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SALT LAKE CITY — Week 5 of the Mountain West Conference signaled the end of the non-conference slate for a majority of its members, and featured the league’s three quarterbacks who are among the Top 10 passers in FBS.
Five teams now have at least three wins, and three of them improved to 2-0 in conference play.
Air Force (1-4, 0-4): Lost to Nevada, 45-42
The Falcons surrendered 21 fourth quarter points to squander an 11-point lead heading into the final period. Sophomore Karson Roberts got the start at quarterback over freshman Jaleel Awini, who had started the previous three games. Roberts was effective running the option attack, picking up 161 yards on the ground and two touchdowns.
Roberts also threw a 23-yard touchdown to Sam Gagliano in the fourth quarter, which extended the Falcons’ advantage at the time to 12 points. However, Roberts threw an interception with just over 50 seconds left on the clock to seal the defeat. AFA was on the Wolf Pack 35-yard line with a chance to tie or go ahead. Roberts, who began the year as the third-string, seems to have secured the starting job for at least next week. AFA may not have to pass to win the first leg of the battle for the Commander-In-Chief’s Trophy, but the Falcons will need to find a way to slow their opponent’s offense.
- Allowed more than 500 yards of offense for a fourth consecutive week
- Averaged 7.4 yards per carry
- Next: at Navy (2-1)
Boise State (3-2, 1-1): Beat Southern Miss, 60-7
Coming off their first loss to Fresno State since 2005, the Broncos rebounded in a big way at home. Boise dominated from the start and never let up. Joe Southwick has now completed 73.5 percent of his passes, good for fifth best in the country. Southwick finished with 268 yards through the air and three touchdowns.
Jay Ajayi quieted the running back controversy for the time being, racing for 83 yards and one touchdown on just 14 carries. Aaron Baltazar gained 36 yards on his four rushes of the game. The Bronco defense also helped ease the nerves of Boise fans by forcing three turnovers and recording four sacks. Boise was able to rest most of its starters during the second half.
- Held USM to 2 of 13 on third-down conversions and 266 yards of offense
- Gained 545 yards of offense and went 11 of 16 on third down conversions
- Next: at Utah State (3-2) Oct. 12
Colorado State (2-3, 0-0): Beat UTEP, 59-42
Junior Garret Grayson appears to gain more confidence each week, and has the Rams’ offense clicking. Grayson went 17 of 28 for 307 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding a 1-yard rushing score. Five of CSU’s eight touchdowns were scored on drives lasting less than 2 minutes in game time and the Rams’ longest offense possession that ended in a touchdown spanned just 3:17.
Kapri Bibbs got the lion’s share of carries, running for 147 yards and three scores on only 13 carries. The balanced attack allowed CSU to convert on 7 of 11 third downs. UTEP tied the game at 28 with 8 minutes remaining in the third before the Rams ripped off 24 unanswered.
- Amassed 591 yards of offense, averaging 7.4 yards per carry
- Linebacker Shaquil Barrett earned MWC Defensive Player of the Week by tallying 13 tackles (four TFL), three sacks and two forced fumbles
- Next: San Jose State (1-3) Oct. 12
(25) Fresno State (4-0, 2-0): Beat Hawaii, 42-37
Playing as a nationally-ranked team, the Bulldogs nearly dropped a game in which they led by 39 points at one time. After Fresno State intercepted starter Ikaika Woolsey’s third-quarter pass and returned it for a touchdown to make the score 41-3, Sean Schroeder replaced Woolsey and found holes in the Bulldog defense.
L.J. Jones picked off Schroeder’s last-ditch heave, his second interception of the game, and the Bulldogs escaped Honolulu with the win. Head coach Tim DeRuyter cannot be happy with his defense’s performance. Fresno State allowed 377 yards through the air to the Rainbow Warriors, who came in averaging just 207 yards passing per game.
- Gained a season-high 206 yards rushing, BYU transfer Josh Quezada chipping in 78 yards on 13 carries
- Committed five turnovers
- Next: at Idaho (1-4)
Hawaii (0-4, 0-2): Lost to Fresno State, 42-37
Norm Chow gave the nod to true freshman Woolsey, whom he had planned on redshirting this season, and later confirmed it was the wrong decision. Woolsey showed his mobility, but went just 7 of 19 for 56 yards and the aforementioned interception in the loss.
Senior Sean Schroeder reminded folks of the Rainbow Warriors’ vaunted passing attack in years past by throwing for 321 yards and three touchdowns on 17 of 27 passing. Hawaii struggled to establish anything on the ground but freshman Steven Lakalaka was the lone bright spot, racking up 66 yards and two touchdowns on 13 rushes. Perhaps if the Rainbow Warriors avoid spotting their next opponent with a big lead they can capture their elusive first victory of the season.
- Gained a season-high 431 yards of offense
- Converted 4 of 17 third downs and committed 10 penalties for 95 yards
- Next: San Jose State (1-3)
Nevada (3-2, 2-0): Beat Air Force, 45-42
Signal-caller Cody Fajardo started for the first time since week 2, and wasn’t the least bit rusty. Fajardo accounted for 470 of the Wolf Pack’s 599 yards of offense. Fajardo scored three of his touchdowns passing, finishing 38 of 54 for 389 yards. His other two scores came by way of the run and he ended the game with 81 yards on 11 carries.
Nevada is starting to get healthy as conference play ramps up. Running back Don Jackson saw his first action since the season opener and scampered for a 9-yard touchdown on his third rush. Now-starter Kendall Brock led the way with 84 yards on 20 carries, and the Wolf Pack rushing attack finished with 210 yards. Questions still surround the defense, which gave up 42 points to the Falcons, their highest point total of the season.
- Brandon Wimberly caught 15 passes for 134 yards and a touchdown and Aaron Bradley snagged 11 for 135 yards and a score
- Converted 12 of 18 third downs
- Next: at San Diego State (1-3)
New Mexico (1-3, 0-1): Lost to UNLV, 56-42
The Lobos employed a two-quarterback system to begin the game and couldn’t quite decide how they wanted it to work throughout the contest. The result was 42 points on the scoreboard, but only seven of those came after halftime. New Mexico is obviously more focused on its ground game, but Cole Gautsche was much more effective than Clayton Mitchem, who started and finished the game under center.
Kasey Carrier, who sits No. 10 in the country in rushing and first in the MWC, ran amok for 192 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. The Lobo ground game picked up 497 yards on 59 attempts, good for 8.4 yards per carry. Three New Mexico players had over 100 yards rushing.
- Converted 8 of 14 third downs
- Allowed 7.9 yards per play
- Next: New Mexico State (0-5)
San Diego State (1-3, 0-0): beat New Mexico State, 26-16
The Aztecs fell into a 16-0 hole to begin the game, but Donnel Pumphrey carried them out of it by rushing for 167 yards and three touchdowns on 19 attempts. Pumphrey may have put himself in place to get the bulk of the work in upcoming weeks, as Adam Muema, who was mentioned in the same breath as Marshall Faulk after last season, continued his lackluster 2013 campaign by picking up 25 yards on 10 carries.
San Diego State got on the scoreboard following a 98-yard return of a blocked extra point, and subsequently added the next 24 points. Quinn Kaehler was a solid 22 of 34 for 229 yards.
- Held NMSU to 78 second-half yards and 4 of 15 on third down conversions
- Won the time of possession battle by 11:20
- Next: Nevada (3-2)
San Jose State (1-3, 0-1): Lost to Utah State, 40-12
Star wide receiver Noel Grigsby missed a second straight game, and the Spartan offense managed only two first-half field goals and a late touchdown, which came after the game was out of reach. David Fales was able to throw for 300 yards for a second straight week, but it took him 48 attempts, two of which resulted in costly interceptions.
SJSU gave up 253 yards rushing one week after allowing 353 yards on the ground. The Spartans also surrendered four turnovers and must protect the ball if they hope to get bowl eligible and compete within the MWC.
- Converted 10 of 20 third downs
- Penalties: 11 for 108 yards
- Next: at Hawaii (0-4)
UNLV (3-2, 1-0): Beat New Mexico, 56-42
Caleb Herring now sits atop the nation’s completion percentage leaders with a 75-percent mark. Herring was excellent against the Lobos, going 24 of 34 for 293 yards and four touchdowns. Devante Davis was again his No. 1 target, hauling in 10 receptions for 164 yards and three scores on his way to receiving MWC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Tim Cornett had his first 100-yard rushing performance of the season by gaining 179 yards on 25 carries and adding three touchdowns of his own. The Rebels finished the game with 248 yards on the ground. The offense looks to be working its way into the form expected prior to the season, though the defensive front seven will need to make adjustments to slow future opposing rushing attacks.
- Scored touchdowns on five straight possessions
- Forced two turnovers and committed only one penalty
- Next: Hawaii (0-4) Oct. 12
Utah State (3-2, 2-0): beat San Jose State, 40-12
The Aggies continued their dominant run of MWC action, picking up their 12th straight conference win. Chuckie Keeton bounced back from a rough outing at USC by going 29 of 42 for 260 yards and three touchdowns. Keeton also added a rushing touchdown, gaining 52 yards on 12 attempts.
Joey DeMartino continues to look like a stud at running back, finishing with 120 yards on 17 carries. DeMartino broke a 39-yard run in the second quarter, which marked his third consecutive week with a run of such a distance or longer. The Aggie defense forced four turnovers, which included its first three interceptions of the season.
- Averaged 5.6 yards per play
- Penalties: 9 for 95 yards
- Next: BYU (2-2)
Wyoming (3-2, 1-0): Lost to Texas State, 42-21
The Cowboys struggled to get the ball and move it in their visit to Texas. Wyoming controlled possession for only 22:06 compared to 37:54 for Texas State. The Pokes did lead once in the second quarter after Brandon Miller’s second rushing touchdown, but were outscored 35-7 the remainder of the contest.
Brett Smith maintained his status at No. 3 in the nation in passing yards, but was hurried into throws all night and was inaccurate on a number of his passes. Smith finished 25 of 48 for 292 yards, one touchdown and an interception. His favorite receiver, Dominic Rufran, exited the game in the second quarter. Rufran’s status is unclear for the Cowboys' next game, which will follow a bye week.
- Gained 64 yards rushing on 29 attempts (2.2 YPC)
- Allowed a Texas State season-high 452 yards (256 yards rushing)
- Next: New Mexico (1-3) Oct. 12
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.
