Texas El Paso Shuts Down Brigham Young in Victory

Linebacker Brent Henderson returned an interception for a touchdown and helped lead a stingy defense in Texas El Paso’s 14-3 upset of Brigham Young in a Western Athletic Conference game Saturday night at El Paso, Texas.

The victory was the first by the Miners, 3-5 overall and 2-3 in conference, over the Cougars (4-3, 3-2) in 12 years. UTEP last beat BYU in 1985, a year after the Cougars won the national championship.

The Cougars hadn’t had such a low output since a 10-3 loss to San Diego State in 1986. Brigham Young’s stumbling offense crossed the midfield only once--that happening in the fourth quarter.

Fresno State 53, San Jose State 12--Michael Pittman ran for four first-half touchdowns and the Bulldogs took advantage of six Spartan turnovers at San Jose.

Fresno State (5-4, 4-1) recovered four fumbles by San Jose State (2-6, 2-3), intercepted two passes and blocked a punt.

Wyoming 41, San Diego State 17--Mike Jenkins produced two Cowboy touchdowns and helped derail the Aztecs’ fourth-quarter comeback attempt at Laramie, Wyo.

San Diego State (3-6, 2-3) started strong--scoring on its first two possessions. But the Aztecs lost momentum, fumbled three times and suffered 11 penalties for 100 yards--including one that negated a touchdown.

Wyoming is 6-4 and 3-2.

Southern Methodist 24, Rice 6--Ramon Flanigan rushed for 100 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Mustangs to their first victory over the Owls since 1986.

Southern Methodist (4-4, 3-2) rushed for 323 yards. Rice (5-3, 3-2) gained 251 yards.

OTHER GAMES

Charlie Higgins ran for two touchdowns and 175 yards as Tulsa capitalized on turnovers to defeat Utah, 21-13, at Tulsa, Okla. The Golden Hurricane (2-6, 2-3) scored off two interceptions and recovered two fumbles by the Utes (4-5, 3-3). . . . Graham Leigh tossed three touchdown passes to Pascal Volz and scored once himself as New Mexico waltzed to a 40-10 victory over Texas Christian at Fort Worth, Texas. The Lobos (7-2, 4-2) remained a contender in the WAC Mountain Division. The Horned Frogs dropped their eighth in a row this year and 10th straight dating to 1996. . . . Kevin McDougal and Damon Washington combined for 199 rushing yards and three touchdowns to lead Colorado State (7-2, 5-1) to a 45-19 victory over Nevada Las Vegas (3-6, 2-4) at Las Vegas.