Mountain West Connection - 2016 Week 6 Mountain West footballAll you need to know about the Mountain West, and then somehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50409/mwc-fav.png2016-10-09T15:47:07-07:00http://www.mwcconnection.com/rss/stream/129420592016-10-09T15:47:07-07:002016-10-09T15:47:07-07:00Brown leads Warriors over Spartans
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<figcaption>Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Hawaii advances to 2-0 in conference play.</p> <p>Off to their best start since joining the Mountain West, Hawaii advanced to 2-0 in conference and 3-3 overall following a 34-17 victory over the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday.</p>
<p>After surviving a grueling opening slate and inserting newly arrived JC transfer Dru Brown at quarterback, Hawaii has put the conference on notice that a game against the Warriors is no longer the automatic win it used to be.</p>
<p>Early on the Spartans moved the ball at will. Despite a pair of horrendous kickoff returns, they had no problem picking up large chunks of yards on the ground.</p>
<p>Tim Crawley broke off a big run early and Deontae Cooper kept the chains moving. Hawaii finally made some plays and stopped the Spartans at the two-yard line, forcing a field goal. After Hawaii tacked on a field goal of their own, Kenny Potter marched the Spartans back down the field to score the game's first touchdown. The touchdown would be the high-point of the game for Potter and the Spartans.</p>
<p>The Dru Brown show would begin on the following drive. After a failed run attempt by Diocemy St Juste, Brown completed 5 passes in a row wracking up 77 yards and the game-tying touchdown. Following a Spartan punt Hawaii was facing a fourth-and-one on their own 38.</p>
<p>Head coach Nick Rolovich rolled the dice and called a read option. Brown faked the handoff to Steven Lakalaka then turned the corner and sprinted 62 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.</p>
<p>A pair of interceptions by Potter ended the Spartans next two drives, but Hawaii failed to capitalize as the Spartan's bottled up St Juste. Wit 1:17 left in the half and leading 17-10, Hawaii forced a turnover on downs and received the ball on their own 29. Brown then completed his next five passes including a 39-yard touchdown to Ammon Barker to give the Warriors a 24-10 lead entering the second half.</p>
<p>Things slowed down in the second half as both offenses struggled to move the ball on the ground. After exchanging a series of punts the Spartan's forced a fumble, which they recovered for a touchdown bringing the score to 24-17. Hawaii then coughed up another fumble, but the Spartan's failed to capitalize as Potter immediately threw his third interception. Hawaii then began running it up the middle in an effort to wind down and Lakalaka tacked on a 30-yard touchdown run. Hawaii put up one more field goal bringing the score to 34-17 before time expired.</p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/9/13220432/brown-leads-warriors-over-spartansBryanMD2016-10-09T09:55:15-07:002016-10-09T09:55:15-07:00PODCAST: Week 6 Mountain West football recap
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<img alt="UNLV v San Diego State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/VyR4ypgcV1mJvAbaKlbJKyQeQ94=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51273109/613487436.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Boise State dominants, Hawaii surprises and San Diego State rebounds with a solid win.</p> <p id="NP1ofn">Jeremy and Matt are back to recap the games this week and there were some interesting games which shook up the conference.</p>
<p id="eBxqcZ">Boise State had no issue rebounding and dominating New Mexico, Colorado State surprised in their win over Utah State with a second half comeback and Hawaii played their best game in a long time.</p>
<p id="uklQBZ">This might be a good time to point out as well that Hawaii is 2-0 in conference play and currently sits a top the West Division.</p>
<p id="Fjwlpt">One big news item comes from Fort Collins where quarterback Collin Hill suffered a knee injury and is having an MRI on his knee which knocked him out of the game late. It did not cause them the game as Nick Stevens came off the bench to help guide the Rams to a victory.</p>
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https://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/9/13218456/podcast-week-6-mountain-west-football-recapJeremy MaussMatthew Kenerly2016-10-08T21:44:56-07:002016-10-08T21:44:56-07:00Nevada Football: Wolf Pack edges Bulldogs
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<figcaption>Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Wolf Pack saw their lead almost disappear but their defense saved the day as they as defeated the Fresno State Bulldogs 27-22.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/nevada-wolf-pack">Nevada Wolf Pack's</a> defense has struggled so far this season and especially in losses to Notre Dame and last week on the road against Hawaii. But the Wolf Pack defense while they did give up 453 yards of total offense tonight, held off the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/fresno-st-bulldogs">Bulldogs</a> offense late in the game to secure a 27-22 victory against Fresno State tonight.</p>
<p>The win improves the Wolf Pack's record to 3-3 and 1-1 in conference play while the Bulldogs drop to 1-5 overall and 0-2 in conference play. And despite the Wolf Pack giving up that many yards to Fresno State, they did get the defensive stop at the right time in order to hold on for the victory and maybe that propels the defensive to play better as the season goes on for Nevada.</p>
<p>The action started in the first quarter when Fresno State's Kody Kroening connected on a 44-yard field goal to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead early in the game. Nevada responded to the Fresno State score with a little bit of trickery. Nevada scored when quarterback <span>Tyler Stewart</span> (13 for 20, 137 yards and two touchdowns.) tossed the ball to wide receiver <span>Andrew Celis</span> who passed it to wideout <span>Wyatt Demps</span> (nine catches, 137 yards, three touchdowns) for the touchdown to give the Wolf Pack a 7-3 lead.</p>
<p>The Bulldogs tacked on another Kroening field goal to cut Nevada's lead to 7-6 and in the second quarter, the Wolf Pack were threatening to score but were stopped on a 3<sup>rd</sup> down and attempted a field goal. Brett Zuso's field goal was blocked by Fresno State's Malik Forrester that kept the score at 7-6.</p>
<p>But the Bulldogs could not capitalize on the good fortune as they turned the ball on a fumbled that the Wolf Pack's Alex Bertrando recovered for Nevada. The Wolf Pack were able to capitalize on Fresno State's turnover when <span>Tyler Stewart</span> scored on a four-yard touchdown run to give the Wolf Pack a 14-6 lead. After a Fresno State punt on their next possession, the Wolf Pack's two-minute offense worked out well as they capped off their final drive of the half with a three-yard touchdown pass from Stewart to <span>Demps</span> to give the Wolf Pack a 21-6 lead at the half.</p>
<p>The Bulldogs came back in the second half when they cut Nevada's lead to 21-13 when Bulldogs quarterback <span>Chason Virgil</span> (16 for 27, 197 yards, one touchdown) connected with <span>Jared Rice</span> for a one-yard touchdown pass. Early in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs Kroening made his third field goal of the night to cut Nevada's lead to 21-16.</p>
<p>On Nevada's next possession, they went on a 14 play drive in which they ran on 13 of those plays and <span>James Butler</span> (37 rushes, 175 yards) was the bell cow for the Wolf Pack on that drive as they looked to extend their lead. Their lone pass play was a eight-yard touchdown pass from Stewart to Demps but Brett Zuso missed the PAT and the Wolf Pack's lead was at 27-16.</p>
<p>But Fresno State quickly responded on their next drive where after a remarkable catch by <span>Jamire Jordan</span>, the Bulldogs scored seven plays later on a five-yard touchdown run by <span>Dontel James</span> and failed two-point conversion by Fresno State made the score 27-22, Nevada.</p>
<p>Nevada got the ball but quickly went three and out and punted the ball to Fresno State as the Bulldogs had one a chance to win the game in the final minutes of the game. The Bulldogs drove the ball all the way to Nevada's four-line. The Wolf Pack stopped the Bulldogs on three consecutive plays and on fourth down with the game was on the line, the Wolf Pack stopped them a fourth time as Virgil's pass went incomplete and the Wolf Pack defense preserved the win.</p>
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<p>The Wolf Pack will now travel to San Jose to face the Spartans next week.</p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/8/13215186/nevada-football-wolf-pack-outlasts-bulldogs-in-a-thrillerBrandon_Blake2016-10-08T12:12:16-07:002016-10-08T12:12:16-07:00Avalos Has Boise State Defense Thinking Big
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Boise State at Oregon State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bSIRbuyhMSeL2_CW3Ft4-9hbk9c=/14x0:3395x2254/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51264041/usa-today-9561865.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Cole Elsasser-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Defense has proven to be just as valuable as offense</p> <p id="ouuaD5">Rocky Balboa had quite the test in Rocky III.</p>
<p id="sKoshi">He had been the top dog for a number of years, knocking off every opponent in his sight. However, he had met a tough challenge in the form of Clubber Lang, played by 80’s icon and master of the mohawk, Mr. T. Lang was the hungry challenger, telling Balboa that “he doesn’t fight real men”, and spurting out the classic line to Rocky’s wife, “Hey woman.”</p>
<p id="h4bhB2">Clubber Lang had definitely got in Balboa’s head.</p>
<p id="ZTN60l">In their first confrontation, Lang’s mixture of nasty attitude, power and skill was too much for the champion to overcome, and he beat Balboa rather convincingly to become the new World Heavyweight Champion. It wasn’t until Rocky hooked up with Apollo Creed and grabbed the “Eye of the Tiger” (which included the very odd scene of Rocky & Apollo running and jumping on the beach in victory) that Balboa realized he needed to recapture the hunger of his early days fighting in the clubs of Philadelphia.</p>
<p id="Hl37tr">Andy Avalos is Boise State’s Apollo Creed.</p>
<p id="9WtnTY">Before the season began, Defensive Coordinator Marcel Yates decided to take his talents to the Pac-12 and join Rich Rodriguez’s staff at the University of Arizona. Combine that with the losses of Kamalei Correa, Darian Thompson and Dontae Deayon to the NFL, and there were many people wondering how this team would respond with so much turnover.</p>
<p id="R3IxTL">They have responded as well as any team could have.</p>
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<img alt="Utah State v Boise State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FgBpWB9KEJPefXs9iTC8TDNfzag=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7242975/611929920.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Defensive Tackle David Moa has had some big moments this year for a resurgent Boise State defense.</figcaption>
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<p id="q3UszH">Avalos was promoted to DC, while former NFL cornerback Ashley Ambrose was brought in from Texas State to be the team’s new corners coach, and former Bronco Gabe Franklin was hired to be in charge of the team’s safeties. Some fans thought that this new defensive staff might be a work in progress.</p>
<p id="h39D7m">It hasn’t.</p>
<p id="w9u5Ns">Right now, the team is ranked 21st in the nation, giving up only 18.6 points per game. One statement game took place last night against New Mexico, who beat the Broncos on the famous Blue Turf last year, 31-24. It was a definite upset that had many in Bronco Nation scratching their heads, going “why did that happen?”</p>
<p id="oOWo1K">So, of course it’s no wonder so many eyes were tuned into this game, to see if the Broncos could stop the Lobos’ lethal triple option running attack that sometimes can get them over 400 rushing yards a game. If there were two games that ached Bronco fans’ hearts last year, it was New Mexico and Air Force.</p>
<p id="gxkvmF">Did New Mexico get their share of rushing yards? Absolutely. 382 to be exact. But most of those yards were in the second half, and their passing game was non-existent. What I noticed about the Broncos defense last night was when they tackled New Mexico, they tackled with anger, not forgetting about what happened last year at Albertson’s Stadium. They wanted to send a message to Bob Davie and company, saying, “Yeah, good effort last year. You got us. But we are still Boise State. We are still a darn good football team.”</p>
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Boise State at New Mexico" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/bP55ou2R0bX9OLODyO4CRUBFLF0=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7243081/usa-today-9593528.jpg">
<cite>Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports</cite>
<figcaption>Despite 382 rushing yards, New Mexico’s offense had a tough time with a rock solid Boise State defense.</figcaption>
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<p id="eHn7A5">The Broncos are not only getting major production from guys like Tanner Vallejo, Chanceller James and Sam McCaskill, but they are having other guys step up like Darren Lee, David Moa, Jabril Frazier and Cameron Hartsfield. When it comes to tackles, this 2016 Broncos team share the load, rather than let one individual take all the glory. </p>
<p id="HKprh0">Take David Moa, for example. He’s been a great influence on both the linebackers and defensive lineman, and has made an impact in a number of games. So far this year, he has 14 total tackles to go along with 5.5 sacks. He’s a gentle giant off the field, but when it comes to game time, he could rip off an opposing quarterback’s head.</p>
<p id="ZkpdLo">Sam McCaskill has been a terror for many Bronco opponents this year. Through five games, the senior defensive end has 23 total tackles, and 5 sacks. He, along with Tanner Vallejo, have been two reasons why Boise State has a great defense thus far in 2016.</p>
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<img alt="Wyoming v Boise State" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/RYLO6g9G0Z2O5ao93Gj9hKPUK_o=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7243053/494141970.jpg">
<cite>Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images</cite>
<figcaption>Sam McCaskill has been one of the reasons why Boise State is 5-0 this year.</figcaption>
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<p id="8N0Hf9">Avalos knows what it means to be a Bronco. During his days with Boise State in the Dan Hawkins era, he was one of the most feared linebackers in the WAC. Opposing offenses knew that they wouldn’t have much luck going up against him, because they knew they were going to get tackled. Facing Andy Avalos was like facing a hurricane. You can try and protect your house and valuables against that hurricane, but good luck with that.</p>
<p id="EbovjM">In his final two years at Boise State, Avalos earned All-WAC for his role as an outside linebacker. Sure, Boise State’s offense got most of the glory, but it was guys like Avalos, Korey Hall and Gerald Alexander that made teams like Fresno State, Tulsa, Nevada and Hawaii fearful of Boise State’s underrated defense.</p>
<p id="QbOLM8">Former Boise State running back and Avalos teammate Ian Johnson knows this firsthand.</p>
<p id="dbKxn9">“When I played with Andy, he exemplified what it meant to be a Bronco,” Johnson said. “Boise State always preaches that blue-collar mentality among their players. They always had a certain kind of player they were looking for. Andy always gave his all, and had an intensity only matched by a few players. If there was anyone in practice I dreaded going up against, it was Andy and Korey Hall.”</p>
<p id="kh1anm">So now, with Avalos at the helm of this defensive unit, mixed in with the contributions of defensive live coach Steve Caldwell, Ambrose and Franklin, it’s no wonder that Boise State is once again a force to be reckoned with in college football. If this team can win out, and beat BYU and Air Force, there’s a great chance they will be in a New Year’s 6 bowl game.</p>
<p id="s8g17Z">Former Boise State defensive lineman and Avalos teammate Alex Guerrero knows that his fellow Bronco always had the smarts to be a coach.</p>
<p id="76u1AG">“If anyone can stop the triple option, it’s him (Avalos). He’s got a great football IQ. Credit to Coach Harsin for bringing him on as DC.”</p>
<p id="NgK2Ke">Boise State just might have their most complete team they’ve had since the Chris Petersen era. And Andy Avalos deserves some of the credit.</p>
<p id="i1nsH5">After all, he knows what it means to bleed blue and orange.</p>
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https://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/8/13169070/boise-state-football-avalos-boisestate-defenseJake Hamar2016-10-08T10:51:56-07:002016-10-08T10:51:56-07:00Mountain West football open thread
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Navy at Air Force" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6VlI3pGIfHCjvWltGiiBICUhpBQ=/0x0:2917x1945/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51263241/usa-today-9581653.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>There are five league games throughout the day, stop by and chat with us.</p> <p id="Y2wDA6">There are five conference games today and the divide will slowly begin within the conference now that each team will have one league game in the books.</p>
<p id="rIWR2R">Things are spread out throughout the day so if you want to just hang out all day there is not much overlapping and for that San Jose State and Hawaii game it is radio only unless you are in Hawaii and pay for the game.</p>
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<p id="DwTg8b">Here is Saturday’s slate of games.</p>
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<p> </p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" width="1187">
<thead>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">
<p><strong>WEEK 6 SCHEDULE</strong><b><u></u><u></u></b></p>
</td>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<p><strong>DATE/MATCH-UP</strong><u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>TIME</strong><u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><strong>TV (SATELLITE RADIO)</strong><u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p><em><b>Friday, October 7</b></em><u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>#19/19 Boise State at New Mexico*<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>7 p.m. MT<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td><a href="http://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/8/13211226/boise-state-new-mexico-final-score-brett-rypien">Boise State won 49-21.</a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p><em><b>Saturday, October 8</b></em><u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td></td>
<td></td>
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<tr>
<td>
<p>RV/RV Air Force at Wyoming*<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1:30 p.m. MT<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>ROOT SPORTS<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Hawai‘i at San José State*<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>1:30 p.m. PT<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>Oceanic<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>Fresno State at Nevada*<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>4 p.m. PT<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>ESPN3<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p>UNLV at RV/RV San Diego State*<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>7:30 p.m. PT<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>ESPNU/WatchESPN (SIRIUS 136/XM 199)<u></u><u></u></p>
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</tr>
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<p>Utah State at Colorado State*<u></u><u></u></p>
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<p>8 p.m. MT<u></u><u></u></p>
</td>
<td>
<p>CBS Sports Network</p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/8/13211340/mountain-west-football-open-threadJeremy Mauss2016-10-08T10:26:15-07:002016-10-08T10:26:15-07:00Boise State does not hold back in win over New Mexico
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Boise State at New Mexico" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TZqq6FJvSo3u_ORxrfYRnuQEfK4=/0x0:3149x2099/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51262947/usa-today-9593527.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Sean Pokorny-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Boise State boat raced New Mexico in a 49-21 win.</p> <p id="peFQru">This game between New Mexico and Boise State had plenty of hype behind it since the Lobos have given the Broncos trouble in three of the past four years and then winning on the Blue Turf in 2015.</p>
<p id="YZVzBc">The 2016 game was more of the 2011 game which saw Boise State rock New Mexico, 45-0. Brett Rypien had a game for the ages by completing 21 of 28 passes for 391 yards and five touchdowns. He also averaged 14 yards <em>per pass attempt.</em></p>
<p id="bNUiqd">Two receivers had big games with both Thomas Sperbeck and Cedric Wilson with 198 yards for the former and 167 for the latter. Sperbeck had two touchdowns and Wilson had three.</p>
<p id="qsf7Vp">The is the first time that Boise State had a pair of receivers go over 150 yards each since the Broncos achieved the feat against SMU on Oct. 18, 2003.</p>
<p id="i1Lydb">“It does feel good to get the win against anybody, but it feels a little bit better especially because they beat us last year,” senior wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck said.</p>
<p id="16PDdI">There was no need for the rushing game to have a big game as Jeremy McNichols had only 54 yards but did score twice.</p>
<p id="NF7YSD">“They were hungry tonight, we probably could have cut them loose and had more,” Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. “They were operating, and that show could have went on throughout the night.”</p>
<p id="wWzfrL">After a few drives of no points, Boise State struck first on this short fade pass to Wilson and it began the scoring onslaught that was to come for Boise State.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/brettryp">@brettryp</a> finds <a href="https://twitter.com/cedwilson95">@cedwilson95</a> on the fade route and #19 <a href="https://twitter.com/BroncoSportsFB">@BroncoSportsFB</a> is on the board! Watch on <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSSportsNet">@CBSSportsNet</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mwfb?src=hash">#mwfb</a> <a href="https://t.co/6C46k1Ykte">pic.twitter.com/6C46k1Ykte</a></p>— Mountain West (@MountainWest) <a href="https://twitter.com/MountainWest/status/784565875605114880">October 8, 2016</a>
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<p id="oJls7Y">New Mexico responded with their own long touchdown run to tie it at seven but that would be the only points the Lobos would score until the fourth quarter.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/TyroneOwens25">@tyroneowens25</a> breaks free for his 2nd career TD, this time a 62-yarder, and <a href="https://twitter.com/NewMexicoFB">@NewMexicoFB</a> ties game w/ #19 <a href="https://twitter.com/BroncoSportsFB">@BroncoSportsFB</a>, 7 all! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/mwfb?src=hash">#mwfb</a> <a href="https://t.co/6JdT8VWvTJ">pic.twitter.com/6JdT8VWvTJ</a></p>— Mountain West (@MountainWest) <a href="https://twitter.com/MountainWest/status/784567743592992768">October 8, 2016</a>
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<p id="fh1brp">After the Lobos tied the game at seven, the Broncos would rattled off touchdowns on seven straight possessions in the dominant victory.</p>
<p id="bVSjdQ">Boise State was not holding back at all in this game and sliced the Lobos defense at will in the secondary. New Mexico had no answer against Rypien basically playing pass and catch all night. There was virtually no pass rush by the front seven of New Mexico, and this is another example of the Lobos defense not being there yet.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr"> <a href="https://twitter.com/BroncoSportsFB">@BroncoSportsFB</a>'s Brett Rypien put up BIG numbers vs. New Mexico! <a href="https://t.co/T8PZeHSKMp">pic.twitter.com/T8PZeHSKMp</a></p>— Campus Insiders (@CampusInsiders) <a href="https://twitter.com/CampusInsiders/status/784621316183842816">October 8, 2016</a>
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<p id="wuV5Qe">“That was what I was most afraid of, that we couldn’t cover (their wide receivers),” New Mexico head coach Bob Davie said afterward. “That’s the reality of it.</p>
<p id="tB8Bq8">“A lot of credit to the quarterback (sophomore Brett Rypien), a lot of credit to No. 82 (senior wide receiver Thomas Sperbeck), and those players are really good, really good.”</p>
<p id="v5MSmH">The New Mexico offense was held in check by a Boise State defense that seemingly figured out the run-option attack that has hurt them the past few years and kept them out of the end zone.</p>
<p id="uFt2np">The Lobos did average 6.3 yards per carry and rushed for a total of 382 yards and most was done by quarterback Lamar Jordan who rushed on his own for 139 yards. </p>
<p id="uU7mSn">However, they were without starting running back Teryion Gipson who suffered a hamstring injury the week prior against San Jose State and was ultimately held out. Having Gipson probably would not have made much of a difference as he does not play in the secondary. </p>
<p id="xg6VI7">“It’s like a fight. When someone loses a fight, they always want to have a rematch, right?” Harsin said. “This was a chance to go back out there and have an opportunity to go play a team that beat us. Those guys certainly know some of the things that showed up from last season.</p>
<p id="2SAmzO">“Our guys were aware, coming into the game, in their own minds, how they wanted to play.”</p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/8/13211226/boise-state-new-mexico-final-score-brett-rypienJeremy Mauss2016-10-07T22:00:03-07:002016-10-07T22:00:03-07:00Hawaii Football Preview: MWC Game 2 against the San Jose State Spartans
<figure>
<img alt="NCAA Football: Hawaii at Michigan" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/b2uD5QdEdRtjnGnVjbKTriVdf3c=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51258619/usa-today-9524452.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Can Dru Brown end the 10 game road rut for the Rainbow Warriors?</p> <h1 id="pLBzmk"><strong>Gameday Info:</strong></h1>
<p id="hkH1nX">Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (2-3, 1-0 MWC) vs San Jose State Spartans (1-4, 0-1 MWC)</p>
<p id="EiwtC9">October 8, 2016 at 10:30 AM HST, CEFCU Stadium, San Jose, California</p>
<p id="5BCopS"><strong>TV:</strong> Hawaiian Telcom PPV</p>
<p id="z7FYF1"><strong>Radio:</strong> KKEA ESPN 1420 (Honolulu), KNUI 550AM (Maui), KHLO 850AM (Hilo), KKON 790AM (Kona), KTOH 99.9FM (Kauai), KNWJ 104.7FM (American Samoa), XM Radio 203 and Sirius Radio 93.</p>
<p id="sw0n8p"><strong>Web Audio-Cast: </strong><a href="http://player.listenlive.co/27971">ESPN 1420 AM</a></p>
<p id="6tOaKW"><strong>Spread: </strong>+3 Hawaii</p>
<p id="yLguao"><strong>Over/Under:</strong> 64</p>
<p id="Wv1jqd"><em>UPDATE: Game time has been corrected to 10:30 AM HST. </em></p>
<p id="Vxnsuh"></p>
<h1 id="BvAoEt"><strong>Gameday Tidbits:</strong></h1>
<ul id="g7fpFi">
<li>This 39<sup>th</sup> meeting between the two programs, in which San Jose State leads the University of Hawaii with a record of 19-18-1. However, the Rainbow Warriors hold a 7-6-1 record in San Jose.</li>
<li>The last meeting between the two happened in Honolulu and led to a 23-42 loss. Kenny Potter led the Spartans to victory with 312 yards through the air and accounted for 5 total touchdowns (3 passing and 2 rushing). Paul Harris was Hawaii’s star and totaled 197 yards and 1 touchdown.</li>
<li>The road has not been kind to the ‘Bows so far in 2016 as they are 0-3 while being outscored 161-62. All games were ones that were played against Power 5 conferences.</li>
<li>The Rainbow Warriors have a 10 game losing streak while playing on the road. The last game they won on the road was against San Jose State (13-0). Tyler Hadden led the team with 7 points scored.</li>
<li>UH is 2-0 against non-Power 5 teams in 2016 and have outscored them 79-53 (both games at home).</li>
</ul>
<p id="mGrdMG"> </p>
<h1 id="Qf229N"><strong>Roster Report:</strong></h1>
<p id="vAtOQm"><strong>Hawaii:</strong> Questionable: Devan Stubblefield (WR); Out for Season: Melvin Davis (RB).</p>
<p id="Ap6JH2">Note: Daniel Lewis Jr. (DB) is noted to possibly miss tomorrow’s game for disciplinary reasons.</p>
<p id="7hsoJO"><strong>San Jose State:</strong> PROBABLE: Kenny Potter (QB); Questionable: Brandon Monroe (RB), Cameron Smith (CB); OUT: Nate Velichko (T), Thomas Tucker (RB); Out for Season: Tyler Winston (WR).</p>
<p id="TX3EZd"> </p>
<h1 id="qlsW95"><strong>2016 Team Leaders:</strong></h1>
<p id="P9jxBU"><strong>Passing:</strong> Ikaika Woolsey (Hawaii): 44-90, 644 yards, 6 TD, 6 INT; Kenny Potters (San Jose State): 56-95, 846 yards, 8 TD, 3 INT</p>
<p id="mIYBLP"><strong>Rushing:</strong> Diocemy Saint Juste (Hawaii): 69 carries, 464 yards, 2 TD; Zamore Zigler (San Jose State): 50 carries, 311 yards, 3 TD</p>
<p id="rdFZCe"><strong>Receiving:</strong> Marcus Kemp (Hawaii): 24 receptions, 644 yards, 6 TD; Tre Hartley (San Jose State): 16 receptions, 305 yards, 2 TD</p>
<p id="HiGKio"><strong>Tackles:</strong> Trayvon Henderson (Hawaii): 37 (28 solo) tackles; Frank Ginda (San Jose State): 38 (18 solo) tackles</p>
<p id="v8xl3K"><strong>Sacks:</strong> Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea (Hawaii): 2.0 sacks; Frank Ginda (San Jose State): 3.0 sacks</p>
<p id="sAtjj0"><strong>Pass Breakup: </strong>Jalen Rogers (Hawaii): 2 PBU; Andre Chachere (San Jose State): 7 PBU</p>
<p id="6BffHz"><strong>Interceptions: </strong>Jalen Rogers (Hawaii): 1 INT; Andre Chachere (San Jose State): 2 INT</p>
<p id="n58EMD"> </p>
<h1 id="3oadvH"><strong>Names to Know:</strong></h1>
<p id="MBxzSj"><strong>Hawaii: </strong>(QB) Dru Brown, (RB) Diocemy Saint Juste, (WR) Marcus Kemp, (DE) Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea, (LB) Jahlani Tavai, (DB) Jalen Rogers</p>
<p id="cYQc3n"><strong>San Jose State: </strong>(QB) Kenny Potters, (RB) Zamore Zigler, (WR) Tre Hartley, (LB) Frank Ginda, (LB) Christian Tago, (CB) Andrew Chachere</p>
<p id="UOv0gw"><em>For the Hawaii depth chart click </em><a href="http://hawaiiathletics.com.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/2016/7/25/2016_Hawaii_Football_MG.pdf?id=3980"><strong><em>here </em></strong></a><em>and go to page 9.</em></p>
<p id="TLyyrG"><em>For the San Jose State depth chart click </em><strong><em><a href="http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/sjsu/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2016-17/release/release_20161003aaa.pdf">here</a></em></strong><em> and go to page 11.</em></p>
<p id="lJfH3r"> </p>
<h1 id="hRw7YJ"><strong>Keys to the Game:</strong></h1>
<ul id="zNiWca">
<li>Dylan did a nice job of breaking down the keys to victory for tomorrow’s game, check it out <a href="http://www.mwcconnection.com/mountain-west-football/2016/10/6/13193556/hawaii-sjsu-keys-to-victory">here</a>.</li>
<li>If you want to know what the enemy is up to check out the keys to victory that Spartarises did <a href="http://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/7/13187704/san-jose-state-hawaii-game-preview">here</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p id="v7TQli"> </p>
<h1 id="hunE75"><strong>Bottom Line:</strong></h1>
<p id="qM87EA">You’d think that after last week’s victory projection systems would show UH some respect. ESPN’s FPI favors San Joses State to win by tipping the odds in their favor with a 75.1% chance to win. Even worse would be NumberFire’s prediction of 30.3-21.9, in favor of the Spartans.</p>
<p id="lr9aZm">There are projectionists that like Hawaii tomorrow. The Vegas odds makers have UH at +3 and Bill Connelly & company at Football Outsiders have come to the same conclusion. They gave Hawaii a 49% chance to win tomorrow.</p>
<p id="Oam56b">Personally, I side with the Vegas Odds Makers and Bill Connelly. According to Football Studyhall data released by Bill, Hawaii graded in the 94th percentile for their offensive performance last week. This nearly triples their second-best effort against an FBS team. Their defense also performed six times better than their previous best grade.</p>
<p id="6QXkq8">Putting aside the nerdy stuff, Hawaii took down Nevada by a similar margin that Notre Dame did just a few weeks prior. Not only did they do that but they looked good doing it.</p>
<p id="K3TKOW">Yes, pass coverage needs to be cleaned up but we saw progress from them later in the game. The defensive line, who I thought was the biggest weakness of the team, stepped up and created havoc in the Nevada backfield (7 TFL with 4 sacks). There is a little give take there but it looks like this defense will be ok against San Jose. So far the Kenny Potter offense is not what most would have thought it would be in 2016. That is something that the Rainbow Warrior defense should look to continue not correct.</p>
<p id="esQlD4">The offense, with Dru Brown leading them, was dominant and totaled their first 500-yard game since November 2014. Not only did they dominate in yardage but also limited the turnovers (1 fumble). The newly efficient pass game will add a whole new aspect to the Rainbow Warrior offense. That and the awesome rush game should give fits to the 114th ranked Spartan defense.</p>
<p id="DRGaIx">The bottom line is that I think it is safe for you Hawaii fans out there to believe what went down last week. I think it is safe for us to think that the ‘Bows go out tomorrow and win. I think tomorrow’s score will be 31-24 with Hawaii coming out on top.</p>
<p id="I5d7Mi"></p>
<p id="zqFvFr"><em>Stats and info courtesy of the University of Hawaii and the San Jose State University football programs.</em></p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/7/13208472/hawaii-football-rainbow-warriors-preview-san-jose-state-spartansDontWarriorBoutIt2016-10-07T18:25:03-07:002016-10-07T18:25:03-07:00San Diego State vs. UNLV: Keys to an Aztec victory
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Wyoming at San Diego State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/QNlgumEsFulp3QpgU3GbuQWNepk=/0x0:5454x3636/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/51256499/usa-today-8937613.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Aztecs look for a third consecutive win against the Rebels.</p> <p id="Xxih41">After falling out of the AP Top 25 following a 42-24 loss to unranked Southern Alabama, the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/san-diego-st-aztecs">San Diego State Aztecs</a> will look to bounce back against the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/teams/unlv-rebels">UNLV Rebels</a>. Below are three keys to ensure a victory for the Aztecs this Saturday.</p>
<p id="kl9wt7"><strong>1. Win the Run Game</strong></p>
<p id="fpcR8N">The Aztecs have relied on senior running-back <span>Donnel Pumphrey</span>, who leads the NCAA in rushing yards (750) and is fifth in total touchdowns (8). <span>Pumphrey</span> surpassed Marshall Faulk when he broke the SDSU career rushing yards record three weeks ago against California. In addition, he is currently ranked 20th (5,022) in career NCAA rushing yards. However, the Aztecs must slow down the Rebels, who rank ninth in the nation in rushing yards per game (273). Overall, the Aztecs must dominate the run game in order to set and control the pace of the game. </p>
<p id="qeDDih"><strong>2. Force turnovers</strong></p>
<p id="I5bofo">Through the first five games of the season, Rebels’ QB Johnny Stanton has been a high-risk and high-reward player, who has thrown six touchdowns and six interceptions. The Aztecs are 11th in the nation in passes intercepted (7) and should look to turn turnovers into quick points. San Diego State’s defense must pressure Stanton into making quick decisions that the Aztecs can capitalize on. For example, the Aztecs forced California’s QB Davis Webb into throwing three interceptions, in which one resulted in a touchdown and an interception with 0:23 in the 4th quarter to seal the game. </p>
<p id="y2nZzb"><strong>3. Embrace the pass game</strong></p>
<p id="NSEyJC">Despite the Aztecs success running the ball, there has been concern in the production of points through the air. Through five games, sophomore QB Christian Chapman has thrown for 697 yards with 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Yet, it is easy for the Aztecs to forget about Chapman’s abilities when the run game is going well. Chapman has a strong QB rating (147.9) and has been productive completing his passes (60.7%). The first game of the season against New Hampshire was one of Chapman’s bright moments, where he went 16-for-25 on 283 yards and produced a clean slate (two touchdowns and zero interceptions). </p>
<p id="UStExW">Chapman has not thrown more than 25 passes during a game this season. Despite a small sample size, Chapman’s touchdown to interception ratio (3.5) should not go unnoticed. He may be the missing piece to the Aztecs when their offense slows down and the run game has an off night. Overall, Chapman’s success can majorly influence how San Diego State will fare for the remainder of the season. </p>
https://www.mwcconnection.com/2016/10/7/13190878/san-diego-state-vs-unlv-previewrtaylor55