BYU 50, New Mexico State 14
The Cougars clinched a winning record while sending the host Aggies to 1-10. New Mexico State has yet to win against FBS opposition and the BYU rout began midway through the second quarter after NMSU had taken an early lead. James Lark took things into his own hands, tossing six touchdowns, and opting with leading receiver Cody Hoffman five of those times. It was the second time this season the Cougars scored 50 points in one game, The first came against NMSU’s fellow WAC bottom dweller two weeks earlier. Lark’s first season start culminated with 34 completed passes on 50 attempts and 384 yards.
UTSA 38, Texas State 31
The battle of Texas, Western Athletic Conference edition, had no postseason implications for either team. The Roadrunners, who conclude at 8-4 with the win, aren’t bowl eligible because of their FBS transitional status. UTSA led for the entirety of four quarters, but Texas State was within striking distance time after time. Roadrunner quarterback Eric Soza scrapped together a mediocre performance that was by no means convincing, but good enough to leave the Alamo Dome with a rivalry game victory. UTSA finished its one and only season as a part of the WAC with a 3-3 record, dead middle in the conference standings. The Roadrunners will try their luck as a member of Conference USA in 2013.
San Jose State 53, La. Tech 42
If you would’ve told me the Spartans would collect 10 wins, while beating predicted BCS buster La. Tech in addition to BYU in the process, I would’ve left mid-conversation. SJSU’s opener against Stanford was a very good indication of how competitive the Spartans would continue to be all season, but a program that won five games a year ago still shocked the vast majority of us. Against a Bulldog team that expected to run through WAC opposition and clinch a BCS bowl berth, the Spartans led up until the last thirty seconds of the second quarter when a Colby Cameron quarterback keeper put the visitors up three. The lead switched three times in the second half but two fourth-quarter Spartan touchdowns were enough to secure the win and second place in the WAC.
Theo Lawson can be reached at [email protected]