Once again, the Cougar offense needed to overcome a sub-par performance by the defense when BYU traveled to Colorado Springs, Colo. on Saturday.

BYU looked determined to start the game, piling on a quick 10-0 lead on the Falcons before Air Force responded to gain a halftime lead. A furious third quarter comeback put BYU on top for good, before holding Air Force on for a 38-24 victory.

Air Force gained 421 yards including 323 on the ground, but BYU held the Falcons out of the end zone when it mattered most.

"They are superb football team," Air Force coach Troy Calhoun told the Deseret News. "Their sense of timing is something else. Max Hall is a great quarterback. His receivers don't have to make the acrobatic-type catches because he is so accurate."

BYU showed its juggernaut offense again on Saturday, amassing nearly 500 yards of total offense led by quarterback Max Hall's two touchdowns and 354 yards passing. The junior set a new MWC single season record with his 34th touchdown of the year, a late 45-yard connection to Austin Collie that put the game away.

With the catch, Collie extended his streak to nine consecutive games totaling over 100 yards receiving, finishing with 130 on 7 catches and both of Hall's touchdowns passes.

"Austin Collie is as great a receiver as there is in college football," Calhoun added. "His hands, his speed and his concentration, he has it all."

His receiving mate Dennis Pitta created mismatch issues for Air Force and added nine catches and 113 yards to his season total before leaving with an injury.

Pitta will be re-evaluated Monday with what head coach Bronco Mendenhall called an MCL sprain.

Coming out of the locker rooms trailing 14-10, BYU knew it had to make adjustments to regain the momentum and reestablish itself.

"We came out with something to prove," Hall told the Salt Lake Tribune. "We knew that if we just stayed consistent, we could go down the field and they couldn't stop us, and so that's what we did and we finally started playing in the third quarter."

Running back Harvey Unga scored twice in 74 seconds, the second coming after a fumble on a kickoff return.

Unga and backfield mate Fui Vakapuna combined for 120 yards on the ground and three touchdowns on the day.

BYU's 21 unanswered points to start the third quarter built a lead that proved too difficult for the Falcon offense to overcome.

The 38 points scored by the Cougar offense are the most allowed all year by Air Force.

BYU will now prepare for the most heated match-up of the year Saturday at Utah. A few question marks remain on the Cougars final roster, including Pitta and his knee injury, offensive lineman Ray Feinga who exited the Air Force game in the second quarter with back spasms, and defensive back Andrew Rich who left the game with a "bell ringer," Mendenhall said. Linebackers Shawn Doman and Daniel Sorenson were also among the casualties this week, not even traveling to Colorado Springs, Colo.



Copyright Brigham Young University 17 Nov 2008