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Weekly Football Release: 11/25
Wyoming at New Mexico highlights schedule.
Nov. 25, 2002
Complete Release in PDF Format
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Colorado State clinched the 2002 Mountain West Conference title - its third and second outright - with its 22-14 victory over New Mexcio last Saturday. The Rams will represent the MWC in the 44th Liberty Bowl in Memphis, TN, on December 31st. Playing a 13-game schedule, 6-6 New Mexico must win its regular-season finale against Wyoming to become the MWC's third bowl eligible team. With their regular-season complete, the 8-4 Air Force Falcons have assured themselves of a bowl berth. The Sega Sports Las Vegas Bowl has the second choice of the Mountain West Conference. The game pits the MWC against the fifth selection out of the Pac-10 on December 25th. If New Mexico is victorious, either Air Force or the Lobos will face the fifth choice from the Big East on December 31st in the inaugural Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl. The MWC failed to qualify a fourth team for the Seattle Bowl. PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Bradlee Van Pelt (Colorado State), Brandon Warfield (Utah) and Adam Wade (Colorado State) were named Mountain West Conference Players of the Week following last weekend's action. Van Pelt and Warfield share Offensive Player of the Week and Wade takes Defensive honors. Wade is honored for the second time this season and third of his career (2001). Warfield receives the award for the second time in as many weeks, while Van Pelt is recognized for the first time.
Bradlee Van Pelt, Colorado State, QB, Junior - Offensive Player of the Week
Brandon Warfield, Utah, RB, Junior - Offensive Player of the Week
Adam Wade, Colorado State, LB, Junior - Defensive Player of the Week
MWC Special Teams Player of the Week WEEK FOURTEEN RECAP Jame Truvillion scored on a 1-yard run with 58 seconds left, and J.R. Tolver and Kassim Osgood combined for two NCAA receiving records as San Diego State rallied past Air Force 38-34. SDSU took an early 10-0 lead, struggled for two quarters then scored 21 points in the final 9:54. Air Force seemed in control after Chance Harridge's second touchdown run late in the third quarter, but Joey Ashcroft missed the extra point and later shanked a 30-yard field goal attempt to keep San Diego State within 10 points at 27-17. Harridge rushed for 117 yards and broke the NCAA single-season record for touchdowns by a quarterback with 22. Brandon Warfield ran for a career-high 194 yards and a touchdown as Utah defeated rival BYU 13-6, ensuring the Cougars first losing season in 29 years. Warfield's 194 yards rushing were the most ever by a player in the series. BYU finished with minus-2 yards on the ground. The Cougars also twice fumbled the ball away inside the Utah 3-yard line. Colorado State clinched the Mountain West title with a 22-14 win over New Mexico. The Rams converted two turnovers into touchdowns, including Rhett Nelson's long fumble return. They also blocked a punt for a safety, and their defense had two fourth-down stops in the second half. New Mexico rallied from a 19-0 second-quarter deficit with a pair of TDs, getting to 22-14 late in the third quarter. But the Lobos couldn't overcome failures on fourth down in the second half. CSU prevailed despite being outgained 307-252. PARITY Of the 26 conference games played thus far in 2002, 15 have been decided by eight points or less, with three determined in overtime. To date, 49 of the 110 conference games played in the history of the Mountain West have been decided by eight points or less. In the league's first three years, the home team was 42-42 in conference games, and is 15-11 thus far in 2002. EYE TOWARD THE POST-SEASON In each of its first three years, the Mountain West Conference has had at least four teams finish the regular season at 6-6 or better. Seven of the eight MWC teams have had at least one season finishing 6-6 or better. This year the MWC can qualify no more than three of its teams for bowl games. SINGLE-SEASON RECORD BOOK San Diego State wide out J.R. Tolver will be leaving his name on the MWC single-season record book. Tolver has set a single-season receiving record with 1,502 yards and counting. With 110 receptions he also has established a new single-season mark. His 11 touchdown receptions is also a record. SDSU quarterback Adam Hall ranks second in pass completions with 272 (277 - Kevin Feterik, BYU, 1999) and is tied for the most attempts (452) with Kevin Feterik (BYU, 1999). Aztec receiver Kassim Osgood currently ranks second in receiving yards with 1,426. NCAA RECORDS Air Force quarterback Chance Harridge added his name to the NCAA record book with his 22nd rushing touchdown of the season, breaking the mark of 20 set by Navy's Chris McCoy in 1997. The San Diego State receiving tandem of J.R. Tolver and Kassim Osgood combined for two NCAA records. The duo presently have 213 catches this season, one more than the NCAA record for teammates. Nevada's Damond Wilkins and Geoff Noisy (1996) and Tulsa's Howard Twilley and Neal Sweeney (1965) shared the previous record. Tolver and Osgood also have 2,928 yards, eclipsing the record of 2,774 set by Nevada's Trevor Insley and Cleavon Brooks in 1999. MWC IN THE RANKINGS Colorado State again is ranked in this week's Top 25. The Rams are ranked for the nineth time this season, checking into both polls at No. 13 in the coaches poll and staying at 16th in the AP. The Mountain West has had three of its teams ranked this season (Air Force, Colorado State and BYU), with a team appearing in 13 of the 15 poll weeks. HOME SWEET HOME Its been the tale of two cities for Mountain West teams in non-conference games. MWC teams have gone 11-6 (.647 win percentage) at home, while going 6-16 (.272 win percentage) on the road and 1-1 in neutral site games. WHEN RANKED All-time, teams from the Mountain West Conference are 8-10 when ranked in non-conference games. CSU has posted a 4-4 mark, BYU has gone 3-5 and Air Force is 1-1 in non-conference tilts when ranked. NON-CONFERENCE TILTS Through three-plus seasons, the Mountain West Conference has posted a 79-73 all-time non-conference record. With one non-conference games remaining on the 2002 schedule, the MWC has gone 18-23 against teams from other leagues thus far. OVERTIME There have been four overtime games this season in the Mountain West, with three of them involving New Mexico, including the first conference game to be decided in OT. The following is a listing of 2002 overtime games in the MWC:
Sept. 7, Air Force 38, New Mexico 31 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE WEEKLY RADIO SHOW
For the third consecutive year, the Mountain West Conference will produce and distribute "This Week in the Mountain West," a 30-minute radio show highlighting MWC football. The weekly show will feature interviews with coaches, student-athletes and special guests, with an emphasis on football, while providing timely updates on other sport news from around the MWC.
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