Chuckie Keeton's five TD passes led Utah State over Air Force. (Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports)
Utah State might have emerged as the favorite in the Mountain West Mountain Division with its 52-20 win at Air Force on Saturday.
The Aggies, making their Mountain West debut after winning the WAC last year, did what few teams can: shut down Air Force’s offense in their first try.
The Falcons managed just 270 yards. This was their worst home loss, and most points allowed at home, under seventh-year coach Troy Calhoun.
“I think it’s a statement that, ‘Hey, we’re here to play,’ ” linebacker Zach Vigil told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton was 32-of-40 for 360 yards and five touchdowns. He threw four straight touchdown passes to begin the second half.
“The way we came out in the second half, you just couldn’t have two teams that were further apart,” Calhoun told The (Colorado Springs) Gazette.
Elsewhere, the Mountain West had a slightly better week — going 5-5, including wins against UTEP (New Mexico) and Idaho (Wyoming). The conference is 8-14 in non-conference play.
FIVE BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS FROM WEEK 2 IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
1. The Boise State offense, so criticized by fans after going without a touchdown in the opener, looked explosive against Tennessee-Martin. The Broncos scored three touchdowns on plays of 30 yards or more and threw deep repeatedly. After games against a better opponent and a lesser opponent, the jury is still out on what this group can do.
2. Fresno State is making a point of playing an entertaining style. That was evident Saturday when the Bulldogs ran a hook-and-lateral to an offensive lineman. Quarterback Derek Carr hit wide receiver Davante Adams for 6 yards. Adams then lateraled to Austin Wentworth along the sideline. Wentworth ran 7 yards for a TD. “It’s always fun to see a big man score,” Carr told The Fresno Bee.
3. New Mexico, for the second straight season, will go only as far as its run game can take it. Running back Kasey Carrier rushed for 54 yards in the opening loss to UTSA. He rushed for 291 yards in the win against UTEP, when New Mexico rushed for 395 of its 483 yards. “We have to establish the run game,” Carrier told the Albuquerque Journal. “We are who we are, and we had to come out and get that started.”
4. San Diego State has a quarterback controversy. Quinn Kaehler relieved Adam Dingwell in the loss to Ohio State on Saturday. In his last three games, Dingwell has completed 42 percent of his passes with no touchdowns and eight interceptions. It’s been a long fall for a guy who beat Boise State on the blue turf last November.
5. Coaches hoped the Mountain West was going to be an outstanding conference this season. So far, it looks like the league, just 8-14 in nonconference play so far, is still a year away.
