COLLEGE FOOTBALL : WESTERN ATHLETIC ROUNDUP : Fouts’ Late Passes Down Air Force

With time running out, Utah quarterback Mike Fouts gave Kevin Dyson a pep talk. The receiver responded with a 50-yard reception for the winning touchdown.

“I told him to get on his horse. He did, and I was surprised he was that open,” said Fouts, whose toss to Dyson was one of two touchdown passes he threw in the final minute to rally Utah to a 22-21 victory over Air Force Saturday at Salt Lake City.

Down 21-7, Fouts first found Rocky Henry on a 17-yard scoring pass with 41 seconds remaining. A pitchout to Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala closed the Utes, 4-4 overall, 4-2 in the Western Athletic Conference, to 21-15.

Dan Pulsipher’s subsequent on-side kick was recovered by Utah’s Artis Jackson at the Air Force 45 yard line. One play later, Fouts spotted Dyson racing down the left sideline away from Cadet defenders.

Dyson pulled in Fouts’ bomb at the Air Force 10 and glided into the end zone unmolested with 31 seconds on the clock. Pulsipher’s point-after kick proved a winner.

Fouts, the nephew of NFL Hall of Fame passer Dan Fouts, completed 20 of 38 passes for 355 yards. Dyson had eight catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns.

The Falcons (5-3, 4-2) were led by Beau Morgan, who rushed for 119 yards and passed for two scores.

BYU 23, Wyoming 20-- James Dye’s 90-yard punt return sparked the Cougars to a win over the Cowboys at Provo, Utah and lifted BYU into first place in the WAC.

“We made the plays when we had to, and that was the key to the game. When James Dye gets a step or two, he is very explosive,” Coach LaVell Edwards said.

Added Dye: “I think as long as I keep believing in myself and keep my feet moving, I’ve got a chance.”

BYU (3-3, 3-1) led Wyoming (3-3, 1-2) just 6-3 before Dye’s return with 9:14 left in the third quarter. The stadium’s previous record was an 89-yard return by BYU’s Via Sikahema against Tulsa in 1984.

Wyoming answered Dye’s touchdown with an 11-play, 80-yard drive. Marcus Harris caught a 15-yard toss from Josh Wallwork for the score.

BYU then built its lead to 16-10 on Bill Hansen’s 36-yard field goal with 17 seconds left in the third quarter.

New Mexico 22, Colorado State 14--Donald Sellers ran for one touchdown and passed for one as the Lobos beat the Rams at Fort Collins, Colo.

Nex Mexico (4-3, 2-3), riddled the WAC’s top-ranked defense for 393 yards, getting 16 plays of 10 yards or more against Colorado State (4-3, 2-2).

After driving the Lobos to near midfield, Sellers left the game late in the third quarter with a sprained left ankle.