Week six was intriguing to say the least. We saw Boise State and Air Force squander chances for huge non-conference wins, and we saw four conference games that all wielded interesting results. Despite being nearly halfway through the season, there are still plenty of unanswered questions. Let’s take a look at how each team performed in this edition of “the Good, the Bad, the Ugly.”
The Good
San Jose State
It was a game the Spartans had to win and they managed to get it done. Senior quarterback Walker Eget was nearly
flawless in San Jose State’s 35-28 win over New Mexico. Eget complete 26 of 30 passes for 334 yards and three touchdowns. The Spartans also did a nice job of establishing the run game despite some injuries at the running back position. They rushed for 157 yards, led by Steve Chavez-Soto’s 71 yards on 14 carries. Will this win be the turning point in the Spartans; season? Only time will tell.
San Diego State
The Aztec offense had a huge bounce back performance after only scoring six points against Northern Illinois last weekend. It was a dominant performance for San Diego State’s offense, racking up more than 500 yards of total offense with a balanced attack through the air and on the ground. San Diego State had two 100-yard rushers, Byron Caldwell Jr. and Lucky Sutton, and quarterback Jayden Denegal had a very efficient performance completing 13 of 16 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns. The Aztecs have now won three in a row and look like a legitimate contender.
UNLV
Another week and another win in unexpected fashion. The Rebels traveled to Laramie and much to their surprise they had to deal with snow. The Rebels were able to take advantage of the elements, blocking two Wyoming punts that were returned for touchdowns and forcing three turnovers. Despite being outgained by more than 100 yards, the Rebels were able to come away with the win and improve to 5-0 on the season. This team has been playing with fire all season, but they play with a ton of grit. Will they be able to continue their run against Air Force this weekend?
Fresno State
For the second consecutive week, the Bulldogs played with fire and narrowly came out on the winning side. Luckily for the Bulldogs, Nevada was mistake prone in the first half and their offense was able to capitalize on those mistakes to the tune of 17 points off turnovers and a 20-3 halftime lead. But the Bulldog offense stalled in the second half and allowed Nevada to get back into the game to make it 20-17 in the fourth quarter. With the game on the line, the Bulldog offense rose to the occasion and held on to the ball for the final 8:42 to escape with the win and improve to 2-0 in Mountain West play.
The Bad
New Mexico
This is a game where the Lobos wish they could hit the do-over button. Despite their poorest defensive showing of the year, they still had every chance to win this game. The final score of 35-28 ultimately came down to two Jack Layne interceptions that resulted in touchdowns for San Jose State. The loss doesn’t ruin the season for the Lobos, but it certainly tempers expectations a bit. They struggled to establish the run which is something they have to do to be successful, and the Spartans were able to pass the ball with relative ease. The Lobos face another stiff test this weekend, as they travel to Boise to take on the Broncos. A loss to Boise State would likely eliminate any chance New Mexico has at playing for the Mountain West Championship.
Air Force
It was another close loss for the Falcons and this one stings a little more since it was to Navy. On the good side, Liam Szarka continued to look very impressive, accounting for 364 yards of total offense and all four Air Force touchdowns. On the bad side, it was turnovers and poor defense that cost the Falcons yet again. For a team that prides itself on discipline, it continues to be the small things that keep piling up for this team. The loss drops Air Force to 1-4 for the season, and their hopes for a bowl game are looking bleak at this point. Will they be able to turn things around against UNLV this weekend?
Boise State
The final score of 28-7 might not indicate it, but the Broncos had plenty of chances to win this game. Most fans were worried about the defense heading into this game, but missed opportunities in the form of penalties and turnovers were the difference. The Broncos had a 7-6 lead late in the first half, but an interception on the final drive of the first half cost the team points. Then there was a questionable block in the back penalty on the first drive of the second half and a sack of Maddux Madsen that once again cost the team points. For the second time this season, the team looked undisciplined and starting quarterback Maddux Madsen struggled when he needed to put the team on his back. This team is good enough to win the Mountain West, but are they disciplined enough to get it done?
Wyoming
This is one of those games where the Cowboys will look back and feel like they gave it away. If you looked at the final box score, you would think this would have been a comfortable win for Wyoming. However, two blocked punts that were returned for touchdowns and a questionable penalty that overturned a touchdown that led to an interception on the next play proved too much to overcome. This looks like a team that is on the verge of being good, but they can’t continue to let mistakes pile up. Two punts blocked and three turnovers led to 17 UNLV points; that was the difference in the game.
The Ugly
Colorado State
Strong words here…but the Rams continue to be a complete embarrassment after entering the season with championship expectations. They were outclassed and over-matched by a resurgent San Diego State team. The Aztecs racked up over 500 yards of total offense and were able to control the clock against a Colorado State defense that lacked urgency and effort. On the other side of the ball, struggles continued and the Rams eventually turned to yet another quarterback in freshman Darius Curry. With each passing week, it looks like Jay Norvell’s time in Fort Collins is close to being over.
Nevada
It was the tale of two halves and one bad half cost the Wolf Pack a chance to turn around what has been a disappointing start to the season. In the first half, Nevada had four turnovers. Those four turnovers resulted in 17 Fresno State points, including a late touchdown that allowed the Bulldogs to enter the half with a 20-3 lead. Nevada looked like a different team in the second half, shutting out the Bulldogs and avoiding turnovers. But ultimately the comeback fell short and the turnovers were too much to overcome in Nevada’s 20-17 win over Fresno State.
How did you feel about your team’s performance this past weekend? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
