Takeaways from Week 4 of the MWC

SALT LAKE CITY — Week 4 of Mountain West Conference action gave the league a chance to knock off the No. 1 team in the country and an additional three opportunities to take down schools from BCS conferences.

Unfortunately, the conference went 0-4 in those contests, but two of the four games were decided by four points or less.

Another Heisman campaign for one of the league’s top quarterbacks was launched, and conference standings now mean something.

AIR FORCE (1-3): Lost to Wyoming, 56-23

The Falcon defense seemingly can’t stop anyone. It should be noted that the Falcons have gone against three of the MWC’s top four offenses to begin their conference schedule, the result landing them in the cellar at 0-3.

AFA continues to show glimpses of an explosive option attack. Quarterback Jaleel Awini struck first with his 33-yard touchdown run, and then led the Falcons on a 59-yard drive that ended in a field goal to answer Wyoming’s first touchdown drive. Troy Calhoun’s team is already building for next year, and improvements are necessary if Air Force is to satisfy the head coach’s wishes by approving plans to build a new football facility writes David Ramsey of The Gazette.

• Allowed over 500 yards of total offense for a third consecutive week
• Rushed for 346 yards
• Next: at Nevada (2-2)

BOISE STATE (2-2): Lost to Fresno State, 41-40

Two failed two-point conversion attempts ultimately doomed the Broncos in a back-and-forth affair in Fresno. Joe Southwick again played well in going 31 of 45 for 313 yards and an interception in addition to adding 54 yards on the ground.

Boise has given up a combined 1,114 yards in its two losses this season and will likely need its offense to put big point totals on the board to have a shot at winning the conference. Aaron Baltazar is now poised to get the majority of the rushing workload after carrying 18 times for 92 yards and two scores, while starter Jay Ajayi gained just 54 yards on 20 rushes with one touchdown.

• Surrendered 460 of the 522 yards allowed through the air
• Committed two turnovers, which resulted in 10 points
• Next: Southern Miss (0-3)

COLORADO STATE (1-3): Lost to Alabama, 31-6

The Rams should be proud of their performance in Tuscaloosa. They trailed 17-6 at the end of the third quarter, and held the Crimson Tide to just 2 of 10 on third-down conversions, while also forcing an AJ McCarron interception.

Garrett Grayson looks to be playing with a high level of confidence now in going 24 of 38 for 228 yards against a vaunted Alabama defense. CSU struggled to get anything going on the ground, Chris Nwoke ending the game with 27 yards on 12 carries after coming off of two straight weeks of 90 or more yards rushing. The game was the first return trip to the Alabama campus for head coach Jim McElwain, who won two national championships as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator from 2008-11.

• Limited Alabama to 66 rushing yards
• Recorded two sacks and five tackles for loss
• Next: UTEP (1-2)

Derek Carr was 39 of 60 for 460 yards and four touchdowns in the win, which kicked off his now-official Heisman candidacy. The performance also moved him into eighth in the country in passing yards.

The victory was the Bulldogs’ first over the Broncos since 2005. However, they can’t be happy with a rushing game that averaged 2.6 yards per carry, the exact mark starter and BYU transfer Josh Quezada recorded in the game. The defense is also a concern, if the Bulldogs want to win the conference after allowing 51 points to Rutgers and 25 to Cal Poly before Boise State put up 40.

• Combined 10 of 19 on third/fourth down conversions
• Davante Adams caught 12 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown and Isaiah Burse grabbed 10 balls for 148 yards
• Next: at Hawaii (0-3)

The quarterback carousel is spinning wildly in Honolulu, and Hawaii coach Norm Chow still doesn’t know how it will end. The Warriors used four different signal-callers in the defeat, including Ikaika Woolsey, who was supposed to be redshirting this season.

Surprisingly the offensive disarray still produced a touchdown right before halftime, Hawaii behind by just eight at the break. Sean Schroeder, who threw the lone touchdown of the game for the Warriors, made two costly errors on throws that were intercepted in the third quarter, leading to his benching. Meanwhile, the Hawaii defense permitted third-string Nevada quarterback Tyler Stewart to throw for three touchdowns.

• Committed six turnovers
• Penalties: 10 for 75 yards
• Diocemy Saint Juste ran for 82 yards on 12 carries (6.8 YPC)
• Next: Fresno State (3-0)

NEVADA (2-2): Beat Hawaii, 31-9

Freshman Tyler Stewart was efficient in his first career start, finishing 14 of 20 for 202 yards and three touchdowns. Second-string running back Kendall Brock made his return and chipped in by gaining 69 yards on 15 carries.

The Wolf Pack defense forced six turnovers and collected four sacks in the win. The strong effort along with the fact that starting quarterback Cody Fajardo is expected to make his return next week has folks in Reno optimistic about the team’s conference championship aspirations.

SAN DIEGO STATE (0-3): Lost to Oregon State, 34-30

The Aztecs had every chance to beat the Beavers at home. SDSU led 27-14 at the end of the third quarter, but had its lead cut to 30-28 with just 2:40 remaining in the game. The Aztecs were backed up to begin their possession following the Beavers’ touchdown after a false start and a negative four-yard rush, but curiously elected to throw after Oregon State’s first timeout. Quinn Kaehler’s pass was intercepted and returned 16 yards for the game-winning score.

This loss has to sting for Aztec fans, and was one of two very winnable games for the MWC against BCS opponents. Kaehler was 16 of 25 for 251 yards and two touchdowns, but went 2 of 5 and threw two interceptions on the Aztecs’ final two offensive series. Colin Lockett caught five passes for 113 yards and a touchdown in the loss.

• Averaged 1.9 yards per carry as a team
• 4 of 14 on third down conversions
• Held Oregon State to 10 yards rushing
• Next: at New Mexico State (0-4)

The Spartans were giving the Golden Gophers everything they bargained for in the first half, down just 20-17 heading into the locker rooms. David Fales paced SJSU with touchdown passes of 76 and 32 yards before halftime.

Minnesota completely dominated the rest of the game, ripping off 23 unanswered points before Fales’ third touchdown pass came during garbage time. Star wide receiver Noel Grigsby missed the first game of his career as a Spartan and continues to be out indefinitely with a knee injury. Despite his absence, Fales was 22 of 35 for 439 yards with the aforementioned three touchdowns and two interceptions. The San Jose State rushing defense will need to adjust its scheme or change personnel in order to compete in the MWC.

• Allowed 353 yards rushing (5.3 YPC)
• Converted 1 of 9 third downs
• Penalties: 9 for 98 yards
• Next: Utah State (2-2)

Caleb Herring has helped the Rebels establish some balance on offense, going 14 of 20 for 140 yards and a touchdown, while also carrying 12 times for 57 yards. The Rebel offense finished with 284 yards rushing. Tim Cornett contributed 83 yards on the ground and scored two touchdowns.

The lone contest against an FCS school was at least a successful one for the MWC. UNLV led 31-0 before the Leathernecks could get on the scoreboard, despite the Rebels only converting 6 of 15 third downs.

• Averaged 5.8 yards per carry
• UNLV has now matched its win total from each of the previous three seasons
• Next: at New Mexico (1-2)

UTAH STATE (2-2): Lost to USC, 17-14

The Trojans’ defense stifled the Aggies by forcing them into nine plays of third-and-10 or longer and only allowed them to convert 5-of-17 third downs. The speed and physicality of the USC defensive eliminated Chuckie Keeton’s running ability in holding him to the lowest rushing total of his career.

Special teams play was also a major concern for USU. Jaron Bentrude’s 12-yard punt set up USC’s game-winning 25-yard field goal, and the Aggies missed a field goal in the first half. The USU defense held the Trojans to just 283 yards of total offense while collecting three sacks and forcing the only turnover of the game.

• Joey DeMartino and Joe Hill combined to rush for 123 yards on 14 carries (8.8 YPC)
• Held USC to 3 of 14 on third down conversions
• Penalties: 11 for 89 yards
• Next: at San Jose State (1-2)

Quarterback Brett Smith jumped up to No. 3 in the nation in passing yards by singlehandedly dismantling Air Force in accounting for a school-record 511 yards of offense.

The first quarter ended with the Cowboys holding a just a four-point advantage, but the second quarter was all Wyoming. The Pokes found their way into the end zone on each of their drives in the period, outscoring the Falcons 28-7. Smith also became the Wyoming all-time leader in passing touchdowns, His four on the night gives him 60 for his career.

• Four receivers caught six or more passes
• Converted 10 of 14 third downs
• Penalties: 10 for 91 yards
• Next: at Texas State (2-1)

Kyle Spencer is a ksl.com intern. He is studying journalism at Utah Valley University and is the sports editor of the UVU Review. Follow him on twitter @kyledspencer.

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