Report on the Games

I did the same thing this year that I did last.  I watched the Weber State game in person and then came home to watch BYU/Utah on TV.

McNeese State 35 Weber State 21

This game was not nearly has close as the final score indicated.  It was total domination by the Cowboys who run up 557 yards of total offense to Weber State's 257.  Most of Weber's points and yardage came in the final 6:39 of the game when Jordan Adamczek spelled starter Mike Hoke at QB and McNeese State let their backups play the game on defense.  By that time, the majority of the nearly 10,000 who came to see the home opener had gone somewhere else.  Adamczek finished with better stats and more yardage than Hoke and led the team on two scoring drives.  It's a sad commentary on your offense when the game MVP is the punter for the 2nd consecutive week.  McNeese State should have scored 50+ points, but had some red-zone trouble which included missed field goals and turnovers.  It was not a complete Cowboy victory.  Weber's offense was really that bad.

Weber State MVP: P Josh Epperson

Southern Utah 45 New Mexico Highlands 23

Remember last year when SUU went to Vegas and beat UNLV?  In the game last year, SUU scored 3 times on interception returns.  This year, SUU almost relived that game, but at the other end.  At halftime, the Thunderbirds held a slim 21-20 lead over the Division II Cowboys.  2 of UNMH's scores were interception returns.  But SUU calmed down in the second half and the game looked more like what you would expect when teams from different divisions meet.

SUU MVP: RB Brian Wilson

Wisconsin 16 Utah State 14

In a game that was reminiscent of last-year's heart-break kids, USU missed a FG at the last minute to drop a heart breaker at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison.  It was a defensive battle from kickoff to gun.  Wisconsin got yardage, but few points to show for it...scored one of their touchdowns on a punt return.

USU MVP: RB Kerwynn Williams

Utah 24 BYU 21

In an ending the reminded me of the 1972 basketball Olympic final, Utah survived and avoided another BYU miracle finish.  The game was really decided in the 3rd quarter, where the Utes scored 17 unanswered points, including a return of a fumble for a touchdown.  The Utah defense was in the head of the BYU offensive line to start the 2nd half, and BYU could not get much going until it was nearly too late to even make a game of it.  BYU was kept in the game by their solid rush defense and by good special teams play.  The only knock on the special teams was the two missed field goals, including the gift by the referee with no time left that would have put the game into overtime.  (It was the correct call; a penalty when the fans come onto the field while the play is still live, but I've seen officials let it slide before.)

Utah MVP: DL Star Lotulelei
BYU MVP: LB Spencer Hadley

I will have commentary on the coaching situation at BYU and Weber State later this week.