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BYU hopes to stay in Mountain West race

Nov 15, 2008 - 11:27 AM (14) BYU (9-1) at Air Force (8-2), 3:30 pm EST

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado (Ticker) -- Brigham Young is still hoping to get a piece of the Mountain West Conference, and it could come down to next week's showdown against Utah.

But for the annual grudge match against the Utes to have any meaning in the conference race, the 14-ranked Cougars have to take care of business Saturday at Air Force.

BYU (9-1, 5-1 Mountain West) enters the penultimate week of the season one game behind undefeated Utah.

The Utes host San Diego State - winless in the conference - on Saturday, so they figure to be 7-0 in the Mountain West heading into next week's contest.

After surviving back-to-back scares the previous two weeks against Nevada-Las Vegas and Colorado State, the Cougars took out their frustrations on the Aztecs last week, rolling to a 41-12 victory.

Max Hall threw three touchdown passes as BYU set a school record with its 18th straight win at home. Austin Collie had eight receptions for 127 yards and two scores - his eighth consecutive 100-yard game.

Collie established a Mountain West mark with his 14th career 100-yard game, breaking the previous record held by San Diego State's J.R. Tolliver.

Still, winning at Air Force will not be easy for BYU as the Falcons (8-2, 5-1) also have a chance to gain a share of the conference title. Air Force's only loss in Mountain West play came to Utah.

Air Force has quietly put together a solid season under second-year coach Troy Calhoun, who guided the Falcons to a 9-4 finish last season after taking over for long-time coach Fisher DeBerry.

The Falcons have strung together five straight wins since a 33-27 loss to Navy on October 4, including a 38-17 decision over Colorado State last week.

Air Force may have a new regime, but one thing hasn't changed: it still relies on its run-oriented attack.

While they lack a big-time runner, the Falcons are fourth in the Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing, averaging 275.4 yards per game.

For the last four games, Air Force's offense has been run by freshman Tim Jefferson, who threw for 171 yards and two scores against Colorado State. Senior Shea Smith has not seen any action since October 11 at San Diego State.

Air Force's biggest weapon, however, may be kicker Ryan Harrison, who is 20-for-22 on the season on field goals to break the previous school record of 19 in a season set by Dave Lawson in 1974 and matched by David Adams in 2000.

The Falcons have dropped four straight against BYU, including a 31-6 loss in Provo last season, and trail the all-time series, 22-6.