WESTERN ATHLETIC ROUNDUP : Faulk Hard to Fault in 49-21 Win

Dennis Franchione, New Mexico’s first-year coach, spent hours this week studying film on San Diego State’s Marshall Faulk. The live version was every bit as impressive.

Faulk continued to track the Heisman Trophy with two touchdowns and 200 yards, and Aztec quarterback David Lowery threw for three more scores as San Diego State beat New Mexico, 49-21, Saturday night in a Western Athletic Conference game at Albuquerque, N.M.

Faulk, the leading rusher in the nation, scored on runs of 53 and 11 yards and opened up the passing lanes for Lowery, who completed 28 of 39 for 291 yards.

Said Franchione: “I turned to one of my assistants early in the game and told him, ‘This game is being played at a different speed than we’ve seen the first four weeks.’ ”

Faulk, who reached the 200-yard rushing mark for the fifth time in 14 games, leads the nation with 837 yards. He entered the game averaging 212 yards a game.

San Diego State, 2-1-1 overall and 2-0 in the WAC, also got a pair of touchdown runs from reserve back Wayne Pittman.

New Mexico (1-4, 0-2) lost its fourth in a row.

Utah 33, Colorado State 29--The Utes converted a blocked punt into an eight-yard scoring pass from Frank Dolce to Sean Williams with 1:31 left, then needed an end-zone interception to thwart a desperation drive by the Rams in the closing seconds at Ft. Collins, Colo.

Colorado State, which had 543 yards in total offense, was leading, 29-26, and seemingly in control when Utah’s Brad Foster stormed in to block Gianni Marcantonio’s punt, which Marcantonio fell on at the eight-yard line with 1:38 left. On the next play, Dolce passed in the right flat to Williams, who spun away from safety Greg Myers at the six to score the clincher.

Colorado State then promptly drove down the field as Anthoney Hill completed three passes, moving the Rams to the Ute 16, but Hill threw into double coverage and was intercepted in the end zone by safety Mark Swanson with four seconds remaining.

The Utes posted their third straight victory to improve to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the WAC. Colorado State is 1-4 and 0-2.

Fresno State 48, Louisiana Tech 14--Sophomore quarterback Trent Dilfer threw five touchdown passes in leading the Bulldogs (3-2) to a nonconference victory at Fresno.

Trent, who completed 13 of 20 passes for 172 yards, threw for two scores to junior Michael Ross, former Carson High star, on plays of 57 and seven yards.

Louisiana Tech, which lost 13-0 to No. 9 Alabama last week, is 2-3.

Air Force 28, Texas El Paso 22--Jarvis Baker scored two touchdowns in the third quarter as the Falcons (4-1, 3-1) came from behind to win a WAC game at El Paso.

UTEP (0-4, 0-2) drove from its 19 in the final minutes, but the Miners’ drive stalled as they failed three times to score from the Air Force four-yard line.