Overtime Blues
Mountain West Conference teams were involved in two of the three Division IA games that needed overtime to decide a winner last week. Air Force took then-19th ranked Notre Dame to an extra session before falling 31-34. UNLV scored a touchdown and converted a two-point conversion on the last play of regulation to force OT against Ole Miss. MWC teams have been involved in three overtime games this season, going 1-2.
COACHES TELECONFERENCE
Mountain West Conference head coaches will be available on a media teleconference each Tuesday throughout the season. Each coach will be available for 10 minutes, with the call scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. (MT). You can find the teleconference schedule on the left hand side of the page.
WEEKLY HONORS
Jarrod Baxter (New Mexico), Tyson Smith (BYU) and Dexter Wynn (Colorado State) were named Mountain West Conference Players of the Week for their performances on the football field last weekend. All three players earned MWC Player of the Week honors for the first time.
Jarrod Baxter, New Mexico, FB, Junior (MWC Offensive Player of the Week)
Jarrod Baxter had his best performance as a Lobo in New Mexico's 10-3 victory over Utah. Baxter, a junior from Albuquerque, N.M., was responsible for nearly 70-percent of the Lobo offense as he rushed for a career-high 135 yards on 29 carries in a defensive battle that saw New Mexico tally just 200 total yards. Baxter was able to rush for his third career 100-yard game despite playing on a tender left ankle. He became the 32nd Lobo to surpass 1,000 career rushing yards with 1,088.
Tyson Smith, BYU, S, Senior (MWC Defensive Player of the Week)
Tyson Smith tallied a MWC single-game high and tied a BYU single-game record with three interceptions in the 19-7 victory over Wyoming. The senior from Mesa, Ariz., also picked up a pair of solo stops and an assisted tackle. Tyson helped lead a Cougar defensive unit that forced five turnovers and allowed just 237 yards on the day. He has four interceptions this season.
Dexter Wynn, Colorado State, DB/KR, Freshman (MWC Special Teams Player of the Week)
Freshman Dexter Wynn set a MWC record and tied a Colorado State record with his 100-yard kickoff return, his first career return, for a score on the game's opening kickoff. He followed up with a 66-yard scamper on his next kick return to secure the MWC record for kick return yardage in a game, breaking the mark of 159 set by BYU's Jaron Dabney last season at Utah State. His 66-yard return set up Colorado State's second touchdown of the day as the Rams rolled to a 34-22 win at San Diego State.
LAST WEEK
Colorado State stayed perfect in Mountain West Conference games with a 34-22 triumph over San Diego State. Dexter Wynn ran the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown and set-up another CSU score with a 66-yard first-quarter return. Lon Sheriff passed for a career-best 393 yards for the Aztecs, as wide outs J.R. Tolver and Derrick Lewis totalled 146 and 104 receiving yards, respectively. Air Force had a potential game-winning 28-yard field goal blocked as time expired in its 31-34 overtime loss to Notre Dame. Air Force, led by wide receiver Ryan Fleming's eight receptions for 163 yards, rallied from an 18-point fourth-quarter deficit to force the extra session. Irish receiver Joey Getheral scored his third touchdown of the game on a reverse to claim the victory. New Mexico's Jarrod Baxter ran through the rain for a career-high 135 yards on 29 carries to lead the Lobos to their fifth win in six games and a 10-3 win over Utah. Freshman quarterback Lance Rice saw his first career action, spelling Utes starter Darnell Arceneaux in the second-quarter. Rice threw for 185 yards on 13-of-29 passing. Mississippi running back Deuce McAllister entered the game in overtime to score the winning touchdown on a one-yard run for a 43-40 win over UNLV. UNLV rallied from a 23-7 halftime deficit and needed a 17-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion on the final play of regulation to force overtime. UNLV's James Wofford rushed for 139 yards on 10 carries. In an ESPN Thursday night game BYU coach LaVell Edwards registered career victory No. 255, tying him with Tom Osborne as the sixth winningest coach all time, in BYU's 19-7 win over Wyoming.
AIR FORCE FALCONS
5-3, 3-2 MWC
Next Game: Nov. 11 vs. Colorado State
What You Should Know:
The Falcons' senior class is 7-0 lifetime vs. the service academies. They enter this weekend's Army game with a chance to claim their fourth Commander-in-Chief's Trophy.
Junior wide receiver Ryan Fleming set a Mountain West Conference record with 163 receiving yards in the Falcons 31-34 overtime loss to Notre Dame. The effort was Fleming's MWC leading fourth game over the century mark this season.
Air Force leads the MWC in six-of-eight offensive categories. The Falcons sit atop the league in scoring offense (31.8 ppg), rushing offense (268.5 ypg), total offense (432.5 ypg), pass efficiency (146.0), third-down conversions (42.1 pct) and fourth-down conversions (77.8 pct). They also rank second in first downs (192).
Senior quarterback Mike Thiessen threw for a career-best 265 yards against Notre Dame, completing 17-of-29 attempts.
The Falcons rank fifth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 268.5 yards per game, and eighth in pass efficiency (146.0).
Mike Thiessen's pass efficiency rating of 152.6 ranks him seventh in the country.
Key Stat: Ryan Fleming has caught 18 passes over the last two games.
BYU COUGARS
4-5, 2-2 MWC
Next Game: Nov. 18 vs. New Mexico
What You Should Know:
Senior safety Tyson Smith established a Mountain West Conference record with three interceptions during the Cougars win over Wyoming. The three INTs ties the BYU single-game record, shared by six other players.
With 2,713 career receiving yards, Margin Hooks has moved into second place on the Cougars' all-time receiving yards list. He is 353 yards shy of passing Eric Drage and becoming BYU's career leader.
Senior place-kicker Owen Pochman has amassed a team-leading 56 points this season and a school record 303 points over his career. He has also made 49 consecutive extra points dating back to Sept. 25, 1999 when Virginia blocked his PAT.
The Cougars lead the MWC in passing offense, averaging 282.4 yards per game, ranking them 19th nationally.
Senior WR Margin Hooks has the fourth longest receptions streak in the country, with a catch in 33 straight games.
Quarterback Charlie Peterson broke Jim McMahon's school record of 154 consecutive pass attempts without an interception. Peterson threw 164 passess without an interception.
Key Stat: The BYU defense registered four INTs in its last outing.
COLORADO STATE RAMS
7-1, 4-0 MWC
Next Game: Nov. 11 at Air Force
What You Should Know:
Freshman Dexter Wynn's first career kickoff return will be forever remembered as he took the opening kick in CSU's win over San Diego State 100 yards for a touchdown, setting a Mountain West Conference record. Wynn scampered 66 yards with his second return to establish a MWC record for most kickoff return yards in a game with 166.
In four of Colorado State's victories this season the Rams rallied from fourth quarter deficits. It marks the first time under Sonny Lubick CSU has won more than one game in the same season when trailing after three quarters.
Wide receivers Pete Rebstock and Frank Rice have each caught at least one pass in every game this season. Rice and Rebstock also have posted identical statistics -- 33 receptions for 490 yards.
Pete Rebstock is second in the Mountain West and fifth in the country in punt returns, averaging 23.6 yards.
Linebacker Rick Crowell leads the Mountain West Conference with an average of 12.3 tackles per game.
CSU leads the Mountain West in scoring defense, holding opponents to 16.2 points a game, to rank 14th nationally.
Quarterback Matt Newton has started every game since the 1999 season opener, throwing touchdown pass in 18 of his 20 starts.
Key Stat: Five of CSU's games this season have been decided by seven points or less -- the Rams have won four of them.
NEW MEXICO LOBOS
5-4, 3-1 MWC
Next Game: Nov. 11 at UNLV
What You Should Know:
Tailback Jarod Baxter rushed for a career-high 135 yards on 29 carries in last week's win over Utah. In the two games prior, Baxter totaled four yards on two carries.
The Lobos defense has held their last five opponents to less than 300 yards total offense.
New Mexico has beaten Air Force, Wyoming and Utah in the same season for the first time since 1982.
The Lobos have set a school record with four blocked kicks this season.
New Mexico has tallied a Mountain West Conference best 35 sacks this season, totalling 264 yards.
The Lobos have created 16 of their opponent's 18 turnovers over the last six games. They lead the Mountain West Conference and rank 26th in the nation with a turnover margin of +6.
New Mexico leads the MWC in rushing defense, holding oponents to an average of 113.2 yards per game. However, in their four league games, the Lobos have held their MWC brethren to an average of 72.25 yards per game on the ground. Only one conference team -- Air Force -- has rushed for over 100 yards (145) against the Lobos
At 3-1 in the Mountain West Conference, one game behind league leader Colorado State, the Lobos were picked to finish last in the MWC preseason poll.
After an 0-3 start, New Mexico has won five of its last six.
Key Stat: Over the last seven games the Lobos have scored on 20 of 22 trips inside the red zone.
SAN DIEGO STATE AZTECS
2-6, 2-2 MWC
Next Game: Nov. 18 at Air Force
What You Should Know:
The Aztecs compiled a season-high 419 yards total offense against Colorado State behind sophomore quarterback Lon Sheriff's career-best 393 passing yards.
San Diego State starts one senior on offense (Sean Price - HB) and two on defense ( Brian Berg - MLB and Brian Russell - FS ).
Wide receiver Derrick Lewis is showing himself to be a big play threat. He has two touchdown receptions this season, averaging 55.7 yards per scoring catch.
The receiving tandem of J.R. Tolver and Derrick Lewis totalled 250 receiving yards against Colorado State, with Tolver accounting for 146 yards and Lewis 104. The pair combined to catch 10 passes.
San Diego State is one of only three schools to open the 2000 season with four games against teams from Bowl Championship Series conferences.
The Aztecs have been hit hard by the injury bug this season. They have lost five starters for the year (OL Chris Williams and Zach LaMonda, TE Gray McNeill, DE Akbar Gbaja-Biamila and QB Jack Hawley).
Key Stat: The Aztecs have allowed a total of 13 points in the second half of Mountain West Conference games this season.
UNLV REBELS
4-4, 2-2 MWC
Next Game: Nov. 11 vs. New Mexico
What You Should Know:
The Rebels rushed for a season-high 378 yards in last week's loss to Ole Miss, marking the third time this season they have rushed for over 300 yards in a game.
UNLV has lost its last three road games by a combined seven points.
UNLV's two losses in Mountain West Conference play are by a combined four points.
The UNLV defense has been stingy in the red zone this season, allowing a league low 13 scores.
The 19 rushing touchdowns scored by the Rebels offense is more than the total for the last two seasons combined.
The Rebels have had four players rush for over 100 yards in a game this season. Kevin Brown accomplished the feat for the third time with 134 yards at Colorado State. Jeremi Rudolph has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the last three games, James Wofford scorched Ole Miss for 138 and Jason Thomas rushed for 107 yards against Iowa State.
UNLV has converted on four-of-five two point conversion attempts this season.
The UNLV defense has registered 24 sacks this season, its highest total since 1994
Key Stat: All of UNLV's wins this season have been at home.
UTAH UTES
2-6, 1-3 MWC
Next Game: Nov. 11 at Wyoming
What You Should Know:
Redshirt freshman quarterback Lance Rice saw the first game action of his career in last week's loss to New Mexico. He came on to replace Darnell Arceneaux in the second quarter and proceeded to complete 13-of-29 passes for 185 yards. Rice is expected to make his first career start this weekend against UNLV.
Utah leads the Mountain West Conference in total defense, allowing 287.1 yards per game to rank 11th nationally, and in pass defense, giving up 151.6 yards per contest, which ranks fourth in the nation.
The Utes rank 10th in the nation in kickoff return yards. Their 24.2 yards per return average also leads the MWC.
Starting wide receiver Cliff Russell broke his wrist in the first half of the Colorado State game. Russell, the team's leading receiver with 35 receptions, is expected to be out 4-6 weeks.
The following Utes lead the Mountain West Conference: Adam Tate - rushing (77.5 ypg), Patrick Dyson - kickoff returns (28.7 ypr), Steve Smith - all purpose yards (169.0 ypg). Smith ranks eighth in the nation in all pupose yartd.
Key Stat: Over the last three seasons the Utes are 9-5 on the road and 8-7 at home.
WYOMING COWBOYS
1-8, 0-5 MWC
Next Game: Nov. 11 vs. Utah
What You Should Know:
Freshman wide receiver Ryan McGuffy shattered the Wyoming freshman receiving record of 25 catches for 456 yards set by Wendell Montgomery in 1996. Nine games into the season, McGuffy has 53 catches for 519 yards. He averages 5.89 grabs a game to rank 19th in the nation.
Jay Stoner has attempted 96 passes over the last three games, completing 69 for 670 yards and five touchdowns.
Punter Tom Waring ranks ninth in the nation in punting, averaging a Mountain West Conference leading 43.7 yards per punt.
Senior quarterback Jay Stoner ranks second on Wyoming's all-time passing yards list with 7,587 career yards. He needs 359 yards to overtake Tom Corontzos and move into first place.
Place kicker Aaron Elling has made 8-of-10 field goal attempts this season, including a career-long 52 yarder. His only miss was from 54 yards out. He has also converted all 15 PAT's.
Linebacker Kwabena Peprah leads the Mountain West Conference with 87 tackles. Teammate Patrick Chukwurah is tied with Peprah for the league lead with 51 solo tackles.
Key Stat: The Cowboys are holding opponents to an average of 16.3 yards per kickoff return.
Week 10 Game Previews
BYU at Colorado State
Thursday, November 2
Hughes Stadium (30,000)
Fort Collins, Colo.
6 p.m. (MT), ESPN
Game Notes
Riding a two-game win streak in the series, BYU has won 18 of the last 20 meetings with Colorado State. The Cougars have won the last nine games played in Fort Collins. Three of the last four games have been decided by seven points or less. BYU needs to win all of its remaining games to become bowl eligible. Colorado State is looking to make its second consecutive bowl trip and fifth in seven years.
The Series
BYU leads, 31-24-3. Last meeting: BYU 34-13, September 16, 1999 in Provo, Utah.
The Coaches
LaVell Edwards is in his 29th and final season at BYU with a 255-100-3 overall record. His teams are 18-4-1 against Colorado State. Sonny Lubick is 85-47 overall in 11-plus years as a head coach and 64-28 during his seven-plus year tenure at Colorado State.
Players to Watch - Colorado State (7-1, 4-0 MWC) Passer: Matt Newton (8 GP, 238-142-12, 59.7 Pct, 1,772 Yds, 11 TD, Longest Pass - 59 Yds)
Rusher: Cecil Sapp (8 GP, 107 Att., 500 Yds, 4.7 Avg Per Rush., 6 TD, Longest Rush - 54 Yds)
Receiver: Frank Rice (8 GP, 33 Rec., 490 Yds, 14.8 Avg Per Rec., 3 TD, Longest Rec. - 59 Yds)
Tackler: Rick Crowell (7 GP, 65-31-96, 1 Sack, 6 TFL, 1 INT, 2 PBU)
UNLV at Utah
Saturday, November 4
Rice-Eccles Stadium (45,634)
Salt Lake City, Utah
1 p.m. (MT), ESPN+Plus
Game Notes
The contest features UNLV -- one of the Mountain West Conference's top teams in passing efficiency -- against Utah -- one of the MWC leaders in pass defense efficiency. Utah has won four straight over UNLV. The Utes are averaging 46.2 points per game against the Rebels. UNLV is winless on the road, while Utah has yet to win at home.
The Series
Utah leads, 4-1. Last meeting: Utah 52-14, September 25, 1999, in Las Vegas, Nev.
The Coaches
John Robinson is in his second season at UNLV and is 7-12 overall. Prior to UNLV, Robinson coached at Southern California for 12 years (1976-82, `93-97) and the NFL's Los Angeles Rams for nine years (1983-91). His college coaching record stands at 111-47-4, while his NFL record was 79-74. Utah coach Ron McBride has compiled a 73-52 overall record in 10-plus seasons at the helm of the Utes. McBride has a 7-3 career mark vs. New Mexico.
San Diego State at New Mexico
Saturday, November 4
University Stadium (31,218)
Albuquerque, N.M.
4 p.m. (MT), SportsWest
Game Notes
The road team has won five of the last six games in the series, including each of the last four. San Diego State has won the last seven games played at New Mexico and nine of the last 12. The last two contests have been decided by three points. The Aztecs are looking for their third consecutive road victory of the season.
The Series
San Diego State leads 19-7. Last Meeting: New Mexico 24-21, October 9, 1999 at San Diego, Calif.
The Coaches
Ted Tollner is in his seventh season at the helm of the Aztecs and 11th overall as a head coach. He is 39-38 at SDSU and 65-58-1 lifetime. Before coming to SDSU in 1994, Tollner was the head coach at Southern California (1983-86). New Mexico's Rocky Long is in his third season at the helm of the Lobos and is 12-20 in his two-plus seasons in Albuquerque. Prior to his days at New Mexico, Long was the defensive coordinator for UCLA.
Air Force at Army
Saturday, November 4
Michie Stadium (39,929)
West Point, N.Y.
11 a.m. (MT)
Game Notes
Air Force has won 10 of the last 11 meetings, including three straight. The Falcons have won the last three games by a combined score of 87-7. Air Force seniors are 7-0 vs. the service academies and can claim their fourth Commander-in-Chief's Trophy. The teams meet for the 32nd straight season and 35th time overall.
The Series
Air Force leads, 21-12-1. Last Meeting: Air Force 28-0, November 6, 1999 in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The Coaches
Fisher DeBerry has compiled a 131-72-1 overall record in 16-plus seasons at Air Force. His teams are 24-6 vs. the service academies, including a 12-4- record vs. Army. Army coach Todd Berry is in his first season at the helm of the Black Knights football program. In his fifth year as a head coach, Berry's record stands at 25-30.
MWC BOWL TIE-INS
The Mountain West Conference has three guaranteed bowl berths in 2000. The conference champion is slated for the AXA Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 29. The game will be aired on ESPN starting at 1:30 P.M. (ET) vs. the champion of Conference USA. The Las Vegas Bowl has the second choice from the MWC vs. an at-large opponent in a game scheduled for Dec. 21 at 5 p.m.
(PT) on ESPN2. Newly added to the MWC bowl lineup is the Silicon Valley Football Classic on Dec. 31 from San Jose, Calif. The inaugural game will be carried by Fox Sports Net and pits the Mountain West third selection against the third pick from the WAC. The addiditon of the Silicon Valley Football Classic to the MWC bowl lineup gives the conference six bowl berths in its two-year history.
LAVELL EDWARDS TO CALL IT QUITS AFTER 2000 SEASON
LaVell Edwards, the seventh-winningest coach in the history of college football, announced on Thursday, Aug. 17, that he will retire as Brigham Young University's head coach at the conclusion of the 2000 season. Edwards, who will be 70 in October, has compiled a 255-100-3 overall record in 28-plus seasons with the Cougars. His teams have won 20 conference titles and have appeared in 22 bowl games. In 1984, he was named National Coach of the Year after BYU finished the season 13-0 and won the National Championship. He entered the 2000 season with the third-most wins (251) and the third-best winning percentage (.723) among active coaches.
EDWARDS TIES TOM OSBORNE
With the Cougars 19-7 victory over Wyoming on October 26th, head coach LaVell Edwards recorded his 255th win, tying him with longtime Nebraska coach Tom Osborne as the sixth winningest coach in college football history.
BROTHER ACT
Utah brothers Patrick and Andre Dyson now also have the Mountain West Conference record book in common. The pair are tied for second place in the conference for longest interception return. Each has returned an INT 58 yards for a touchdown this season. Andre was the first to reach paydirt with his pick coming against California on September 9th. Not to be out done, Patrick got into the act with touchdown return vs. Colorado State, October 21st.
MEMORABLE OUTING
BYU quarterback Charlie Peterson etched is name in the Mountain West Conference record book with his performance against San Diego State. The junior signal-caller threw for 376 yards, on 34-of-58 passing vs. the Aztecs. His numbers rank second all-time in attempts (58), tied for second in completions (34), fourth in passing yards (376), second for most plays (65) and fourth in total offense (366).
INTERCEPTION KING
BYU safety Tyson Smith established a Mountain West Conference record with three interceptions during the Cougars 19-7 win over Wyoming on October 26th. The senior from Mesa, Arz., totaled 44 interception return yards in the game and has four INTs on the season.
REEL `EM IN
The Mountain West Conference record for receiving yards in a game has been broken twice this season. BYU senior Jonathon Pittman turned in a record-setting performance in the Cougars' overtime win at Virginia with 161 yards. His record stood for almost two months until Air Force wide out Ryan Fleming set a new mark with a 163-yard effort at Notre Dame.
PREMIUM RETURNS
Colorado State kickoff returner Dexter Wynn made the most of his two returns against San Diego State. The redshirt freshman took the game's opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown, marking the longest return in Mountain West Conference history. He then returned his second kickoff 66 yards (fifth longest in conference history), setting a MWC record for most return yards in a game with 166.
OH SO CLOSE
Mountain West Conference teams have concluded the nonconference portion of their schedules vs. BCS teams. Although this season's record against BCS teams was 2-18, with a few breaks in the closing seconds of some of the games, the final record could have a different complextion. Consider:
San Diego State loses to Arizona State, 7-10, after having a field goal blocked on the game's last play.
Colorado State loses at Arizona State, 10-13, on a field goal on the game's last play.
Air Force loses in overtime at Notre Dame after having the game-winning field goal blocked at the end of regulation.
UNLV loses in overtime at Ole Miss after rallying to tie the game at the end of regulation.
Utah misses a field goal with 0:02 left in regulation for a 21-24 loss at Cal.
It should also be noted that 14 of the 20 games against BCS opponents were played away from home.
