Best In The West: Week Nine

Best in the West is The Aggship's weekly Mountain West football round-up.

San Diego State 23, Fresno State 0

Out of four Mountain West games played in week nine, two of them were shutouts. The more shocking of the two belonged to San Diego State. In all reality, the shutout belonged to the Bulldogs as much as it did the Aztecs, because as much as San Diego State’s defense came to play, Fresno State’s offense just didn’t.

After a 49-21 loss to Colorado State, the Bulldogs needed to make a change during their bye week. Looking to squeeze more out of his offense, Matt Entz benched E.J. Warner in favor of Sacramento State transfer Carson Conklin. The result was pretty dismal.

The Bulldogs punted the ball away on their first three drives while the Aztecs took a 10-0 lead. When the Bulldog defense came up with a takeaway in the second quarter to give them a chance to strike back, the offense gave the ball right back, which led to an Aztec field goal and a 13-0 lead at the half. 

The Bulldogs punted again coming out of the half, though another Aztec turnover gave Fresno State a chance to cut into the lead. But, after gaining only two yards, they punted again. The Aztecs didn’t manage to score in the third frame, but they added 10 points in the fourth quarter to put away a Fresno State team that appears to be in the midst of another midseason meltdown.

San Diego State’s Jayden Denegal completed 11 of 19 passes for 124 yards with another 30 on the ground. Lucky Sutton took 21 carries for 131 yards and a touchdown. Placekicker Gabriel Plascencia accounted for 11 points with three field goals and a pair of PATs. 

Conklin was 20-of-42 passing for 182 yards, throwing two interceptions and taking one sack. His lone touchdown pass went to San Diego State linebacker Tano Letuli in the final period. Fresno State’s leading rushers, Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson, managed just 23 yards apiece.

At 6-1 (3-0 in the MWC), San Diego State’s sights are firmly set on the Mountain West title game. Up next, it hosts a Wyoming squad that is seemingly finding itself. Fixing Fresno State’s meltdown is a tough job, and it’ll get tougher before it gets any easier. The Bulldogs (5-3, 2-2) are on the road this week and will have to face Boise State, which has won 14 regular-season conference games in a row.

Boise State 24, Nevada 3

Boise State had a slow start but steadily added to its score across the contest, which Nevada could not do, and it eventually found its way to a decisive, if underwhelming, 24-3 win over the Wolf Pack.

The first drive of the game, which belonged to Nevada, was a successful one for Boise State when A'Marion McCoy picked off Carter Jones on the third play of the game. But when the Broncos punted on their first series, Nevada took advantage and cobbled together a seven-minute, 57-yard drive that resulted in a field goal to take a 3-0 lead. That was enough of a warning shot to get the Broncos back on track. Maddux Madsen led the following drive 73 yards down the field, and they tied the game at three. 

The Boise State offense punted and threw an interception before it would score again, but the defense kept things in place by forcing an interception, a turnover on downs, and a punt. With another 13-play drive, Boise State built out a 10-3 edge on a two-yard Sire Gaines touchdown run.

In the third quarter, the Boise State offense added another touchdown when a muffed Nevada punt return gave the Broncos the ball back with only six yards to go. It took four plays to do it, but Boise State traversed the half dozen yards to take a 17-3 lead on a Madsen keeper. The Broncos added one more touchdown in the fourth to set the final margin.

Madsen was 15-of-28 passing for 174 yards. He only accounted for one touchdown, which he had to run for, and threw a pick while taking two sacks. Gaines ran 17 times for 62 yards and a score, and Dylan Riley ran 12 times for 34 yards and one more score.

Jones was 16-of-29 passing for 144 yards and three interceptions. Chubba Purdy and AJ Bianco each completed one pass on one attempt. Herschel Turner ran seven times for 77 yards, leading the way on the ground.

It wasn’t Boise State’s best offensive performance, but with a lot of help from the defense, it did enough to get the win, meaning the Broncos are still well on their way to a shot to play for a Mountain West title. They'll host Fresno State this weekend, looking to improve to 7-2 (4-0).
Nevada fell to 1-7 (0-4) on the year and will have a bye this week before traveling to Logan on Nov. 8.

Wyoming 28, Colorado State 0

The Border War was a lopsided and brutal engagement as an utterly lost Colorado State team wandered into Laramie, where Jay Sawvel’s Cowpokes were waiting. 

The better-than-expected Wyoming team pounced on a Colorado State bunch that fired its coach after its previous loss, storming out to a 21-0 lead at halftime. The Pokes already had more than they’d need, but they added seven more points in the third quarter.

In a season full of beatdowns, this was the worst one the Rams have experienced so far. It was their first time being shut out this year and their largest margin of defeat. The Rams were last shut out at Texas on Aug. 31, 2024, and haven't suffered such a defeat in a league game since Nov. 23, 2013 at Utah State.

Kaden Anderson put together a 16-of-24 passing night for 154 yards and two touchdowns without throwing a pick or taking a sack. He tossed a touchdown to both Chris Durr Jr. and Michael Fitzgerald. Durr had 67 yards on seven catches, and Fitzgerald’s 22-yard touchdown catch was his only one. Sam Scott rushed three times for 68 yards and a touchdown, and backup quarterback Landon Sims added the other score on the ground, rushing five times for 31 yards. Defensively, Desman Hearns and Jones Thomas had interceptions.

Colorado State (2-6, 1-3) will retreat for a week before taking on UNLV. The Cowboys (4-4, 2-2) will hit the road to play the Aztecs this weekend.