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WAC

Sporting News, The, Nov 9, 1998

MOUNTAIN DIVISION

BIG GAME: Colorado State might have been looking ahead to Wyoming when Rice pulled the plug on its bowl hopes last Saturday. But if the Rams can rebound in a home game against Wyoming, they still might have an outside Chance. Wyoming is having a great season and a win over the Rams would put the Cowboys in the driver's seat for a spot in the conference Championship game. The WAC is guaranteed only two bowl slots: the Las Vegas Bowl and the Aloha Bowl.

LOOKING AHEAD: If Rice wins out, the Owls do have an outside chance at reaching the championship game. That scenario would require two Wyoming losses, but the Cowboys do have Colorado State and Air Force on their schedule.

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CAMPUS STROLL: Tulsa coach Dave Rader installed a two-quarterback system after starter John Fitzgerald and backup Michael Wall went down with injuries. Rader used Robert Stephenson in a one-back offense and inserted Jerrold Smith in a wishbone. He went with nine new running plays to keep things basic for the new quarterbacks. Tulsa beat UNLV, 20-16, with the rotation.... Colorado State K Derek Franz missed a field-goal attempt in the third quarter against Rice, breaking his string of 12 consecutive successful kicks.... UNLV lost for the 14th straight time and owns the longest current losing streak in the country.... Rice WR Mike Gingrich, who scored on a four-yard reverse against Colorado State, quit the team last season after suffering from concussions. He came back this year against doctor's orders.... The Air Force defense continues to play well. The Falcons sacked SMU QB Chris Sanders five times and limited the Mustangs to seven points. SMU's touchdown was a pass that was tipped by an Air Force defender.... TCU outgained Wyoming, 428 yards to 352, but mistakes allowed the Cowboys to escape with a 34-27 victory when RB Marques Brigham broke for a 71-yard, game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Each team had an interception returned for a touchdown.... Rice's LaDouphyous McCalla made his 11th career interception, which tied him for third on the school's all-time list. -- Neal Farmer

PACIFIC DIVISION

BIG GAME: Fresno State at San Diego State. The Bulldogs have won two straight games to get back into the division race. An earlier win over BYU is their trump card. The Aztecs am tied with BYU for the division lead, but they are coming off a 13-0 loss to the Cougars and haven't scored a touchdown in eight quarters (not counting overtime). The Aztecs have beaten Fresno State three straight times.

LOOKING AHEAD: Five teams are in the running for a division title with three weeks remaining. BYU (4-1), San Diego State (4-1), Fresno State (3-2), Utah (3-2) and Texas-El Paso (3-2) all have a chance, but look for the Aztecs to regain control, despite last week's loss at BYU. Here's why: The Aztecs wall be favored to run the table against Fresno State at home, at San Jose State and UTEP at home. If they do, all they'll need is a BYU loss at Utah to close the regular season--and there's a good chance that will happen. The Cougars will play host to New Mexico and visit UTEP over the next two weeks.

CAMPUS STROLL: A recent decision by the San Diego-based Holiday Bowl has left the door ajar for San Diego State to be invited to the game if the Aztecs win the conference title--regardless of their national ranking. The bowl announced a four-year deal, effective this season, that win match the WAC champion or the Big 12 No. 3--whichever is ranked highest in the Bowl Championship Series standings--opposite the Pac-10 runner-up. But a provision was included that will allow the Holiday to take San Diego State once every four years, even if it's ranked below the Big 12 No. 3. But the Aztecs have to win their league for that to happen. The agreement will apply next year only to the WAC's departing eight schools, which will form the Mountain West Conference.... Neither team scored an offensive touchdown in BYU's 13-0 win over San Diego State. And the teams had combined to average 80 points over their previous seven games. The Aztecs registered all-time lows in total yards (122) and passing yards (42).... Fresno State, 11-25 on the road since joining the conference in 1992, recorded a 28-20 victory last Saturday at New Mexico.... Lobos QB Graham Leigh, last year's division offensive player of the year, threw a career-record-tying four interceptions against the Bulldogs and showed his bitterness about New Mexico's 3-6 record--one season after going 9-4 and earning the school's first bowl bid in 36 years. "It's just too bad we had to sacrifice this season for everyone to figure out what's going on," he said, referring to what has been a difficult coaching transition from Dennis Franchione to Rocky Long. "Coach Fran benefited from leaving. Coaches came in and put in a new system. It's tough for the seniors. I feel I'm doing this for everybody else at my expense." ... Utah RB Mike Anderson, a 24-year-old former Marine playing his first major college season, broke a school record for consecutive 100-yard games (five) when he rushed for 163 in a 49-17 rout of San Jose State. He also became the first Ute back since '91 to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. -- Andy Boogaard

WAC

Sporting News, The, Nov 9, 1998

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