Since then, they've won, but not convincingly. They lost interest in the second half of the USU game after going ahead 34-0. They scored late to make a 21-3 win over New Mexico look more impressive than it was. They had to scratch to outlast both UNLV and Colorado State.

Close games are one thing, close games against average-or-below teams are something else entirely.

All of which made the Cougars' slow start seem all the more disconcerting on Saturday. After one quarter, it was only 7-0. The Aztecs duped BYU on a fake punt, giving rise to the possibility they might actually score.

Yet the overall product for the day was more what the Cougars have been expecting: long pass plays, sudden crucial breaks. A 61-yard scoring catch by Collie, a 56-yard pass to Michael Reed. When the lead got to 41-6 with 10 minutes remaining, it was time to call off the hounds.

For a team that has been both winning and worrying at the same time, it was a welcome change.

"It was nice," said quarterback Max Hall. "Nice to have an all-around great team effort."

Nice to know that even though you're picking on the smallest kid in school, you still feel better about your place on the bus.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com