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AIR FORCE: The Falcons snapped a six-game series slide versus BYU on Saturday
afternoon when the academy ran all over the Cougars in a 35-14 final at home.
Asher Clark ran for a game-high 121 yards and quarterback Tim Jefferson threw
for a score and ran for another as the squad rolled up 409 yards and four
touchdowns on the ground versus a BYU squad that had trouble getting its
offense in gear. Reggie Rembert, who was questionable for the Falcons after
suffering an injury the previous week, logged an interception for the defense.
The Falcons hit the road for the first time this season on Saturday as they
make the trip to Oklahoma to face the Sooners. Last year, Air Force was routed
by the Sooners in a 44-3 final, the first meeting ever between the programs.
BYU: The Cougars were bowled over by the Air Force Falcons on Saturday in
Colorado, suffering a 35-14 loss in the Mountain West Conference opener for
both teams. BYU, which controlled the ball for barely 23 minutes on the day,
was paced by Riley Nelson who threw for 73 yards and also ran for another 95
and scored once on the ground for the visitors in the losing cause. JJ DiLuigi
gained a team-best 103 yards on seven carries and scored the other TD for the
squad, but it mattered little as the Cougars permitted Air Force to gain more
than 400 yards on the ground. The Cougars are out on the road again this
weekend and will be in the Sunshine State challenging the Florida State
Seminoles. Last year, FSU threw BYU for a loop in a 54-28 decision which means
the Cougars have lost all three previous meetings between the programs.
COLORADO STATE: The Rams saw their losing streak stretched to 11 games on
Saturday night, third-longest in the Football Bowl Subdivision at the moment,
after suffering an ugly 51-6 setback to Nevada on the road. Against the Wolf
Pack, the last team to fall to Colorado State by a score of 35-20 around this
time last season, the Rams generated just 78 yards on the ground and another
194 yards through the air from Pete Thomas who hit 23-of-36 passes, was
intercepted once and sacked five times. The only scoring for the Rams came
courtesy of two field goals by Ben DeLine from 40 and 38 yards. Next up for
the Rams is Miami-Ohio on the road this Saturday. Miami won the first meeting
between the teams back in 2003 by a score of 41-21.
NEW MEXICO: The Lobos were playing out of their league on Saturday when they
were throttled by Texas Tech at home, 52-17. Quarterback B.R. Holbrook tried
to keep things interesting with his 30-of-50 passing for 323 yards and a
score, but he was taken down behind the line of scrimmage four times and
suffered a pair of interceptions in the losing effort. Although he wasn't
credited with a single rushing attempt, Chris Hernandez still scored on a 45-
yard run after he scooped up a Holbrook fumble. Aside from having a weak
defense, the Lobos also hurt themselves by committing an unsightly 16
penalties for 145 yards. The Lobos are back at home this weekend and will be
entertaining the Utah Utes in the Mountain West Conference opener. Utah won
the meeting last season by a score of 45-14 and now owns a 32-17-2 advantage
in the all-time series.
SAN DIEGO STATE: Running back Ronnie Hillman put his name at the top of the
list for top offensive player in the MWC this past weekend as he rushed for a
game-high 150 yards and scored four times on 22 carries in the crushing 41-21
win over New Mexico State on the road. Hillman, who gained 65 yards and scored
once in the season-opening win over Nicholls State, tallied all four of his
TDs versus NMSU after intermission. Ryan Lindley also shouldered his share of
the load for the offense as he completed 20-of-42 passes for 319 yards and a
score. The Aztecs are back out on the road this coming week as they square off
against the Missouri Tigers in another non-conference matchup. SDSU lost the
two previous meetings with the Tigers, yet the most recent of those took place
in 1980 when Mizzou captured a 31-7 victory.
TCU: The Horned Frogs took it to Tennessee Tech on Saturday night, registering
seven touchdowns on the ground in a lopsided 62-7. Matthew Tucker posted two
of those rushing scores, while quarterback Andy Dalton added one of his own on
the grown while throwing for 185 yards and a TD. The defense for TCU was
unstoppable, limiting the visitors to a mere 61 yards through the air, while
sacking the opposing quarterback five times. The Horned Frogs finally see a
familiar face on their schedule this weekend as they host in-state rival
Baylor at Amon G. Carter Stadium. TCU shut down the Bears in the most recent
meeting back in 2007 by a final of 27-0, and in the process knotted the all-
time series at 49-49-7.
UNLV: The Rebels offense failed to post a single point on Saturday as the team
bowed to 20th-ranked Utah, 38-10, in the Mountain West Conference opener for
both programs in Salt Lake City. UNLV actually had the scored tied after one
period of play at 3-3, thanks to a 28-yard field goal by Nolan Kohorst, but
after the very little went well for the visitors. Granted, the team did have a
blocked punt returned for a touchdown by Tim Hasson in the third quarter, but
the Rebels finished the contest with just 112 yards rushing and picked up 212
yards through the air from Omar Clayton. The Rebels head to Moscow this
weekend to take on the Idaho Vandals in non-conference action. UNLV won the
most recent meeting by a score of 34-31 back in 2005, giving the squad a
narrow 3-2 edge in the all-time series.
UTAH: Terrance Cain assumed the starting position at quarterback for the Utes
on Saturday and he responded by throwing a pair of touchdowns in the 38-10 win
over the UNLV Rebels at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. Cain converted
13-of-20 passes for the then 20th-ranked team in the nation, resulting in 207
yards in the victory. Also putting together a solid performance was running
back Eddie Wide who gained a game-high 77 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 15
attempts. Utah was flagged seven times for 70 yards and controlled the ball
for less than 24 minutes, yet the team had no trouble dismissing the Rebels
yet again. The Utes remain in conference this weekend and hit the road for the
first time in 2010 when they take on the New Mexico Lobos in Albuquerque. Now
13-2 in the all-time series with UNM, the Utes rolled to a 45-14 win in last
year's contest.
WYOMING: With their hearts and minds anywhere but on the football field on
Saturday, the Cowboys managed to work their way through a 34-7 loss to fifth-
ranked Texas in Austin. Still mourning the death of freshman linebacker Ruben
Narcisse, who died in a car accident on Monday, the Pokes were led by Austyn
Carta-Samuels who ran 18 yards for the lone touchdown of the game for the
visitors. Carta-Samuels converted 16-of-24 passes for 160 yards and was sacked
three times, which is why Wyoming was held to just 58 yards rushing on 30
attempts in the lopsided decision. The Pokes are back home this coming
weekend, but the opposition will be just as tough if not more so as the Boise
State Broncos come calling in Laramie. Wyoming has lost all four of the
previous meetings in the series, including a 24-14 final back in 2007.