Lindley was good, Hall was better

Max Hall has had some good games over the years and he's put up better numbers, but on Saturday, he may have had his best performance as a Cougar.

Hall passed and ran for 4 touchdowns. He used his feet at the right times to make plays including a 20-yard run. He had another huge run, even longer, nullified by penalty. His TD pass to Dennis Pitta in the fourth quarter while on the run was one of his best in his long career.

If you saw this game, you'd come away thinking SDSU quarterback Ryan Lindley had a career-type performance against BYU's defense. He played outstanding.

But Hall was better.

Lindley played against a BYU defense ranked about 50 in total defense nationally. Hall played against a defense ranked 33rd in total defense and No. 11 in pass efficiency defense.

Hall's pass efficiency in Saturday's 38-28 win was 164.14. Lindley, throwing to the nation's No. 3 receiver in Vincent Brown, had a rating of 163.43.

In this game, Hall was smart. He threw the ball away a few times, which he hates to do. He took off running at just the right times when UNM tried to double up on key BYU weapons like Pitta.

"What he did is battle," said BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae. "This was a hard-fought game and he really brought it out there. He probably didn't like how conservative I got with the playcalls in the second half, but what he did out there is what you expect a veteran, great quarterback to do, he made plays all night."

Afterwards, I asked Hall if he was banged up. He was one of the last players to leave the locker room, held because he received treatment by trainers. Hall sighed when asked. He didn't want to admit SDSU may have got their licks on him.

"They got to me a few times. But I think they're more sore than I am. Just kidding."

The win at Q Stadium put the Cougars on a collision course with TCU in Provo next Saturday for the MWC lead by the two teams picked last July to be No. 1 and No. 2.

If Saturday is any indication of where Hall is as a senior heading into this showdown, it is good news for Bronco Mendenhall.