Pochman closes in on brother's mark

BYU kicker Owen Pochman is closing in on a number Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa pursued most of the summer. He acknowledges, however, that his quest for 61 isn't quite as prestigious as baseball's single-season home run mark.

Pochman is just four kicks away from equaling older brother Ethan's school record for consecutive extra points made."A PAT is something you really owe to your team to make it every time," Pochman said. "I plan on not missing one for the rest of my career."

The sophomore wouldn't mind, however, sharing the record with his brother. He even jokes about attempting the record-breaker with his right foot instead of the left.

"I wouldn't want to kick his name out of the record book," Pochman said. "We're each other's biggest fans."

Ethan, who played for BYU in 1996, is married and lives in San Diego. He has yet to see his little brother play this season but promises to attend the WAC Championship Game should the Cougars qualify.

RONNEY ON THE MEND: At the Big 5 Huddle Tuesday, BYU coach LaVell Edwards confirmed that running back Ronney Jenkins isn't 100 percent healthy.

"He's got a very sore hip right now," Edwards said.

Jenkins, who was injured in the first quarter of BYU's 13-0 victory over San Diego State last Thursday, is expected to play Saturday. Edwards said his leading rusher will wear bigger hip pads against New Mexico.

WAC TIEBREAKER: BYU will represent the Pacific Division in next month's WAC Championship with victories in its last three games (New Mexico, UTEP and Utah), but what if the Cougars stumble and the once-clear picture turns cloudy? With six teams (BYU, San Diego State, Utah, Fresno State, UTEP and San Jose State) still holding mathematical chances, various scenarios could still take place. The WAC, however, is ready for anything. A look at the tiebreaking formula:

Two-way

1. The winner of head-to-head competition advances.

Three or more

(Once a tie is reduced to two teams, the two-way tiebreaker is used)

1. Team with the best record vs. the other tied team advances.

2. Team with the best record vs. its division opponents advances.

3. Compare records of the tied teams vs. next highest finishing team below the tied teams in the division and proceed through the division until one team is eliminated.

4. The conference office shall conduct a draw. The drawn team shall advance.

EXTRA POINTS: BYU has fumbled the ball 30 times this season and lost 15 as compared to totals of 10 and five by the opposition. . . . The Cougars have scored in an NCAA record 295 consecutive games. . . . A future football series with Fresno State has yet to be finalized. BYU officials are apparently not pleased with how the Cougars were treated when they visited the Bulldogs on Oct. 3. Stay tuned.