Game Notes: BYU at New Mexico

COUGARS CONTINUE ROAD TRIP AT NEW MEXICO

After Saturday's 31-10 loss to San Diego State, BYU is now 1-3 overall and 0-2 in the Mountain West Conference. New Mexico is 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the MWC and is coming off a 49-28 loss to TCU. The Cougars and Aztecs were scoreless in the first quarter in last weekend's loss but San Diego State took control in the second quarter, outscoring BYU 17-3. The Aztecs extended their lead to 24-3 in the third before Fahu Tahi scored on a one-yard run to pull the Cougars within 14 at 24-10. San Diego State answered after Tahi's run, scoring the final touchdown of the day, and putting the game out of reach. John Beck threw for 261 yards on the night while Jonny Harline set career highs with seven receptions for 123 yards. Tahi also set career highs with eight catches for 80 yards.

A LOOK AT THE LOBOS

The Lobos are off to a 3-2 overall start and have a 1-1 MWC record. New Mexico started the season 3-0 but have suffered back-to-back losses to UTEP and TCU. The Lobos' conference win came in a season-opening win over UNLV, 24-22. New Mexico also defeated Missouri of the Big 12 and New Mexico State. The Lobos lost 21-13 to UTEP before their setback against TCU. Quarterback Kole McMamey leads the team with his arm and legs. He has thrown for 1,029 yards and nine touchdowns through five games and is second on the team in rushing yards and touchdowns with 268 yards and two scores. Dontrell Moore is the leading rusher with 543 yards and five touchdowns. He is averaging 108.6 yards per game and 5.0 yards per carry. Moore had a solid game versus TCU, running 21 times for 129 yards and three touchdowns. Moore has rushed for over 100 yards in three-consecutive contests. Hank Baskett has nearly identical statistics to those of Moore with 543 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He is averaging 17.0 yards per reception. Gabriel Fulbright leads the Lobos on defense with five interceptions, including two games with two picks.

COMPLETE BROADCAST PLANS

Television: SportsWest will broadcast BYU's game against New Mexico. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (MT). The game can be viewed in Utah on KSL-TV Channel 5.

Radio: Fans can also catch the game by tuning into KSL Radio, 1160 AM and 102.7 FM, and follow the game live as Greg Wrubell calls the action, Marc Lyons offers expert analysis and James Dye reports from the sideline.

Internet: A live audio stream will be available on the following URL: http://ksl.com

SERIES INFORMATION

Saturday's game will be the 55th meeting between BYU and New Mexico. The Cougars lead the overall series 39-14-1 and hold a 19-9-1 advantage in Albuquerque. The Cougars have won the last three meetings in Albuquerque and five of the last seven. Last season, BYU fell at home to the Lobos 21-14. BYU took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when punter Matt Payne passed to Riley Weber on a trick play in the first quater. The Lobos then ran off 21-consecutive points before Beck passed to Fahu Tahi for a score to make it 21-14. The Cougars got the ball back with a chance to tie late in the game, but fumbled it away.

CAREER HIGHS

Tight end Jonny Harline had the best game off his career against San Diego State, catching seven passes for 123 yards. Both numbers were career highs. Fahu Tahi also set career highs for receptions and receiving yards as he caught eight passes for 80 yards.

TACKLES FOR LOSS IN FIRST QUARTER

The Cougar defense made itself at home in the Aztec backfield in the first quarter on Saturday, registering five tackles for a loss of 23 yards. Aaron Wagner led the way with 1.5 while Justin Maddux and Markell Staffieri had 1.0 a piece and T.J. Sitake, Nathan Soelberg and Dustin Gabriel each had an assist.

TRAILING AT THE HALF

Including the 2004 season and Saturday night's game at San Diego State, the Cougars have trailed at the half in eight of 15 games. BYU's record is 1-7 in those eight games, including a 31-10 loss to the Aztecs.

IN GOOD COMPANY

Through his freshman and sophomore years, John Beck compiled 3,427 yards passing. Only two BYU quarterbacks passed for more yards in their first two years of college football. Heisman trophy winner Ty Detmer recorded 5,812 yards in 1988-89, including 4,560 in 1989 as a sophomore. John Walsh had 4,678 yards from 1991-93, including 3,727 as a sophomore in 1993. He threw for 857 in 1992 before going down with a shoulder injury and being granted a medical redshirt. Four games into his junior season, Beck has thrown for 4,790 yards, including 1,363 yards this season. Following lists each players' total yards through three games as a junior.

Total (through fourth game of junior season)

7,567

6,026

4,790

BECK NOTES:

With 4,790 career yards, Beck needs just 383 yards to move into fifth place on the Mountain West Conference career passing list.

With 517 yards passing against TCU, Beck has totaled six career 300-yard games.

With 28 career touchdown passes, Beck needs seven more to move into fifth place on the Mountain West Conference career touchdown completions list.

With 517 yards against TCU, Beck became only the third player in league

history to pass for over 500 yards in a game.

STAT WATCH

After putting up big numbers that last two games, John Beck and the Cougar offense are among national and conference leaders. Beck currently ranks fourth nationally in passing yards per game (340.8 p/g) and is ninth in total passing yards (1,316). He leads the Mountain West Confernce in both categories. BYU's passing offense is sixth in the nation and first in the conference while its total-offense average of 422.0 yards per game is second in the conference and 30th in the nation. Beck leads the conferenece and is eighth nationally in total offense (329.0 yards p/g). Todd Watkins is third in the conference in scoring (7.5 points p/g).

LONGEST RETURN

Breyon Jones returned a San Diego State kickoff just before halftime for 32 yards. Not only was it his first return of the season, it was also the longest by a BYU player this season. The previous long was 22 yards by Justin Robinson against TCU. In the fourth quarter, he added a 36-yard return to set the season high yet again. He finished the game with three returns for 93 yards.

EXTRA DUTY

The BYU defense spent its share of time on the field during the first half against San Diego State. The Aztec offense had the ball for 19:29 during the first two quarters and ran 51 plays. The BYU offense had the ball for 10:31 and ran 31 plays.

FIRST DRIVE SHUTOUS

The Cougar defense has shutout its opponents on their opening drive for 18-consecutive games, including Saturday against San Diego State. The last team to score on its opening drive was UNLV, Oct. 25, 2003, when the Rebels managed a field goal to open the game. The last team to score a touchdown on its opening drive against the Cougars was Colorado State on Oct. 9, 2003. It has now been 20 games since BYU has allowed its opponents to score a touchdown on its opening drive.

WHERE'S THE BEEF?

The BYU offensive line doesn't order salads when it goes out to eat. Each starter weighs over 300 pounds for an average of 325 and a total of 1,625. They will be going up against a New Mexico defensive line that weighs an average of 258.3 pounds. The Lobo offensive line weighs on average of 325.2 pounds while BYU's defensive line weighs an average of 317.3.

SCORELESS FIRST QUARTER

In BYU's game against San Diego State, both teams failed to score in the first quarter. It was the first time the Cougars were scoreless in the first since their season-opening loss to Boston College. The last time a BYU opponent threw a donut on the board in the first quarter was Eastern Illinois in the second game of the season. The last time neither the Cougars nor their opponent scored in the opening frame was on Oct. 8, 2004 against UNLV.

ALL IN THE FAMILY

When Zac Collie caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from John Beck on BYU's first drive of the day, it was the 13th touchdown scored by the Collie family for the Cougars. Zac's father, Scott Collie, scored four TD's when he played for the Cougars from 1979-82 and his brother Austin scored eight as a freshman in 2004. Zac added the 14th for the family later in the first quarter on a 37-yard reception from Beck to put BYU up 21-10. It was the second two-game touchdown for a member of the Collie family. Austin scored two against San Diego State in 2004.

FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME

The Cougar offense exploded for 21 points in the first quarter against TCU behind the passing of John Beck. It was the first time BYU scored 21 points in the opening frame since a 56-34 win over Colorado State Nov. 1, 2001.

MWC PLAYER OF THE WEEK (Sept. 25)

John Beck was named the Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week after posting a MWC record 517 yards passing in BYU's 51-50 loss to TCU. He completed 30-of-51 (.588) attempts, and became just the third player in league history to pass for over 500 yards in a game. Beck also tied a MWC single-game record with five touchdown passes. His third-quarter strike found wide receiver Todd Watkins for a 67-yard touchdown, marking the Cougars' longest score of the season. On the first play of the overtime period, Beck went to the corner of the end zone to find Watkins for the 25-yard touchdown, giving BYU a 50-44 lead in overtime.

BROTHERS DON'T SIT, BROTHERS GOTTA PLAY

BYU has a long tradition of several members from the same family suiting up to hit the gridiron. Brothers Lance, Jr. and Dallas Reynolds have started all four games this season. Lance, a senior, is on the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, awarded to the top center in the nation. Dallas, a freshman, was heavily recruited out of high school and joined the Cougars this season after serving an LDS mission in Seattle, Washington.

BIG-TIME YARDS

The BYU offense racked up 614 yards of total offense against TCU, including 97 on the ground and 517 in the air. It was the first time BYU had over 600 yard total offense since the Cougars had 615 yards against Syracuse in 2002. It was the first time since 1999 BYU had over 500 passing yards when Kevin Feterik had 501 against Washington. Saturday's game was the first time a quarterback had three-or-more touchdown passes since 2004 against San Diego State when Beck had three. Three of those touchdowns went to Todd Watkins, making it the first time since 2001 when Doug Jolley had three against Air Force. One of his scores was a 67-yard grab, the first time BYU scored on a 50-yard-or-more passing play since Austin Collie caught an 82-yarder against San Diego State in 2004. Watkins' 176 yards was the first time a receiver had 150-or-more yards since he had 153 against Air Force in 2004.

CAREER HIGHS AND SINGLE-GAME RECORDS

When John Beck completed a 37-yard pass to Jonny Harline against TCU, he had 420 passing yards, surpassing his career high of 390, which came against Boise State in 2004. He finished the day with a Mountain West single-game record 517 yards. Beck also set a new career high and tied a MWC record for touchdown passes with five when he completed a 25-yard scoring strike to Todd Watkins in overtime. His previous high was four against Air Force in 2004 when the Cougars won 41-24. Watkins finished with 176 yards and an MWC record three touchdowns.

STORK REPORT

BYU center Lance Reynolds and his wife, Becky, gave birth to an 8-pound baby boy on Sept. 26. Lance, Jr. and his wife named their son, whatelse? Lance Reynolds III.

HIGHEST SCORING GAME

BYU and TCU combined for 101 points in the Horned Frogs' 51-50 victory over the Cougars, making it the highest scoring game between Division I-A opponents this season. Texas Tech defeated Sam Houston State, a Division I-AA team, 80-21, on Sept. 17. The combined 101 points was also an MWC record for most points scored in a conference game.

OVERTIME

Before the Cougar's overtime loss to TCU, BYU was 5-0 in overtime games since it was implemented in 1996. BYU's last overtime game was a 27-20 victory at UNLV in 2003.

TOP 40s

When Curtis Brown punched the ball in from one yard out in the fourth quarter against TCU, BYU hit the 40-point mark for the second-straight game. BYU scored 45 against Eastern Illinois. The last time the Cougars had back-to-back 40-point games was in 2004 when they put up 41 against Air Force and 49 on San Diego State. The Cougars finished the TCU game with 50 points, marking the first time BYU has scored 50 points in a game since Nov. 1, 2001 against Colorado State. The Cougars defeated CSU, 56-34.

CAREER 300-YARD GAMES

BYU has traditionally focused on the pass, leading to 19 different Cougars throwing for 300 yards in at least one game for a combined 174 games. Junior John Beck has made a contribution of six games to that list. He entered the 2005 season with four but threw for 330 yards against No. 22 Boston College and 517 against TCU, giving him six. Beck has now taken sole possession of 10th place. Ty Detmer tops the list with an astronomical 34. Cougars with 300-yard passing games:

Player 300-yard Games

Ty Detmer 34

Jim McMahon 17

John Walsh 16

Robbie Bosco 15

Marc Wilson 14

Steve Young 13

Steve Sarkisian 12

Kevin Feterik 11

Gifford Nielson 9

John Beck 6

Sean Covey 5

Gary Sheide 5

Ryan Hancock 4

Brandon Doman 3

Brandon Doman 3

Steve Lindsey 3

Charlie Peterson 2

Bret Engemann 2

Matt Berry 1

SURPASSING THE CENTURY MARK

With six 100-yard rushing games to his credit, junior Curtis Brown is already tied for fifth in Cougars history for the most career 100-yard rushing games. Against Eastern Illinois, he ran 18 times for 110 yards and scored one touchdown. In 2002, Brown had 217 against Utah State, the most by a BYU player since 1998 when Ronney Jenkins had 259 versus San Jose State. Cougars with 100-yard rushing games:

Player 100-yard Games

Luke Staley 10

Lakei Heimuli 10

Brian McKenzie 10

Jamal Willis 8

Jeff Blanc 7

Ronney Jenkins 6

Pete Van Valkenburg 6

Curtis Brown 6

Kalin Hall 5

Steve Young 5

Casey Tiumalu 5

Marcus Whalen 4

Tom Tuipulatu 2

Robert Parker 2

Stacey Corley 2

Eric Lance 2

Curtis Brown isn't the only one moving up the rankings. Senior receiver Todd Watkins, who had 176 receiving yards in BYU's 51-50 loss to TCU, now has six career games with over 100 yards receiving is tied for 9th most. His 211 yards against Boise State in 2004 were the most receiving yards registered by a Cougar since Ben Cahoon had 219 against Arizona State in 1997. Cougars with 100-yard receiving games:

Player 100-yard Games

Eric Drage 12

Chris Smith 11

Margin Hooks 10

Andy Boyce 9

Mike Chronister 9

Matt Bellini 8

Gordon Hudson 8

Mark Bellini 7

Lloyd Jones 6

John Van Der Wouden 6

Todd Watkins 6

Reno Mahe 5

Glen Kozlowski 5

Dan Plater 5

Ben Cahoon 4

Brent Nyberg 4

Chuck Cutler 4

David Mills 4

Mike Johnston 3

Micah Matsuzaki 3

Neil Balhom 3

Clay Brown 3