(Sports Network)
AIR FORCE: The high-flying Falcons had little trouble with Northwestern State
in the first game of the 2010 season on Saturday, recording a lopsided 65-21
victory to move to a perfect 15-0 all-time versus programs from the Football
Championship Subdivision. Quarterback Tim Jefferson threw for a pair of
touchdowns and ran for two more in the onslaught, but all was not positive for
the Falcons as cornerback Reggie Rembert suffered a neck injury and was taken
off the field in the opening frame. Rembert was one of three players to be
carted off on stretchers with apparent neck injuries, the other two being
Demons. Air Force, which is notorious for running the ball, rolled up an
astounding 437 yards and scored seven times on the ground, but Jefferson also
threw in a new wrinkle to the offense with 7-of-12 passing for another 179
yards. The Falcons waste little time in measuring themselves against the rest
of the Mountain West as they entertain the BYU Cougars this weekend.
BYU: In front of a sell-out crowd in Provo, the Cougars took care of the pesky
Washington Huskies on Saturday by a final of 23-17. BYU went with a a two-
quarterback attack and it paid off as Jake Heaps converted 13-of-23 passes for
131 yards and Riley Nelson went 11-of-17 for 131 yards and a pair of
touchdowns to lead the team to victory. J.J. DiLuigi also played a crucial
role for the squad with his 152 all-purpose yards. Defensively, the Cougars
held Washington to only 5-of-15 on third down and stopped the visitors all
three times on fourth down. The Cougars kick off their Mountain West
Conference slate this weekend when they pay a visit to the Air Force Falcons
in Colorado.
COLORADO STATE: The battle for state bragging rights was barely even a
disagreement as the Rams suffered a 24-3 loss to Colorado in Denver on
Saturday. CSU was held scoreless for more than 50 minutes, until kicker Ben
Deline knocked through a 43-yard field goal with 9:36 remaining in the final
quarter. The Rams gained only 49 yards rushing on 25 attempts and 196 yards
through the air, although youngster Pete Thomas was sacked three times and
tossed three interceptions in the losing effort. Mike Orakpo and Crock
Gillmore both tallied sacks for the defense. Colorado State has an even bigger
test coming up this weekend as it tries to slow down Nevada in Reno.
NEW MEXICO: Even though they acknowledge that they are in rebuilding mode, the
Lobos still took it on the chin this past Saturday as they suffered a 72-0
defeat at the hands of 11th-ranked Oregon in Eugene. The UNM defense was
torched for 720 yards, a school-record for Oregon, as running back Kenjon
Barner posted an astounding five touchdowns in the first half alone. While the
home team was rolling up 369 yards rushing, the Lobos managed a meager 25
yards. UNM starting quarterback B.R. Holbrook completed 11-of-24 passes for
just 70 yards, was sacked once and intercepted two times in the onslaught. The
Lobos, who challenge Texas Tech next week at home, generated a paltry 107
yards of total offense and averaged less than two yards per snap.
SAN DIEGO STATE: Last year Nicholls State was blitzed by Air Force in the
season opener (72-0), and this time around it was San Diego State's turn as
the Aztecs posted a lopsided 47-0 triumph at Qualcomm Stadium. Ryan Lindley
directed the offense for the Aztecs as he converted 17-of-26 passes for 303
yards and a pair of scores, while DeMarco Sampson reeled in seven passes for
179 yards and both TDs. The squad logged 218 yards and four scores on the
ground, with Davon Brown accounting for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, SDSU held the visitors to just 3-of-15 on third down and 171
yards of total offense. The Aztecs try for back-to-back wins to begin the new
season as they travel to Las Cruces this coming weekend to do battle with New
Mexico State in the season opener for the Aggies.
TCU: Ranked sixth in the nation heading into the first week of action, the
Horned Frogs had a target on their back from the very beginning yet managed to
handle the pressure by posting a 30-21 win over the 24th-ranked Oregon State
Beavers at Cowboys Stadium on Saturday. Quarterback Andy Dalton, who now holds
the record for the most wins as a starting signal-caller with 30 for the
Frogs, ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to put his team into the
win column. In addition to the 175 yards by Dalton through the air, the QB
also ran for 64 yards for a squad that churned out a robust 278 yards, thanks
in large part to Ed Wesley who had a team-best 134 yards and scored once
himself. After a tight matchup with such a worthy competitor, the Horned Frogs
now catch a break in the schedule as they suit up against Tennessee Tech at
home this coming weekend.
UNLV: New head coach Bobby Hauck decided to go with Mike Clausen as his
starting quarterback against Wisconsin on Saturday night, but it made little
difference as the Rebels suffered a 41-21 loss to the Badgers nonetheless.
Clausen completed just 4-of-10 passes for 23 yards and a score and eventually
he was pulled in favor of Omar Clayton who went 6-of-16 for 82 yards and a TD
in the setback. The third score of the contest for the home team came courtesy
of a 19-yard interception return by Will Chandler, otherwise the final score
wouldn't have been that close as UNLV logged just 215 yards of total offense
and gave up 475 to Wisconsin. The Rebels not only get another tough test on
the football field this weekend, they also begin their MWC slate as they make
the trip to Salt Lake City to tangle with the Utah Utes on Saturday afternoon.
UTAH: The Utes kicked off the 2010 schedule last Thursday night by slipping by
nationally-ranked Pittsburgh at home in overtime, 27-24. Midway through the
fourth quarter Utah actually led by a count of 24-13, but then the offense
bent against the Panthers and allowed the visitors to knot the score at the
end of regulation on a 30-yard field goal by Dan Hutchins. Pitt was given
first crack in the overtime period, but an interception by Brian Blechen gave
the ball to Utah and the Utes eased their way towards the goal line before Joe
Phillips made good on a 21-yard field goal to capture the thrilling win.
Quarterback Jordan Wynn, who threw an interception in the end zone near the
conclusion of the first half, converted 21-of-36 passes for 283 yards and
three touchdowns in the victory. The win extended the team's home win streak
to 18 in a row and was the fourth straight home victory over a ranked team as
well. The Utes play their second straight home game this weekend and the
second of three home dates in the month of September overall as they take on
the visiting UNLV Rebels in an MWC matchup at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
WYOMING: Austyn Carta-Samuels picked up right where he left off last season as
he guided the Cowboys to a 28-20 win over Southern Utah in the first week of
football action. Samuels threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns, as the
Pokes held off a late rush by the visitors to secure the win. Carta-Samuels
was sacked three times and those takedowns resulted in a loss of 35 yards,
which is why the Wyoming offense was credited with a mere 36 yards rushing in
the meeting. Zach Bolger also had a big game for the Cowboys by stretching his
five receptions into 134 yards and two touchdowns. The Cowboys get their first
true test of the season this coming Saturday when they tangle with the Texas
Longhorns on the road. It doesn't get any easier for the Pokes a week later as
they entertain the Boise State Broncos.