MWC Week Six Outcomes & Game of the Week

A quick recap of the MWC action from Week Six:

Game 1 - Utah State 45, BYU 20

The Aggies took control of this game from the start and never let go. At one point in the 3rd quarter, Utah State led BYU, 35 to 7. Helping the Aggies to that lead, Utah State won the turnover battle, 3 to 0. Utah State outgained BYU, 388 yds to 361 yds. To me, the most impressive thing from Utah State was holding BYU to just 39 yards rushing. Mind you, Utah State entered the game with the 100th ranked rushing defense.

Game 2 - Navy 7, Air Force 35

As expected, this game came down to which team could run the ball on the other team. Air Force rushed for 257 yds on 55 carries (4.7 yd avg) and 4 TD’s. Navy managed only 129 yds on 41 carries (3.1 yd avg) and a TD on the ground. Considering that Navy entered the game with the #1 rushing offense in the country, that was a heck of a job by the Air Force defense.

Game 3 - San Diego State 19, Boise State 13

A short-handed Aztecs team went to Boise and beat the Broncos on the blue turf. San Diego State did it with their defense. The Aztecs won the turnover battle 3 to 2, forcing 3 interceptions. Beyond that, San Diego State seems to have Brett Rypien’s number. After holding Rypien to just 72 yards passing last season, the Aztecs followed it up by holding Rypien to just 170 yards on 41 pass attempts (4.1 yds/pass) and 2 INT’s. The Boise State rushing game provided all of the scoring, but was also largely ineffective as the Broncos finished with just 51 yards rushing on 36 carries (1.4 yds/carry) and 2 TD’s.

Game 4 - New Mexico 50, UNLV 14

This was a surprising, blowout win for the Lobos on the road. How’d it happen? In large part, it was due to New Mexico completely shutting down the UNLV rushing game. The Rebels went into this game with the 3rd ranked rushing offense in the country, yet New Mexico held UNLV to just 43 yards rushing on 27 carries (1.6 yds/carry). On the other side, the Rebels defense could not stop the Lobos. New Mexico outgained UNLV, 502 yds to 166 yds.

Game 5 - Fresno State 21, Nevada 3

Fresno State has a very, very good defense. The Bulldogs defense forced turnovers, helping Fresno State win the turnover battle, 3 to 1. Beyond that, the Bulldogs held a good Nevada offense in check, allowing just 4.5 yds/pass and 3.1 yds/rush. On the other side of the ball, the Wolf Pack did a very good job against the Bulldogs rushing game, holding Fresno State to 30 yards on 23 carries (1.3 yds/carry). Marcus McMaryion carried the Fresno State offense, throwing for 241 yards and 2 TD’s.

Game 6 - Colorado State 42, San Jose State 30

What a weird game. Colorado State outscored San Jose State, 14 to 0, in every quarter but the 3rd quarter. In the 3rd quarter, San Jose State started down, 28 to 0, but the Spartans outscored the Rams, 30 to 0. So, briefly, San Jose State held a lead in this game after a safety at the end of the 3rd quarter. Overall though, Colorado State outgained San Jose State, 391 yards to 285 yards, as the Rams rushed for more yardage than the Spartans, 219 yards to 48 yards.

Game 7 - Wyoming 13, Hawaii 17

Stupid Cowboys. They had their chances in this one. Wyoming won the turnover battle, 2 to 0. Nico Evans rushed for 192 yards on 24 carries (8 yds/carry). However, the Cowboys only threw for 87 yards and were sacked 5 times. Overall, Hawaii outgained Wyoming, 304 yds to 244 yds. With 1:26 left in the game, Chevran Cordeiro made a big play, connecting on a 38 yd TD pass to JoJo Ward to give Hawaii the lead for the first time in the game. That was the time that mattered though as the Rainbow Warriors are now 6-1 on the season.

Game of the Week - San Diego State at Boise State

This game gets the nod for two reasons. First, it was a close game where the underdog pulled off the upset. Second, it has large ramifications for the MWC. Boise State is not only now much less likely to make the NY6 with 2 losses, but Boise State is also now 1-1 in the MWC. The Broncos might be in trouble to win, or even make, another MWC Championship game.

Let us know which game you thought was the Game of the Week in Week Six.