Colorado State and
Utah are each just one behind with nine interceptions, ranking tied for 18th.
DEFENSE PROVIDING POINTS FOR AIR FORCE
Air Force has 21 total takeaways this season (10 interceptions, 11 fumbles) and has forced two or
more turnovers in 18 of its last 23 games. The Falcons have scored five defensive touchdowns this
season. The five touchdowns are the most in a single season in Academy history. Air Force has scored
on three interception returns (Anthony Wright - 47 yards vs. SDSU and 67 yards vs. Navy, Jon Davis
- 38 yards vs. New Mexico) and a pair of fumble returns (Wale Lawal - 10 yards vs. Nicholls State,
Reggie Rembert - 47 yards vs. SDSU).
THIRD-DOWN DEFENSE
The Utah, Air Force and TCU defenses have been solid on third-down conversions this season. The Utes
have held opponents to 22-of-82 third-down conversions to rank fourth in the country, limiting foes
to a 23.83 percent success rate. The Horned Frogs are fifth, limiting opponents to 24-of-89
conversions (26.97 percent). The Falcons are sixth nationally, holding opponents to a 28.00 conversion
rate (28-of-100). The MWC is one of only two conferences (SEC) with three teams ranked in the top
10 for third-down conversion defense.
THIRD-DOWN OFFENSE
BYU is making the most of its third-down opportunities this season and currently leads the country with
a 64.13 conversion rate. The Cougars have been successful on 59-of-92 third-down conversions.
UNLV is ninth nationally, converting 50.51 percent (50-of-99) third-down chances.
INTERCEPTION STREAKS
Utah extended its interception streak to 10 consecutive games, while Colorado State saw its streak
end at seven after coming up empty at TCU this past weekend.
UTAH HOSTS PROJECT ONE HOPE
The University of Utah Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the U. Alumni Association and the
Polynesian Coaches Association are joining forces in support of "Project One Hope" at this Saturday's
Utah-Air Force football game. Members of each group will be stationed outside the stadium gates
to collect donations for families affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami that devastated the
islands of American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga. "Project One Hope" is of special interest to the Utah
football team, which has 30 Polynesian players on its roster along with five staff members.
THE MWC IN WEEK 7
Of the 22 touchdowns scored last week by MWC teams, 11 were scored
through the air, while nine were rushing TDs. MWC squads also tallied two
special teams touchdowns, as TCU's Jeremy Kerley returned a punt 69 yards
for a touchdown, and Utah's Robert Johnson took a fumble 70 yards for a
TD.
Four MWC teams threw for over 200 yards last week. BYU led the way with
346 yards in the air, followed by San Diego State (322), UNLV (236) and TCU
(224).
BYU, TCU and Utah held their Conference foes to fewer than 100 rushing
yards. The Cougars limited San Diego State to 20 rushing yards, while
Colorado State only gained 70 rushing yards at TCU. Utah limited UNLV to
91 yards on the ground.
BYU improved to 6-1 on the season. Prior to the Cougars' 6-1 record to open
the 2008 season, the last time BYU had a 6-1 start or better was in 2001,
when the program posted 12 consecutive wins.
Six MWC defenses made at least one sack last weekend to total 17 sacks
overall. Air Force led the league last week with six QB sacks, while TCU had
four. Utah and Wyoming earned three and two sacks, respectively, while
BYU and UNLV totaled one sack each.
BYU's offensive unit gained a total of 512 offensive yards at San Diego State
to mark the Cougars' third 500+ yard output this season. On Oct. 10, BYU
gained 611 yards at UNLV, and the Cougars netted 527 total offensive yards
at Tulane on Sept. 12.
The Horned Frogs limited Colorado State to 10 first downs, which marks TCU's
third game this season it has limited the opposition to 10 or fewer first downs.
The Frogs have held opponents to 17 or fewer first downs in their last 10
games, dating back to last season. TCU last gave up more than 17 first downs
in its 32-7 win vs. BYU on Oct. 16, 2008, when the Frogs' defense allowed
19 Cougar first downs.
With its 10-0 win over Wyoming, Air Force posted its first shutout over a
Conference opponent since the inception of the Mountain West Conference.
The Falcons' last shutout against a league team was in 1997, when they
earned a 24-0 win at Colorado State. Last Saturday's shutout also marks the
second for AFA this season, after a 72-0 season-opening win vs. Nicholls
State. The Falcons had not shut out two opponents in the same season since
1997.
Air Force WR Zach Kauth blocked a Wyoming field goal attempt in the
second quarter of Saturday's contest, the third blocked kick by a Falcon this
season. AFA's three blocked kicks are the most for the program since blocking
seven in 2006. The Falcons have blocked at least one kick every season since
1990.
Senior tight end Dennis Pitta became BYU's all-time leading tight-end this
past weekend. Pitta, who has racked up 2,543 yards in a Cougar uniform,
surpassed Gordon Hudson, who tallied 2,484 career receiving yards from
1981-83.
