A look at the Week 9 Mountain West games.
BYU Cougars 37, Boise State Broncos 20
In a non-conference matchup, the Broncos traveled to Provo, Utah, to visit the Cougars last Friday.
Boise State quarterback Grant Hedrick was making his first career start. He threw 25 of 42 for 232 yards and one touchdown. Running back Jay Ajayi had 23 carries for 151 yards.
But BYU’s defense made a statement. The Broncos were only held to 37 yards in the first quarter alone. The Cougars had 203 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown run by Taysom Hill. The second quarter saw Boise State finally get on the board — a 33-yard field goal by Dan Goodale.
Less than a minute after the play, Hill threw a 37-yard pass to Ross Apo. The Cougars punctuated the half when junior safety Craig Bills stripped the ball from Broncos wide receiver Shane Williams-Rhodes, and Remington Peck recovered it. Afterward, Hill completed a 4-yard pass to Cody Hoffman to end the half 24-3.
The 21-point gap remained after the third quarter, as both teams scored a touchdown and field goal apiece. The Broncos turned the ball over on three consecutive possessions: running backs Geraldo Boldewijn and Jay Ajayi fumbled and Hedrick threw an interception.
Boise State will visit Colorado State on Saturday.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish 45, Air Force Falcons 10
Last Saturday was a productive day for Notre Dame senior quarterback Tommy Rees, who threw 17 of 22 passes for 284 yards and five touchdowns in the victory.
Air Force running back Colton Huntsman scored the first touchdown of the game, a 10-yard run. Notre Dame responded with a touchdown of its own, ending the first quarter 7-7.
To start the second quarter, Notre Dame wide receiver William Fuller caught a 46-yard pass from Rees to give the Irish the lead. The Falcons answered with a 47-yard Will Conant field goal, which would be the last for Air Force.
Notre Dame scored 31 unanswered points to seal the victory.
The Falcons will try to end a 7-game losing skid when they host Army on Saturday.
UNLV Rebels 27, Nevada Wolf Pack 22
After losing its first 2013 conference game against Fresno State, UNLV returned to Nevada last Saturday and did something it has not done in eight years: conquer its in-state rival.
UNLV quarterback Caleb Herring threw 29 of 42 for 335 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Davante Davis was his primary target. He had eight receptions for 121 yards and two scores.
The game began slowly — only six points were scored in the first 20 minutes, both of them field goals from Nevada’s Brent Zuzo. Herring then tossed a 16-yard pass to Maika Mataele for a touchdown to take the lead 7-6.
Nevada and UNLV exchanged touchdowns before a Zuzo field goal gave Nevada the lead at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, UNLV running back Tim Cornett scored to re-take the lead.
The Wolf Pack tried to spark a last-minute rally. Quarterback Cody Fajardo completed a 9-yard pass to Aaron Bradley to bring Nevada within five. The Rebels went three-and-out in their next possession, giving Nevada time to try to win the game with 2:15 left. With 1:28 remaining in the game, Fajardo attempted a high pass to receiver Jerico Richardson that went incomplete.
On Saturday, UNLV will host San Jose State while Nevada will visit Fresno State.
San Jose State Spartans 51, Wyoming Cowboys 44
The Spartans overcame a first-quarter 16-point deficit and scored the last touchdown to defeat the Cowboys last Saturday.
San Jose State quarterback David Fales threw 482 yards and five touchdowns, including a rushing score, in the win. Wyoming passer Brett Smith threw 22 of 34 for 264 yards and three scores.
Down 16-0, the Spartans outscored the Cowboys 14-7 in the second quarter and went to halftime down nine points.
In the third quarter, Smith connected an 8-yard touchdown pass to increase Wyoming’s lead at 30-14. After the score, the Spartans outscored Wyoming 21-0 and took a 36-30 lead at the end of the third quarter.
Wyoming retook the lead after a Shawn Wick 15-yard touchdown run. Fales connected a 30-yard touchdown pass to Chandler Jones to give San Jose State a 42-37 lead. After a two-point conversion to increase the lead, the Cowboys were able to tie at 44-44.
Down to its last possession of regulation, Fales completed a play-action pass to tight end Billy Freeman for 33 yards. With eight seconds remaining, Fales ran the ball in to score the winning touchdown.
On Saturday, San Jose State will visit UNLV while Wyoming will have a bye before hosting Fresno State.
Colorado State Rams 35, Hawaii Rainbow Warriors 28
In the first eight minutes of last Sunday’s game, the Rams scored an offensive and defensive touchdown — and held the lead afterward.
Colorado State running back Kapri Bibbs scored his first of three touchdowns. In Hawaii’s ensuing possession, quarterback Sean Schroeder fumbled after a sack, which was returned 73 yards by Max Morgan for the score.
After Schroeder recovered in the next drive and threw a 38-yard touchdown pass, Hawaii and Colorado State exchanged touchdowns. The Rams then scored two more times, while the Warriors had a field goal, to end the first half.
The third quarter went scoreless. In the fourth, Hawaii posted 11 unanswered points, but it was not enough and the Rams won the game.
On Saturday, Colorado State will host Boise State while Hawaii will try to win its first game at Utah State.