Ute Football Hosts San Diego State In Key MWC Game

Oct. 18, 1999

SALT LAKE CITY -

QUICKLY

Utah (5-1, 2-0 MWC) plays host to San Diego State (3-4, 1-2 MWC) Saturday in Rice-Eccles Stadium ... Utah is tied for first in the Mountain West Conference with Brigham Young, both with 2-0 MWC and 5-1 overall records ... The Utah-SDSU game, which will be televised live on ESPN+Plus, kicks off at 1 p.m. ... It marks Utah's first appearance on ESPN+Plus, which reaches a regional television market (22 stations) and will be carried locally by KJZZ, Utah's flagship station ... Utah is 1-0 in day games this year and 2-0 at home ... Utah has played four of its first six games on the road ... The Utes and Aztecs have not played in Salt Lake City since 1995 (won by SDSU 24-21) ... In addition to the ESPN+Plus telecast, the Utah-San Diego State game can be heard on K-news radio (KNRS 570 AM) and KALL 910.

UTES AND ESPN

This Saturday's game is one of three straight national or regional television appearances for the Utes on an ESPN network. Last week's game against Air Force was televised by ESPN2, this Saturday's game will be aired on ESPN+Plus and the Utes' next game?October 28 at Colorado State?is ESPN's College Football Thursday Night Game of the Week. The Utah-SDSU game on ESPN+Plus will be broadcast via a syndicated network of affiliates?22 in all?and will be broadcast on stations in Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and California. It also will be shown in Detroit (WADL-TV), Kansas City, Mo. (Metro Sports), Memphis, Tenn. (TV Memphis), Cedar Rapids, Iowa (KWKB-TV) and Wichita, Kan. (KWCV-TV).

SMITH LEADS NATION

Utah junior Steve Smith, who returned two punts for 110 yards and a touchdown against Air Force on Saturday, now leads the nation in punt return average. Smith averages 22.7 yards per return, with 10 returns for 227 yards and one score.

SMITH, CHRISTIANSON NAMED PLAYERS OF WEEK

Steve Smith, who accounted for all three of Utah's scores against Air Force, and strong safety Kimball Christianson, whose career-high 17 tackles led the defense in Utah's 21-15 win, were named the Mountain West Conference special teams and defensive players of the week, respectively. Smith's special teams heroics consisted of two punt returns for 110 yards, one of those a 61-yard touchdown run back. Smith, who also had two touchdown receptions, was named the USA Today Mountain West Conference Player of the Week. Christianson's 17 tackles were the most by a Ute this year. He also had a pass breakup and caused a fumble.

CROWD ESTIMATE

A crowd of 37,000 is expected for this Saturday's game. Seats are available in all price ranges.

LAST WEEK

After trailing 3-0 at halftime, Utah roared back to take a 21-15 win over Air Force on a frigid, snowy night in Colorado Springs. Steve Smith scored all three of Utah's touchdowns, two on pass receptions from Darnell Arceneaux and one on a 61-yard punt return. T.D. Croshaw got the first start of his career at quarterback but gave way to regular starter Arceneaux with just over a minute left in the first quarter and Arceneaux then engineered both of Utah's offensive scoring drives. Utah's defense relinquished 407 yards to the Air Force option, but not many that counted, as the Ute defenders allowed just one fourth quarter touchdown (with Utah up 21-6) and three field goals. Jay Hill picked off his league-leading fifth interception of the year to end one AFA drive. Kimball Christianson had a team-high 17 tackles.

DART'S DONE

Ute junior defensive back Brandon Dart, who was granted a rare sixth and seventh year of eligibility by the NCAA, is lost for the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Dart, who has played in just two games this year due to a hamstring injury, will undergo surgery in the next two weeks. Since he came to Utah as a freshman in 1994, Dart has missed three seasons with knee injuries, most of one with a back injury and another with a mid-foot sprain. Honorable mention all-WAC in his only "full" season in 1996 (he missed the Copper Bowl with a hamstring injury), Dart led Utah in tackles with 96. He had 13 tackles in his two games this year, including one for loss.

HEAD COACH RON MCBRIDE

Head Coach Ron McBride is 67-44 in nine years at the helm of the Ute program. McBride, the school's second winningest coach, is one of just two coaches in school history to win 60 games. He has coached Utah to six straight winning seasons and has suffered just one losing season (1990, his first year). McBride's teams have averaged seven wins per year. With four bowl appearances, McBride is the only head coach to take Utah to more than one bowl game. He is 1-3 in bowl games. McBride led Utah to the 1995 WAC Championship (tie)?Utah's first conference title in 31 years. Before accepting Utah's head coaching position in 1990, McBride served two previous stints on the Hill. He was Utah's offensive line coach from 1985-86 and its offensive coordinator from 1977-82. McBride is 2-4 against San Diego State and 1-2 against current Aztec head coach Ted Tollner.

SERIES SHORTS

Series was on hold from 1996-97 when Utah and SDSU were separated by division in their former conference, the Western Athletic Conference ... Utah's 21-20 loss to SDSU last year was the first overtime game in Utah football history ... In the last five meetings, just one game has been decided by more than four points (Utah's 38-22 win in 1994) ... The Aztecs hold a 5-4 lead in Salt Lake City, including the most recent game in 1995 (SDSU 24, Utah 21) ... Utah's last win in SLC was in 1993 (45-41).

GRIDBITS

Utah is first in the Mountain West Conference and tied for eighth in the nation in turnover margin at plus six (1.0 per game) ... Three of Utah's remaining five games are at home and four are instate (Utah goes to BYU on Nov. 20) ... Utah's record in its second year in Rice-Eccles Stadium is 6-2. The Utes are 237-122-10 all-time in games held on the site of Rice-Eccles Stadium (previously Ute and Rice Stadium) ... Utah's all-time record is 516-381-31.

MIKE CHECK

* Running back Mike Anderson (6-0, 232, Sr.), the preseason Mountain West Conference offensive player of the year and a Doak Walker candidate, returned to the starting lineup last week at Air Force after missing a game with a mid-foot sprain suffered at Boise State on Oct. 2. * He rushed for a career-low 51 yards on the snow soaked field at AFA and now averages 87.6 ypg, best on the team and second in the MWC. * Anderson has 1,611 yards in his 16-game Ute career. * Despite missing a game, Anderson leads Utah in yards (438), touchdowns (7), yards per carry (5.3) and scoring (42). He is second in carries (83) and all-purpose yards (451). * Anderson has nine career 100-yard games (two this year). * His four rushing touchdowns against UNLV on Sept. 25 tied the school record. Anderson was named the USA Today Offensive Player of the Week in the Mountain West Conference for his effort vs. UNLV. * Anderson has 19 career rushing TDs?the fifth most ever at Utah. He needs three more to tie for fourth (22 by Juan Johnson 1994-97 and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala, 1995-97). * Anderson was first-team all-WAC last year and its leading rusher (20th in the nation), averaging 106.6 ypg. He rushed for 1,173 yards, which ranks second in Ute history, and he is one of just four Utes ever to average 100 yards per game rushing. In his first year of NCAA ball, Anderson carried the ball 244 times and had seven 100-yard games. His 12 rushing touchdowns was the second best single season tally ever at Utah. * His career-best rushing game is 163 yards vs. San Jose State in 1998.

FRANK TALK

* Senior defensive end John Frank (6-5, 277), a preseason all-Mountain West Conference pick, is tied for first in the MWC in sacks with eight (49 yards). * Frank is a close second in tackles for loss in the MWC with 13, one behind the league leader. * He has 63 yards in tackles for loss, which is a new single season Utah record. * Frank is second on the team in total tackles (38) and first in quarterback hurries (6). * He has had at least one sack in every game except one (UNLV). * His best game was against Boise State on Oct. 2, when he had 12 tackles (9 unassisted), four sacks for 29 yards and five tackles for loss (30 yards). * Frank now has 22 career sacks, which ranks third all-time at Utah, behind Filipo Mokofisi (26, 1982-85) and Jeff Reyes (25, 1980-83)/Jimmy Bellamy (25, 1990-91). Frank's 137 career yards in sacks also ranks third all-time at Utah. * He has 22 career tackles for loss, also third all-time at Utah. He needs two to tie for second with Dave Chaytors (24, 1989-92). The school record is 29, held by Luther Elliss (1991-94). * Frank's 84 career yards in tackles for loss is second to Elliss' 91 (1991-94). * Frank, first-team all-WAC last year, finished second in the league in sacks with 10 in 1998.

ARCENEAUX'S ARSENAL

* Junior quarterback Darnell Arceneaux (6-1, 194) didn't start against Air Force last week due to lingering effects from a mid-foot sprain originally suffered against Boise State on Oct. 2 and re-injured the next week against ULM. However, he played the final three quarters plus change against Air Force and directed both of Utah's offensive scoring drives. * Arceneaux is 10-1 as a starter. He has started part-time since his freshman year (2 games in 1997, 4 games in 1998, 5 games in 1999). * Arceneaux had scoring passes of 13 and 21 yards to Steve Smith in the Air Force win. * For the season, he has completed 62 of 123 passes (50.4%) for 940 yards (156.7 ypg) and 8 touchdowns (5 interceptions). His pass efficiency rating is 127.93. * He had a career-best 249 yards in the season-opener against Washington State. * His best rushing game was against UTEP in 1998 (115 yards)

OFFENSIVE INFO

* Juco transfer Steve Smith leads the Ute receivers and ranks third in the MWC in receiving yards per game (72.3). Smith has 23 receptions for 434 yards?an impressive 18.9 yards per catch. * Smith leads the MWC in all-purpose yards per game (133.0 ypg). * Smith had a career game against UNLV, grabbing four passes for 110 yards and a touchdown. He had 90 yards and two TDs against ULM and four catches for 45 yards and two TDs vs. Air Force. * Smith leads Utah in receiving touchdowns (5). * Junior quarterback T.D. Croshaw has played in all but the season-opening game. Croshaw got his first career start at Air Force and completed four of six passes for 13 yards before Arceneaux replaced him late in the first quarter. * Croshaw has completed 19 of 34 passes (55.9%) for 292 yards (58.4 ypg) and 5 touchdowns (1 interception). His pass efficiency rating is a glossy 170.67, best in the MWC. Croshaw's best game was against Louisiana-Monroe, when he replaced Arceneaux and threw for 166 yards and four TDs. * Slot back Boo Bendinger is second to Smith in receptions with 16 for 208 yards and 3 TDs. * Wide receiver Cliff Russell led Utah with a career-high 77 yards (on 4 catches) vs. AFA. * Senior running back Omar Bacon is Utah's second-leading rusher with 284 yards and 2 TDs. He leads the team in rushes (84). Bacon's best games were against UNLV (92 yards) and ULM (72 yards). He started against Louisiana-Monroe.

DEFENSIVE DATA

* Utah has the two best corners in the Mountain West in senior Jay Hill and junior Andre Dyson. Hill leads the league and is tied for third in the nation in interceptions with five, while Dyson is second in the MWC with three. * Hill and Dyson are tied for second in the MWC in passes defended with nine each. * Hill is tied for the league lead in fumbles forced (3). * Hill has returned two interceptions for touchdowns, which is tied for second in school history?both single-season and career. * Junior strong safety Kimball Christianson was Utah's nominee for MWC Defensive Player of the Week after collecting a career-high 17 tackles (13 unassisted) to lead Utah to victory over Air Force. He also had a pass breakup and forced a fumble. Christianson's 17 tackles vs. AFA is the most by a Ute this year. * Kimball Christianson leads all Ute tacklers with 40. He also has a sack and tackle for loss (1-14 yards), three pass breakups and a forced fumble. * Rover Howard Christianson, identical twin to Kimball, is Utah's third leading tackler with 33. He has three tackles for loss (19 yards), one sack (11 yards), two pass breakups and one forced fumble. * Senior defensive end Chuck Pine has 6 sacks (38 yards). * Utah is in the top three in all five major defensive categories, including No. 1 in pass efficiency defense and scoring defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS

* Cletus Truhe has kicked extra points for the last two games and is 9-9. Golden Whetman (17-18 in PATs) now handles only kickoffs and field goals (4-7 with a long of 48 yards). * Steve Smith has 10 punt returns for 227 yards (22.7 yards per return), which ranks first in the nation. * Smith returned two punts for 110 yards and a 61-yard touchdown last week. It was Utah's first punt return for a touchdown since 1997. * Senior punter Chris Hunter has 31 punts for 1,244 yards, an average of 40.1 yards per punt, with a long of 63 (vs. ULM). Ten of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line and seven have resulted in fair catches. * Freshman Sheldon Deckart has blocked two punts this year (vs. UNLV and ULM).

INJURY REPORT

Player, Pos. Injury/Status/GM Brooks Bahr, LB knee (dislocation)/out for season/5 Courtney Richins, PR knee (torn ACL)/out for season/3 Chris Christensen, WR leg (broken fibula)/out for season/3 Brandon Dart, DB knee (torn ACL)/out for season/4 Sam White, OG knee(MCL sprain)/out 2-3 weeks/1 Andy Kassotis, TE knee (MCL sprain)/questionable/4

ON THE SCALES

Utah's offensive front five averages 285 pounds [SDSU's offensive line averages 301 pounds]. Utah's defensive down linemen average 265 pounds [SDSU's average 264 pounds].

RED ZONE REPORT

Utah Offense Times at or inside 20: 18 Touchdowns: 14 Field Goals: 2 Scoring percentage: 89% TD percentage: 78% Utah Defense Times opponent at or inside 20: 16 Touchdowns: 5 Field Goals: 6 Scoring Percentage: 69% TD percentage: 31%

LAST YEAR

A record-setting effort by running back Mike Anderson and a defensive unit that didn't give up a point in regulation wasn't enough for Utah, which lost the first overtime game in school history, 21-20 on Oct. 24 in Qualcomm Stadium. Anderson tied the school record with his fourth straight 100-yard game (110 yards) and SDSU was held to 310 total yards and not a single offensive point through four quarters, but mistakes cost the Utes. Key among those were special teams errors that led to a blocked punt returned for a touchdown, a punt returned for a touchdown, two missed field goals and a missed extra point attempt in overtime. A fumble and an interception deep in SDSU territory prevented two other Ute scores. Despite the mistakes, Utah had a chance to win in regulation, but Ryan Kaneshiro's 35-yard field goal attempt with 0:19 left sailed wide right.

AZTEC NOTES

3-4 (1-2 MWC) ... Quarterback Jack Hawley (6-2, 215, Jr.) took over as starter in the third game. In five games, he is 101-176 for 1,210 yards and 9 TDs ... Favorite target is senior wide receiver Damon Gourdine (35 catches for 402 yards and 4 TDs) ... Leading rusher is Larry Ned (5-11, 210, Jr.), who has 106 carries for 520 yards and 8 TDs ... All-America candidate, senior defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (6-4, 245), is tied for the league lead in sacks (8-72 yards) and is first in tackles for loss (14-99 yards) ... Coach Ted Tollner is 35-30 in six years at San Diego State and 61-50-1 in his career (10 years). He is 2-1 against Utah.

MCBRIDE SAYS

"Every week, the games get a little bigger in importance. We have to protect our position in the (league) standings. Every week is a battle because all of the Mountain West teams are good. There are no upsets. It just comes down to who comes to play that day ... I watched San Diego State on film against Air Force and saw that they (the Aztecs) are an excellent defensive team. They are a good all around team and are coming off a big win at CSU ... I thought our team really came together at Air Force. That was a great win against a great team."

Upcoming Events

Recent Results