Photo courtesy of Louisiana Tech Athletics
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (Sports Network) -
IDAHO: The Vandals scored more points in their meeting against Wyoming on Saturday than they had in all three of their previous contests combined, but still the squad came out on the short end of a 40-37 overtime final at the Kibbie Dome. Quarterback Dominique Blackman converted 34-of-46 passes for 306 yards and three touchdowns for Idaho, as the team bowed for the seventh time in as many games which means they are tied for the third-longest losing streak in the nation entering this week. Najee Lovett caught eight passes for 73 yards and a couple of touchdowns, while Ryan Bass ran for a game-high 121 yards on 19 attempts in the setback. As a whole, the team generated 203 yards rushing versus Wyoming, but still the Vandals are ranked 118th in the nation this week with just 84.0 ypg on the ground. The Vandals catch one of a number of first-time adversaries on the season this weekend, as they tangle with the North Carolina Tar Heels
LOUISIANA TECH: The Bulldogs registered their third straight game with at least 50 points (the first time in program history) to kick off the 2012 campaign as they crushed Illinois in non-conference action on Saturday, 52-24. A perfect 3-0 for the first time since 1997, the defending Western Athletic Conference champions got the job done on both sides of the ball as quarterback Colby Cameron converted 15-of-22 passes for 284 yards and four touchdowns, while Quinton Patton hauled in six balls for 164 yards and two scores. Running back Tevin King carried the ball 10 times for 37 yards and two TDs and linebacker Antonio Mitchum recovered a fumble in the end zone for a defensive score as the squad forced six Illinois turnovers in the onslaught. The Bulldogs, third in the nation in scoring with 54.7 ppg, are again out on the road for their next opponent as they visit the Virginia Cavaliers for a non- conference bout this coming weekend, the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
NEW MEXICO STATE: The annual battle between the Aggies and the New Mexico Lobos didn't go quite as planned for NMSU as the hosts dropped a 27-14 final in Las Cruces on Saturday. New Mexico State was led by Andrew Manley who converted 22-of-34 passes for 256 yards and a score, with six of his completions going to Austin Franklin who turned them into a game-high 107 yards and a score in the losing cause. Robert Clay scored the other TD for the hosts on an 11-yard run as he finished with 47 yards on 11 carries, but the team as a whole gained just 78 yards on the ground which is why they are ranked 117th in the country this week with just 90.5 ypg rushing through four outings. The Aggies are home this week for the second time in as many games as they kick off their Western Athletic Conference schedule against one of the newcomers to the league, Texas-San Antonio. Led by one-time Miami head coach Larry Coker, the Roadrunners are meeting NMSU for the very first time on the football field.
SAN JOSE STATE: David Fales threw three touchdown passes in the final 12 minutes of action, four scoring tosses overall, as he led the Spartans to a thrilling 38-34 win over San Diego State in non-conference action at Qualcomm Stadium on Saturday. Fales completed 21-of-31 passes for 260 yards, converting all but three of his 16 attempts for 187 yards in the final quarter of play as the Spartans defeated SDSU on the road for the first time since 1952. Four different receivers landed in the end zone for the Spartans, none more important than Chandler Jones who registered a 14-yard TD catch with less than a second remaining in regulation to put the visitors over the top. Vince Buhagiar led the effort on defense as he recorded 11 tackles, three coming behind the line of scrimmage. The Spartans now prepare for a long trip to the other side of the continent as they clash with the Navy Midshipmen in Annapolis this coming weekend. The only other meeting between the two programs took place last season with SJSU capturing a 27-24 victory at home in November.
TEXAS STATE: The Bobcats appeared to have their meeting with Stephen F. Austin well in hand on Saturday with a 41-17 advantage midway through the third quarter, but as it turned out the hosts needed every one of those points as they ended up slipping by with a 41-37 victory. Shaun Rutherford carried the Bobcats as he not only completed 21-of-26 passes for 301 yards and three touchdowns, he also ran for 48 yards and another TD as the team won for the second time in three outings on the campaign. Chase Harper made his way into the end zone twice on five receptions, while Isaiah Battle caught six balls for a game-high 140 yards and another score for the Bobcats. The defense was forced to play 96 snaps and surrendered 505 yards of total offense to SFA in the close call. The Bobcats settle in at home this week as they await the arrival of the Nevada Wolf Pack for a first-ever meeting.
TEXAS-SAN ANTONIO: Still waiting for their first true test of the season, the Roadrunners moved to 4-0 on Saturday as they ran all over Division II's Northwestern Oklahoma in a 56-3 final at the Alamodome. Against the Rangers, UTSA set a new school record with six rushing touchdowns, rolling up 235 yards rushing and a season-high 445 yards of offense in the onslaught. Ahead by a 42-3 margin at the break, UTSA enjoyed a comfortable advantage thanks to Evans Okotcha and David Glasco II who both ran for a pair of touchdowns within the first 17 minutes of action. With such a comfortable lead, the Roadrunners ended up using three different quarterbacks who combined to hit on all but two of their 17 pass attempts for 210 yards and a score as UTSA posted a fifth straight win going back to last season. The Roadrunners get their first-ever look at New Mexico State this weekend when UTSA lands in Las Cruces for a WAC showdown at Aggie Memorial Stadium.
UTAH STATE: Kerwynn Williams ran for a career-high 205 yards and a couple of touchdowns as he helped guide the Utah State Aggies to a 31-19 win over the Colorado State Rams in non-conference action at Hughes Stadium on Saturday night. Williams, who was averaging just 67.0 ypg on the ground coming into the week, carried the ball 21 times for the Aggies in their first road win of the season. Chuckie Keeton converted 23-of-30 passes for 178 yards and a score, shaking off two interceptions in the victory. The Aggies surrendered 331 yards of total offense to CSU on the road, and still Utah State ranks 11th in the country this week with just 274-8 ypg allowed over the first four games of 2012. Utah State now takes on UNLV in non-conference action this coming weekend, with the Aggies owning a 12-7 edge in the all-time series despite a setback in the most recent meeting with the Rebels.