WAC Conference Roundup - Week 8

CollegeFootballNews.com
Posted Oct 21, 2007


WAC conference roundup, standings, player and game of the week

Click on each team for game recaps, thoughts, schedules and more and scroll down for the games, results, players of the week and the conference roundup.

Boise State | Fresno State | Hawaii | Idaho | Louisiana Tech
Nevada | New Mexico St | San Jose State | Utah State


WAC Game of the Week
Nevada 31 ... Utah State 28
Luke Lippencott ran for 241 yards and touchdowns from seven and eight yards out, but the Wolf Pack had to hold on as Leon Jackson ran for two sores and Kevin Robinson returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown on the way to a 28-24 lead in the fourth quarter. Colin Kaepernick hooked up with Mike McCoy for a 32-yard touchdown with just over seven minutes to play to give the Pack the lead, and the D held. The Pack outgained the Aggies 472 yards to 212


WAC Player of the Week
Nevada RB Luke Lippencott ran 36 times for 241 yards and two touchdowns, and caught four passes for 20 yards in the win over Utah State

Conference Roundup

Boise State … Uh, defense? It's one thing to get into a shootout with Nevada, but to struggle to slow down Louisiana Tech is another. Without Ian Johnson, who's out with a kidney injury, it'll be up to Jeremy Avery to provide the consistent spark on the ground against Fresno State, but for now, it's all on a defense that has to start tackling better, and Taylor Tharp, who did plenty of good things against Tech, but also threw two picks.
Fresno State … Fresno State is hot. On a four-game winning streak and spotless in WAC play, this is the sleeper team no one's paying much attention to. Thanks to the running of Ryan Mathews and the play of the defense, the Bulldogs didn't have to get cute against San Jose State. Tom Brandstater made the throws that were there without forcing anything, the running game rolled for 251 yards, and there wasn't any worry. Now comes the Boise State showdown. The same formula should work, especially if Ian Johnson is out.
Hawaii … Didn’t Play This Week
Idaho … Idaho might have lost its sixth straight, but the offense kept up for a while with New Mexico State, and Deonte Jackson had yet another phenomenal game. The passing game still isn't up-to-WAC-snuff against the high-octane teams, but if it weren't for some key turnovers, the Vandals might have pulled off the win. Get ready for more fireworks with a trip to Nevada next week.
Louisiana Tech … If only the offense could move on everyone like it did against Boise State. There was balance, explosion, and production from several spots. The turnovers were a problem, and they turned out to kill the chances. And the defense didn't do much to slow down the high-octane Broncos, but as long as the offense can keep up the pace for a while, the Bulldogs can win over the next few weeks at Utah State and Idaho.
Nevada … Nevada isn't doing anything easy, giving up just 212 yards to the woeful Utah State Aggies, but had to rally to win. Luke Lippencott and the running game were amazing, Colin Kaepernick was efficient throwing the ball, and everything was there for an easy win, but it didn't happen. It was still a much-needed win to get back into the bowl hunt, but going on a run is a must with Idaho and New Mexico State up next.
New Mexico State … Rested from missing two weeks with bruised ribs. Chase Holbrook became Chase Holbrook again, bombing away with precision against the Idaho defense. The Aggie D struggled a bit too much against a normally anemic offense, but when Holbrook is firing and is on, it doesn't matter; NMSU will simply outbomb teams. Interestingly enough in a shootout like this, Chris Williams was barely involved with three grabs for 26 yards. Now comes the real fun ... Hawaii.
San Jose State … 12 penalties for 90 yards, continued problems with the kicking game, and nothing from the running backs killed any chance to keep up with a hot Fresno State. The Bulldogs didn't do anything fancy, but the Spartans couldn't hang on in the third quarter as things started to get out of hand. Just when things appear bleak after losing to Hawaii and Fresno State in painful fashion, but in different ways, here comes the trip to Boise State.
Utah State… How did the Aggies stay alive against Nevada after only gaining 212 yards? Leon Jackson was the entire attack, with no help from the rest of the running game and nothing whatsoever from the defense that got ripped to shreds for a second straight week, but the team was still in it until the end. Eventually the breaks will go the right way, but if it doesn't happen against Louisiana Tech, the 0-fer season is likely certain.

  Conference Overall Home Away
  W L PF PA W L PF PA STR W L W L
Hawaii 4 0 187 136 7 0 365 166 W7 3 0 4 0
Fresno State 4 0 133 71 5 2 223 173 W4 3 0 2 2
Boise State 3 0 172 98 6 1 300 159 W5 5 0 1 1
San Jose State 2 2 86 112 3 5 137 242 L2 2 1 1 4
New Mexico State 1 2 66 111 4 4 204 265 W1 4 0 0 4
Nevada 1 2 139 146 3 4 259 271 W1 2 1 1 3
Louisiana Tech 1 3 103 128 2 5 143 201 L1 2 2 0 3
Idaho 0 4 95 158 1 7 188 296 L6 1 3 0 4
Utah State 0 3 85 106 0 7 140 249 L7 0 3 0 4

Saturday, October 20

3:05 PM

Nevada 31 ... at Utah State 28
CFN Prediction: Nev. 38-13   Nev. -7.5

5:00 PM

at Fresno State 30 ... San Jose State 0
CFN Prediction: FSU 27-21  FSU -12.5

7:00 PM

Boise State 45 ... at Louisiana Tech 31
CFN Prediction: BSU 38-14  BSU -16.5

8:00 PM

at New Mexico State 45 ... Idaho 31
CFN Prediction: NSMU 30-17  NMSU -10

Past WAC Games of the Week
Sept. 1 -
UNLV 23 ... Utah State 16
Sept. 8 - Texas A&M 47 ... Fresno State 45 3OT
Sept. 15 - New Mexico State 29 ... UTEP 24
Sept. 22 - San Jose State 23 ... at Utah State 20
Sept. 29 - Nevada 27 ... UNLV 20
Oct. 6 -
Fresno State 49 ... at Nevada 41
Oct. 13 - Boise State 69 ... Nevada 67 4OT
Oct. 20 - Nevada 31 ... at Utah State 28

Past WAC Players of the Week
Sept. 1 - Hawaii QB Colt Brennan
Sept. 8 - Hawaii QB Colt Brennan
Sept. 15 - New Mexico State WR Chris Williams
Sept. 22 - San Jose State QB Adam Tafralis
Sept. 29 - Fresno State DE Tyler Clutts
Oct. 6 - Fresno State RB Ryan Mathews
Oct. 13 - Boise State RB Ian Johnson
Oct. 20 - Nevada RB Luke Lippencott
 

  

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