This Week's Games Friday, November 3
Air Force (3-4, 3-2) at Army (3-6) on ESPN2
Saturday, November 4
TCU (5-2, 1-2) at UNLV (1-7, 0-4)on VERSUS
San Diego State (1-6, 1-2) at Wyoming (4-5, 3-2) on the mtn.
BYU (6-2, 4-0) at Colorado State (4-4, 1-3) on the mtn.
Last Week's Results Saturday, October 28
Utah 45, UNLV 23 (Salt Lake City, Utah; Attendance - 42,474)
BYU 33, Air Force 14 (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Attendance - 35,521)
Cal Poly 16, San Diego State 14 ( San Diego, Calif.; Attendance - 20,974)
TCU 26, Wyoming 3 (Fort Worth, Texas, Attendance - 31,394)
New Mexico 20, Colorado State 19 (Fort Collins, Colo.; Attendance - 22,011)
Week 9 Recap BYU defeated Air Force, 33-14, last Saturday to pick up its fifth consecutive win and become bowl-eligible for the second straight year. The last time the Cougars were bowl-eligible in consecutive seasons was 1998 and 1999. Since its inception in 1999, the Mountain West Conference has had at least three teams compete in bowl games every year, with a league-record four squads seeing bowl action in 2005.
In other MWC action on Saturday, Utah ended a two-game losing skid after defeating UNLV, 45-23, while New Mexico registered its third straight comeback victory, kicking a 33-yard field goal as time expired to post a 20-19 win at Colorado State. In Fort Worth, TCU carved up Wyoming's nationally top-ranked defense for 432 yards in its 26-3 victory.
The only non-conference game last week saw San Diego State fall, 16-14, to Cal Poly after the Mustangs nailed a 37-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining.
Starting Fast in Conference Play BYU (4-0) is the lone undefeated team remaining in MWC play. In the seven-year history of the MWC, six teams have started 4-0, with all six securing at least a share of the conference championship.
Week 10 Preview Air Force (3-4, 3-2) travels to Army (3-6) for its annual Commander-in-Chief tilt on Friday. The Black Knights defeated the Falcons, 27-24, in Falcon Stadium last year, snapping an eight-game winning streak for Air Force over Army.
UNLV (1-7, 0-4) hosts TCU (5-2, 1-2) at Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas. The Horned Frogs have won three of the four meetings, including a 51-3 win last year in Fort Worth.
Wyoming (4-5, 3-2) welcomes San Diego State (1-6, 1-3) to War Memorial Stadium in Laramie on Saturday. The Aztecs have won six of the seven meetings since the inception of the MWC, including a 34-21 victory last year in San Diego. The Cowboys won the last meeting in Laramie, 20-10, in 2004.
BYU (6-2, 4-0) travels to Fort Collins to face Colorado State (4-4, 1-3) Saturday. The Cougars lead the series 4-3 since 1999 and have currently won two in a row against the Rams. Each of the previous seven contests have been decided by 10 or more points.
Week 9 Highlights
Air Force LB Drew Fowler recorded 13 tackles (seven solo) in the loss to BYU. It was Fowler's third double-figure tackle game of the season.
BYU LB Cameron Jensen tallied 13 tackles (three solo) in the win at Air Force. Jensen has 10-plus tackles in three games this season.
Colorado State QB Caleb Hanie threw for 254 yards on 25-of-40 completions and two touchdowns in the loss to New Mexico.
San Diego State redshirt freshman RB Atiyyah Henderson rushed for a game-high 140 yards on 26 carries against Cal Poly. Henderson has rushed for at least 140 yards in each of the last two games.
San Diego State LB Russell Allen and DE Antwan Applewhite each recorded 10 tackles, all solo, in the loss to Cal Poly.
TCU WR Quentily Harmon had a career-high 105 yards receiving on three catches against Wyoming. He became the first Frog to reach 100 yards receiving since tailback Aaron Brown had 107 in this year's season opener at Baylor. Harmon is the first TCU wideout with 100 yards receiving since Cory Rodgers had 128 on six catches last year at Air Force.
UNLV QB Rocky Hinds passed for 232 yards on 25-of-35 completions and two touchdowns at Utah.
Wyoming's Wendling Selected to 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class Wyoming senior defensive back John Wendling was chosen as one of 17 student-athletes selected to College Football's 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class. The 17 players also are finalists for the 2006 Draddy Trophy, which recognizes one player as the best in the country for combined academic success, football performance and community leadership. Each member of the 2006 National Scholar-Athlete Class receives an $18,000 fellowship for post-graduate studies. The group will also vie for the prestigious Draddy Trophy, which is selected by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame. The winner, named on Dec. 5, will earn a total of $25,000 for post-graduate work. Nominees for the Draddy Trophy must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and demonstrate strong leadership and citizenship. The Air Force Academy's Chris Howard is the lone student-athlete from a Moutain West Conference institution to win the Draddy Trophy back in 1990.
Defensive Effort The Mountain West currently has three student-athletes ranked in the Top 20 of the NCAA statistics for tackles per game. UNLV LB Beau Bell leads the league and is ranked ninth nationally with a 10.9 average (76 total-7 games). Air Force LB Drew Fowler is second in the MWC and 11th nationally, averaging 10.1 tackles per game (71 total-7 games), while New Mexico Lobo/FS Quincy Black is averaging 9.8 tackles per game (88 total-9 games) to rank third in the MWC and 16th in the country.
Overtime Games Mountain West teams have been involved in four overtimes contests in 2006, tying the league record for overtime games in one season set in 2002. Wyoming has been involved in two of the three overtime games, falling at Virginia, 12-13, on Sept. 9, and at Syracuse Sept. 29, 34-40 in double-overtime. BYU also has played one overtime contest this season, dropping a 23-30 double-overtime decision at Boston College on Sept. 16. The first intra-league overtime contest of the year took place Oct. 14 with New Mexico defeating UNLV, 39-36. MWC teams are 2-8 all-time against non-conference opponents in overtime since the league's inception in 1999. An MWC team hasn't won an overtime contest against a non-conference foe since BYU defeated Virginia, 38-35, on Sept. 2, 2000. Below is a look at MWC records in overtime since it was established in college football in 1996. The MWC record reflects each institution's record since joining the MWC.
Team
2006
MWC
Total
Last Overtime Game
Air Force
0-0
1-2
4-2
Nov. 1, 2003 (Lost to Utah, 43-45, 3ot)
BYU
0-1
3-3
5-3
Sept. 16, 2006 (Lost at BC, 23-30 2ot)
Colorado St.
0-0
0-0
0-1
Oct. 13, 2001 (Lost to Fresno State, 22-25)
New Mexico
1-0
2-3
3-4
Oct. 14, 2006 (Defeated UNLV, 39-36)
San Diego St.
0-0
0-0
3-1
Oct. 24, 1998 (Defeated Utah, 21-20)
TCU
0-0
2-0
5-4
Sept. 24, 2005 (Defeated BYU, 51-51)
UNLV
0-1
1-4
1-7
Oct. 14, 2006 (Lost to New Mexico, 36-39)
Utah
0-0
2-2
2-3
Nov. 19, 2005 (Defeated BYU, 41-34)
Wyoming
0-2
1-3
3-4
Sept. 30, 2006 (Lost at Syracuse, 34-40 2ot)
Consecutive Games Without Being Shut Out
Rk.
Team
Games
Last Time Shutout
1.
TCU
171
Nov. 16, 1991 (Texas, 0-32)
2.
Air Force
163
Dec. 31, 1992 (Mississippi, 0-13)
3.
Utah
160
Sept. 4, 1993 (Arizona State, 0-38)
4.
New Mexico
53
Sept. 27, 2002 (Texas Tech, 0-49)
5.
UNLV
32
Nov. 8, 2003 (San Diego State, 0-7)
6.
BYU
31
Nov. 22, 2003 (Utah, 0-3)
7.
Wyoming
30
Sept. 11, 2004 (Texas A&M, 0-31)
8.
San Diego State
5
Sept. 16, 2006 (Wisconsin, 0-14)
9.
Colorado State
1
Oct. 21, 2006 (Wyoming, 0-24)
Team Shutouts (Since MWC Inception 1999)
Rk.
Team
No. of Games
Last Time
1.
TCU
6
Sept. 11, 2004 (SMU, 44-0)
2.
Utah
5
Sept. 16, 2006 (Utah State, 48-0)
3.
San Diego State
3
Nov. 8, 2003 (UNLV, 7-0)
3.
Air Force
3
Aug. 30, 2003 (Wofford, 49-0)
5.
Wyoming
2
Oct. 21, 2006 (Colorado Statae, 24-0)
5.
BYU
2
Sept. 23, 2006 (Utah State, 38-0)
5.
New Mexico
2
Sept. 14, 2002 (Baylor, 23-0)
8.
UNLV
1
Sept. 16, 2000 (North Texas, 38-0)
9.
Colorado State
0
Oct. 4, 1997 (Hawai`i, 63-0)
Ahead of the Class Through the first seven-plus years of the MWC, Colorado State sits atop the league standings in MWC victories, while Utah has accumulated the most overall wins. Below is a look at how all nine MWC teams have fared:
School
MWC W-L
Pct.
Overall W-L
Pct.
Bowls
Colorado State
35-19
.648
56-38
.596
6
Utah
35-20
.636
60-31
.659
5
BYU
34-20
.630
52-41
.559
3
New Mexico
32-23
.582
48-45
.516
3
Air Force
26-29
.473
48-41
.539
2
San Diego State
22-31
.415
31-57
.352
0
UNLV
15-39
.278
31-58
.348
1
Wyoming
15-40
.273
30-59
.337
1
TCU
9-2
.818
16-3
.842
1
Length of Games (Home Game Total Run Times) The new NCAA timing rules have definitely changed the length of games and number of plays in the Mountain West Conference. The chart below compares the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
Year
Length of Game
No. of Plays
2006
3:00
161
2005
3:26
182
Inside the Numbers
1...Air Force's national rank on third-down conversions. The Falcons have converted 62-of-105 (59.0 percent) third downs this season.
1...The national rank of Wyoming's pass defense (134.3 ypg).
1...TCU held an opponent (Wyoming) scoreless in the first half for the first time this season.
1...Colorado State has lost back-to-back home conference games only once during Sonny Lubick's 14-year tenure as head coach. In 1995, Colorado State lost at home to BYU and New Mexico. Those games did not come on consecutive weekends and the Rams had road wins at Utah State and Utah.
2...TCU WR Marcus Brock had a rushing touchdown for the second consecutive week when he scored on a three-yard third-quarter run against Wyoming.
2...Air Force has been -2 in turnover margin each of the last two games and has lost two both contests. The Falcons opened the year with a 3-2 record while posting a +7 turnover margin. Air Force was on the plus side of the turnover battle in four of the first five games.
3...New Mexico has won three straight games for the first time since opening the 2005 season 3-0.
4...After allowing 27 sacks in the first seven games (4.5 avg.), New Mexico has allowed four total sacks over the last two weeks.
5...TCU is 5-0 this year when holding its opponent to 17 points or less.
5...The Cowboy defense has shut out its opponents in a half five times this season. Wyoming shut out Utah State, Boise State, New Mexico and Colorado State in the second half, and Utah in the first half.
8...Through eight games, Colorado State has yet to have an individual rusher surpass 100 yards in a game. It is the latest point in a season during the Sonny Lubick era that the Rams have not had a 100-yard rusher.
8...BYU's 21-0 halftime lead against Air Force last weekend extended the Cougars' streak of being ahead at the half to eight straight games. BYU has held a halftime advantage in every game this season.
8...Air Force has defeated both Colorado State and Wyoming in the same season for the eighth time in the Fisher DeBerry era. This season, the Falcons defeated Wyoming, 31-24, in Laramie and Colorado State, 24-21, in Falcon Stadium. In the previous seven seasons in which the Falcons defeated both Colorado State and Wyoming, Air Force has gone on to win eight or more games that season. The last time it happened was in 2000 when the team finished 9-3 overall.
9...The current number of consecutive conference losses for UNLV dating back to last season.
9...TCU has held its opponent under 86 yards rushing nine of the last 10 contests. The Frogs held Wyoming to just 28 yards last Saturday.
11...The number of receptions BYU RB Curtis Brown had at Boston College on Sept. 16. The 11 receptions are tied for the most by a RB in the NCAA this season (Shannon Woods-Texas Tech).
12...Wyoming WR Michael Ford had 12 receptions for 110 yards at Syracuse on Sept. 29. The 12 receptions are the most by an MWC receiver this season and tied for the 10th-highest game total in the NCAA this season.
12...Consecutive games New Mexico has won when the team does not commit a turnover. The Lobos are 15-1 in such games under head coach Rocky Long.
13...The number of consecutive games San Diego State WR Chaz Schilens has caught at least one pass.
14...UNLV has lost 14 consecutive road games, dating back to a 24-20 win at BYU on Oct. 8, 2004.
19...The number of tackles Colorado State DB Klint Kubiak recorded against Air Force. The 19 tackles are the most by a player in the MWC this season and tied for the fourth-most in a single game in the NCAA.
21...The number of consecutive games New Mexico WR Travis Brown has caught at least one pass.
21...Colorado State has 21 quarterback sacks through seven games, matching the team's season total of 19 in 2005.
23...Since 2001, New Mexico has recorded 23 wins and just six losses in regular-season games played after Oct. 15.
52...The length of the longest field goal attempt made by an MWC place kicker this season. New Mexico's Kenny Byrd connected on a career-high 52-yard field goal against Missouri. It also was the third-longest field goal in school history.
160...BYU is outscoring its opponents 160-41 in the first half this season.
176...The number of receiving yards for UNLV WR Ryan Wolfe on nine receptions against New Mexico on Oct. 14. The 176 yards tie the MWC freshman record set by Steve Savoy of Utah in 2003.
436...BYU QB John Beck's passing yardage at Boston College on Sept. 16. The 436 passing yards is the fourth-highest single game total in the NCAA this season.
