BYU football program takes a step forward

PROVO — Since the day he was hired last December, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall has been laboring tirelessly to return the Cougars to the glory they once knew.

Last Saturday in Albuquerque, his team took an important step toward that goal.

BYU's 27-24 come-from-behind win over New Mexico was the program's most significant victory in years. For Mendenhall, it wasn't just that his team won. It was how it won.

"What was most impressive to me about that game was the manner in which it happened," Mendenhall said. "We came from behind, on the road, with a two-minute drive, a two-point conversion and a fourth-down stop. Those things don't happen unless your team believes in what you're doing and is completely invested. I thought they played with their heart and they played unified."

Unified, indeed.

Quarterback John Beck completed 34 of 44 passes for 371 yards, one interception and three touchdown passes and Monday was named the Mountain West Conference offensive player of the week for his performance. Tight end Jonny Harline hauled in 10 catches for 123 yards and Todd Watkins had six receptions for 68 yards. Running back Curtis Brown rushed 20 times for 104 yards.

Meanwhile, the BYU defense rose up, pitching a fourth-quarter shutout against the Lobo offense. In fact, it was BYU linebacker Markell Staffieri's recovery of a fumble by UNM quarterback Kole McKamey at the BYU seven-yard line with about 10 minutes remaining in the game — the Cougars trailed at that point, 24-13 — that ignited the rally.

From there, Beck engineered a pair of touchdown-scoring drives — first a 93-yarder, then an 80-yarder — to lead the Cougars to a 27-24 advantage. BYU's defense did the rest.

"I think the difference in the game is we played harder and longer and one play better than New Mexico," Mendenhall said. "The game was completely balanced in terms of yardage, field position and turnovers. We made a play on fourth-and-four to win the game. It was that close."

Now, can the Cougars (2-3 overall, 1-2 in the MWC) continue to build on that momentum Saturday in their homecoming game (8 p.m., Ch. 14) against Colorado State?

The Rams (3-2, 2-0) are fresh off a huge triumph themselves, having knocked off Utah, 21-17, last Saturday in Fort Collins. CSU prevented the Utes from crossing the goal line on three consecutive plays inside the 1-yard line in the final 90 seconds.

Mendenhall is well aware of the challenge the Rams pose for his defense.