MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL
The Mountain West Conference from top to bottom:
CONFERENCE STANDINGS
No. 14 Utah (6-0, 2-0 MWC) at Wyoming (2-4, 0-3): Utes are the first team in the country to become bowl eligible.
Texas Christian (5-1, 2-0) at Colorado State (3-2, 1-0): Horned Frogs have outscored opponents 62-0 in the fourth quarter.
No. 9 Brigham Young (5-0, 1-0) vs. New Mexico (3-3, 1-1): Cougars scored 137 points in a row before streak was broken when Utah State scored in the fourth quarter.
Colorado State (3-2, 1-0) vs. TCU (5-1, 2-0): Rams WR Rashaun Greer, a Mojave High product, is second nationally with 570 yards receiving.
Air Force (3-2, 1-1) at San Diego State (1-4, 0-1): Run-first Falcons are the only school nationally that has not given up a sack.
New Mexico (3-3, 1-1) at No. 9 BYU (5-0, 1-0): Lobos have won seven consecutive games in October.
San Diego State (1-4, 0-1) vs. Air Force (3-2, 1-1): Aztecs punted 10 times against TCU.
UNLV (3-3, 0-2), off: WR Casey Flair tied a school record with 41 consecutive games with at least one catch.
Wyoming (2-4, 0-3) vs. No. 14 Utah (6-0, 2-0): Cowboys have been shut out in back-to-back MWC games.
FIVE BEST PLAYERS
1. Max Hall, QB, BYU: Has 17 TD passes and only four interceptions.
2. Brian Johnson, QB, Utah: Completing 66.9 percent of his passes, second in MWC to Hall’s 71.8.
3. Harvey Unga, RB, BYU: Averaging 91 yards rushing and 32 receiving.
4. Devin Moore, RB, Wyoming: Leads conference with 149.3 all-purpose yards per game.
5. Paul Kruger, DL, Utah: Leads league with 121/2 tackles for loss.
THEY WROTE IT …
Salt Lake Tribune columnist Gordon Monson, on plotting BYU’s and Utah’s place in the Bowl Championship Series: “Problem is, the matchups still aren’t settled on the field. It’s settled in the minds of so-called experts and in the calculations of smart guys with whom you’d never want to have a cold beverage. That ain’t enough, that ain’t right, that ain’t American and it never will be. … The college football status quo is about protecting the bowls, and making sure the money that is generated by them ends up in the right hands.”
Deseret News (Salt Lake City) columnist Brad Rock, on Utah’s 31-28 victory over Oregon State: “By now it’s probably time to stop trying to figure out how and why the Utes have remained undefeated in six games, and just appreciate the trip. Never mind they fell behind Oregon State by eight points with 2:18 to go Thursday at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Forget that quarterback Brian Johnson fumbled and threw an interception — both culminating in OSU touchdowns. Ignore that the Utes still haven’t played a complete game. Like fried ice cream and Dippin’ Dots, you may not exactly be able to explain it all. You just know they work wonderfully.”
Albuquerque (N.M.) Journal columnist Rick Wright, on New Mexico’s 24-0 victory over Wyoming: “The bad news for the Lobos is that their first-half dominance, combined with steady rain and falling temperatures, thinned the crowd even more. Only a few hundred remained to celebrate at the final gun. There won’t be much to celebrate next week in Provo if (quarterback Brad) Gruner can’t improve on his 8-for-19, 33-yard passing totals against Wyoming. Nor should the Lobos expect the Cougars to be nearly as generous with the football. Still, if no thing of beauty, Saturday’s was a picture the Lobos will be happy to hang on their wall.”
THEY SAID IT …
Colorado State defensive coordinator Larry Kerr, on answering UNLV’s go-ahead scoring drive with the game-winning series in the Rams’ 41-28 victory: “They had a great drive at the end of the game, but we had one even better.”
Utah quarterback Brian Johnson, on Utes fans booing a ragged stretch of his team’s victory over Oregon State: “That third quarter, I would have booed, too.”
Air Force coach Troy Calhoun, on Navy’s two blocked punts returned for touchdowns in its 33-27 victory over the Falcons: “You get two punts blocked, you don’t deserve to win.”
COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON REVIEW-JOURNAL
