Air Force, Colorado State, New Mexico, TCU, UNLV, Utah and Wyoming have all concluded regular season play.
LAST WEEK'S RESULTS (NOV. 23 & 24)
Friday, November 23
Colorado State 36, Wyoming 28 (Fort Collins, Colo.; Attendance - 18,827)
Saturday, November 24
BYU 17, Utah 10 (Provo, Utah; Attendance - 64,749)
New Mexico 27, UNLV 6 (Albuquerque, N.M.; Attendance - 22,658)
TCU 45, San Diego State 33 (San Diego, Calif.; Attendance - 18,350)
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK (NOV. 26, 2007)
Co-Offensive Players of the Week HARVEY UNGA, BYU
Freshman, RB, Provo, Utah/Timpview
Harvey Unga carried the ball 23 times for 141 yards, averaging 6.1 yards per carry, and scored
a touchdown in BYU's 17-10 win over Utah to clinch the outright Mountain West Conference
football title. He also had one reception for 27 yards, finishing the day with 168 total yards. His
game-winning, 11-yard run with 38 seconds left in the game gave the Cougars their second
straight outright MWC crown. Unga became the first freshman in BYU football history to
record over 1,000 yards rushing in a season.
JOSEPH TURNER, TCU
Sophomore, TB, Austin, Texas/Lyndon B. Johnson
Joseph Turner rushed for a career-high 226 yards on 33 carries (6.8 yards per carry) and scored
four touchdowns in TCU's 45-33 win at San Diego State. The 226 yards were the most by a Frog
since Lonta Hobbs ran for 287 yards on 33 attempts in a win over Memphis on Nov. 30, 2002.
It also was the 14th-best single-game rushing performance in TCU history. Turner is the first
Frog to rush for four touchdowns in a contest since Jeff Ballard in a 49-28 win over New Mexico
on Oct. 1, 2005. It was his second 100-yard rushing game of his short three-game collegiate
career, bettering his previous personal-best of 115 yards on 28 carries earlier this month against
New Mexico.
Defensive Player of the Week JASON PHILLIPS, TCU
Junior, Linebacker, Waller, Texas/Waller
Jason Phillips recorded a career-high 13 tackles, including 10 solo, and had two pass break-ups
in TCU's 45-33 win at San Diego State. Phillips was the only Horned Frog with more than five
tackles and led a defense that limited SDSU to a 4-of-17 mark on third-down conversations.
Special Teams Player of the Week MITCH PAYNE, BYU
Freshman, Place Punter, North Ogden, Utah/Weber HS
Mitch Payne connected on three field goals in BYU's 17-10 win over Utah. Payne's field goals
of 22, 23 and 35 yards gave BYU a 9-3 advantage late into the fourth quarter. Payne's three field
goals marked the first time a BYU kicker had kicked three field goals in a game since BYU's
double-overtime loss at Boston College last season.
WEEK 13 RECAP
No. 23 BYU claimed its second straight Mountain West Conference football title with a 17-10
win over in-state rival Utah on Saturday. In other league tilts, New Mexico topped UNLV (27-
6) and TCU defeated San Diego State (45-33). On Friday, Colorado State closed out its season
with a 36-28 win over Wyoming.
Colorado State (3-9, 2-6 MWC) won consecutive games for the first time this season with its
victory over Wyoming (5-7, 2-6 MWC). The Rams have now won six straight Border War
meetings over the Cowboys in Fort Collins. CSU finishes the season on a two-game win streak
while Wyoming closes out the year having lost four in a row. Trailing 10-9 late in the game, the
Cougars (9-2, 7-0 MWC) scored on a 14-yard touchdown run and two-point conversion to make
the score 17-10 with 38 seconds left to play. The Utes received the ensuing kick but ran out of
time as BYU (9-2, -7-0 MWC) became the second team since Utah in 2003 and 2004 to capture
back-to-back Mountain West titles outright. The Cougars have now won 15 consecutuve games
over MWC opponents and eight straight overall. New Mexico (8-4, 5-3 MWC) defeated UNLV
(2-10, 1-7 MWC) in Albuquerque to reach the eight-win mark for just the fourth time since 1965
and the second time in 10 seasons under coach Rocky Long. It marks the ninth eight-win season
in the Lobos' 109-year history. The Rebels end the 2007 campaign on an eight-game slide. TCU
(7-5, 4-4 MWC) rolled up 694 yards of total offense while tying an NCAA record with 111 plays
in its win over San Diego State (4-7, 3-4 MWC). With the victory, the Horned Frogs clinched
their eighth winning campaign in 10 seasons.
WEEK 14 PREVIEW
BYU and San Diego State will wrap up regular-season action on Saturday, December 1 at
Qualcomm Stadium. The game, originally scheduled to take place October 27, was postponed
due to the wildfires in the San Diego area.
BYU CLAIMS 2007 MOUNTAIN WEST CROWN
BYU became the second team in Mountain West history to win back-to-back outright MWC
football crowns after a 17-10 victory over Utah last Saturday. Utah was the first to accomplish
the feat with consecutive MWC titles in 2003 and 2004. The Cougars are 7-0 in league play this
year, earning their third outright MWC championship and fourth overall. The 2007 Cougars
are attempting to become the fifth team in the nine-year history of the Mountain West to post
an unblemished record in Conference play. BYU was the first team to go undefeated in league
play in 2001 (7-0) and repeated the effort again in 2006 (8-0). Utah went undefeated in
Conference play in 2004 and TCU did it in 2005.
A CLOSER LOOK AT BYU'S WIN STREAKS
BYU has won eight consecutive games and currently holds the second-longest active win
streak in the country behind Hawai`i (12).
BYU extended it home win streak to an MWC-record 12 consecutive wins. The Cougars
broke their own record of 10 set from Oct. 26, 2000 to Oct. 19, 2002. Over the current
streak, the Cougars have beaten their opponents by an average of 26 points per game.
During that stretch, BYU is allowing just 11.7 points per game. The 12-game streak is
currently the third-longest among Bowl Subdivision teams. Wisconsin has the longest
active streak at 14, followed by Boise State with 13.
BYU has also set a new MWC record for consecutive MWC victories with 15. The Cougars
have not lost to an MWC opponent since dropping their MWC finale to Utah on Nov. 19,
2005. The previous record of 10 consecutive MWC wins was shared by Utah (11/1/03-
9/15/05) and Colorado State (10/23/99-11/11/00). The 15 straight victories are currently
tied for the longest active conference win streak in the country with Hawai`i.
BYU currently has a 10-game road win streak in MWC contests. The current streak
eclipsed the old MWC mark of eight held by Utah from Nov. 16, 2002 through Nov. 13,
2004. BYU's streak started with a 27-24 win at New Mexico during the 2005 season.
BYU also has an eight-game home win streak in MWC contests, shattering the previous
MWC streak of six shared by Utah (11/5/03-9/22/05) and Colorado State (10/28/99-
11/16/00). BYU's streak started with a 47-17 win over San Diego State at LaVell Edwards
Stadium during the 2006 season.
DID YOU KNOW...
Only four of the nine MWC institutions have won the Conference football title. BYU,
Colorado State and Utah shared the 1999 crown. BYU won the 2001, 2006 and 2007 titles,
while Colorado State won championships in 2000 and 2002. Utah claimed its own crowns in
2003 and 2004, while TCU captured the league's top spot in 2005.
MWC RECORDS FOUR EIGHT-WIN TEAMS FOR FIRST TIME
The Mountain West Conference has four eight-win or better teams for the first time in league
history. BYU is currently 9-2, followed by Air Force at 9-3 and Utah and New Mexico at 8-4
apiece. The previous best for eight-plus wins in a single season was three teams, which the
league recorded on three occasions (1999, 2000, 2006).
AIR FORCE TO PLAY IN BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES BOWL
Air Force has accepted a bid to represent the Mountain West Conference and play in the fifth
annual Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, which will take place on Monday, December 31,
2007, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The game is set to kick off at 11:30 a.m.
CT and will be televised live on ESPN. The Falcons' opponent could come from the Pac-10
Conference, but has not yet been determined. Air Force will be making its first bowl
appearance since 2002 and 18th overall.
1,000-YARD RUSHERS
For the second time in three years, the Mountain West Conference has four 1,000-yard rushers. Air
Force's Chad Hall of Air Force leads the MWC with 1,415 yards, followed by New Mexico's
Rodney Ferguson with 1,177 yards, Utah's Darrell Mack with 1,128 yards, and BYU's Harvey
Unga with 1,050. UNM's Ferguson (1,062 yards) becomes the third player in MWC history to rush
for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons. Last year, Ferguson finished with 1,234 yards. Former
Lobo standout DonTrell Moore rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his four seasons at New Mexico
(2002-06), while BYU's Curtis Brown collected 1,000-yard campaigns in 2005 and 2006.
AIR FORCE TANDEM RUSHES INTO MWC RECORD BOOK
Air Force WR/RB Chad Hall (2,543 yards) and QB Shaun Carney (2,453 yards) are currently ranked
fifth and ninth, respectively, on the MWC's all-time list for rushing yardage. Carney and Hall are
the second QB/WR-RB combo from one team to be listed among the league's all-time rushers,
joining the Colorado State tandem of QB Brad Van Pelt (2001-03) and RB Cecil Sapp (1999-02).
HALL LEADS AIR FORCE IN RUSHING, RECEIVING AND ALL-PURPOSE YARDS
Air Force WR Chad Hall is the only player in the FBS this season to lead his team not only in
rushing (1,415 yards) and receiving (488 yards), but also in all-purpose yardage (2,504 yards).
HALL CONTINUES RECORD-BREAKING SEASON
Air Force senior WR Chad Hall rushed for 151 yards against San Diego State to record his ninthcareer
100-yard rushing performance. The 100-yard effort is his third straight and sixth in the last
seven weeks. Hall rushed for 1,257 yards on 183 carries and scored 11 touchdowns over the Falcons'
last seven contests of the regular season for an average of 179.6 per game. Only Matt Forte of Tulane
rushed for more yards than Hall during the same seven-week span, collecting 1,499 yards on 249
carries with 16 touchdowns. Hall has 1,415 rushing yards overall in 2007, which ranks sixth in Air
Force history for a single season. He set a school single-game rushing record with 275 yards versus
Army on Nov. 3 and became the third player in Air Force history to record multiple 200-yard rushing
games. Hall's 275 rushing yards are the second-most in MWC history. SDSU's Larry Ned holds the
MWC record for rushing yards in a game with 285 vs. Eastern Illinois in 2001. Hall is the first player
in the league to top the 200-yard rushing mark twice in the same season since SDSU's Lynell
Hamilton did it in 2003.
TCU'S ORTIZ BECOMES MWC TACKLES FOR LOSS LEADER
TCU DE Chase Ortiz became the MWC's all-time tackles for loss leader with 40.5. New Mexico's
Michael Tuohy and TCU's Tommy Blake are tied for third on that same list (37.0). Ortiz and
Tuohy have also moved into a second-place tie on the league's all-time list for total sacks (19.5).
The record is 20.0, held by BYU's Brady Poppinga (2000-04). TCU's Blake is in fifth on that same
list (17.0), while BYU's Jan Jorgensen is tied for 10th (14.5).
MWC NOTABLES
Air Force is 9-0 this season when holding its
opponents to 24 or fewer points. In each of its three
defeats, AFA has allowed 31 or more points.
Air Force concluded the regular season with a 9-3
overall record and a 6-2 mark in the MWC. Air
Force's nine wins are the most since 2000 (9-3). The
nine wins are the most since 1998 when it posted
11. The Falcons' six conference wins are the most in
school history as a member of the MWC and tie as
the third-most in conference play all-time and are
the most since the 1998 team was 7-1 in the WAC.
Air Force CB Carson Bird forced and recovered a
fumble vs. San Diego State in the season finale to
record his ninth turnover this season. Bird has six
interceptions and three fumble recoveries to go
with his first forced fumble.
BYU is 9-2 on the year, marking the 19th season
(since 1976) BYU has posted nine or more wins in a
season. The win also marks the second straight
year the Cougars have had nine or more wins in
back-to-back seasons since the 1989-90 seasons.
BYU WR Austin Collie caught five passes for 126
yards against Utah, marking his fourth straight
game, five overall this season, with 100 or more
yards receiving.
In seven starts, Colorado State RB Gartrell
Johnson recorded 883 rushing yards on 159 carries
(5.6 avg.) and six TDs, including five 100-yard
efforts.
New Mexico has won 12 straight games when
scoring on its opening possession, including 8-0
this season.
New Mexico has won five home games in a season for
the first time since 2003 when the Lobos went 5-2.
New Mexico collected its ninth 8-win season in 109
years of football and only the fourth since 1965 (10-
1 in 1982, 9-4 in 1997, 8-5 in 2003, 8-4 in 2007). Two
of the 8-win seasons have come in the past five
seasons under current head coach Rocky Long.
San Diego State WR Chaz Schilens recorded his
third career 100-yard receiving game against TCU
with 174 yards six catches. The previous week at
Air Force, he recorded a career-best 215 yards.
SDSU recovered three fumbles against TCU with
two coming on defense and the other on special
teams. DBs Vonnie Holmes, Martrell Fantroy and
DL Ornan Nwansi recovered fumbles, while DB
Travis Crawford and S Ray Bass forced fumbles.
The three fumbles recovered are the Aztecs' most
in a game since Dec. 3, 2005, at Hawai`i, when they
also recovered three.
SDSU QB Kevin O'Connell has set a school record
for most rushing touchdowns in a season by a
quarterback with nine. O'Connell surpassed the
previous high posted by Matt Kofler, who had
seven in both 1980 and 1981. O'Connell has 17
career rushing TDs, already an SDSU career record.
TCU did not commit a penalty in a game (at SDSU)
for the first time since 1971. The Frogs entered the
contest as the MWC's second-most penalized team,
averaging 6.8 flags and 60.7 penalty yards each
contest.
TCU is 9-1 in November games over the last three
seasons.
UNLV has lost eight consecutive games and 15 in a
row overall in MWC road contests.
Utah QB Brian Johnson is 7-1 since returning to the
starting lineup after an injury.
RB/KR Devin Moore returned a kickoff 98 yards
for a touchdown against Colorado State, marking
the first time Wyoming returned a kickoff for a TD
since Oct. 16, 1999.
