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Show orts October 25, 2004 Decision 2004 Unpredictable playoffs Photo by Shad West The grudge match Tuesday between the Hanger Rats and 75th Logistics Readiness Squadron Is why you forget about season records and play each game one at a time. Its flag football playoff time and LRS came Into the game fired up and determined to upset the Hanger Rats. Scoring on their opening possession, LRS remained pumped up until the 'Rats scored on their first possession. LRS punted the ball on their next possession and the Hanger Rats took advantage with a long pass to wide out Kyle Garcia. Garcia was kept busy with another catch in the end zone In the second half. LRS QB Matt Buchanan answered back with a scramble to the end zone. LRS scored again to put themselves up and played a zone defense and contained the 'Rats to get the ball back with more than a minute left in the game. LRS ran the clock out to hang onto a 1913 win and move on in the winner's bracket. The flag football championship game is Friday at 6:30 p.m. at the.sports complex. The Hilltop Times will have a complete playoff bracket in next week's issue. Air Force Falcons fall to BYU Cougars 41-24 eastern Conferences. Last year, I would have shouted Hilltop Times staff that there are more than these As the final push is nearing, six conferences in division 1 footpundits and newspapers across ball, and we have to have a playthe country are putting in their off. Many pundits especially in support for each side, and the Wisconsin say that Utah doesHilltop Times has decided for n't play anyone and it was unfair the first time to publish its sup-for Utes to jump ahead of the port for one of the sides. Asa Badgers. Teams in the Mounmilitary paper, we usually don'ttain West including the Falcons take a stand on the issue, and of Air Force have to love seeing normally you'll never read an one of their own in the top six, editorial in our pages support- it gives them hope that one day ing a specific position, but now they can be there too. that the University of Utah has Well, Wisconsin fans, the difbroken through the Bowl Cham-ference this year is that the BCS pionship Series glass ceiling, wehas recognized the non-conhave decided to endorse the BCS. ference games that the Utes For the past few weeks our have played and won. They beat staff has gathered around the Pac 10 team Arizona, ACC team water cooler and I argued that North Carolina and Big 12 powa playoff system should be insti-erhouse Texas A&M, and don't tuted in football, much like we forget instate rival Utah State do for our own intramural foot- from the Sun Belt conference. ball league here on base. I admit The bottom line is that conthat I should have waited beforeferences like the Mid Atlantic, deciding on a playoff in the BCS Mountain West and Western before I had all the facts, so callAthletic and even the BCS conme a flip flopper, but I reserve ferences themselves are aligned the right to change my mind, more by geography and money when new information is shown.- not talent. So the argument Since this is the only the sec- that the Utes wouldn't be competitive against a BCS school ond week of the BCS poll, it may just isn't there, they have played be early to jump aboard the BCS three already this season. bandwagon, but looking at Utah's remaining four games, they If the Utes can run the table should run the table the rest the rest of the season, I believe of the season. The BCS super that they will have earned the computer has to reward an accomright to play the power house plishment like that. It's not like schools like Oklahoma or Florida the Utes are going to play Hawaii State or any of the other BCS and ruin their unbeaten season schools. with a loss, Utah is finishing the If Utah loses one of its regular season playing that otherremaining games this year team down south, the one that will the Hilltop Times flip choked against the Rainbow flop on this issue? My answer Warriors and then cried foul. is not this year. The BCS has If the season ended today, as rewarded a non-BCS program with a top 6 ranking. That's No. 6 in the BCS, Utah has earned like winning the Electoral the right to play in a huge money game as an at large bid, in otherCollege and we can only hope words, as a non BCS Confer- that the popular vote that is ence team playing in one of the the coaches poll and media following bowl games: Fiesta, poll will catch on. We can't Orange, Rose or Sugar. Nor- afford another voting conmally the teams that play in a troversy where we argue that BCS bowl game come from thea playoff system needs to be Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big instituted...at least not this Ten, Big 12. Pac 10 or South- year. by Shad West AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.-John Beck threwfor319 yards and four touchdowns, and Curtis Brown ran for 128 yards to help Brigham Young overcome a sluggish start and beat Air Force 41-24 on Saturday. Dennis Pitta blocked a punt and caught two touchdown passes, Todd Watkins had six catches for 153 yards and a touchdown, and BYU (4-4, 31 Mountain West) had 527 yards to win for the third time in four games. Air Force (3-4, 2-2) couldn't get much going with its option - 213 yards on 47 carries - didn't give quarterback Shaun Carney much time to throw and allowed a touchdown off a blocked punt for the third time in two games. The Falcons scored twice in Photo by Charley Starr, Air Force Academy Public Affairs the fourth quarter, including Darnell Stephens' second TD Air Force half back Justin Handley is pulled down by Cougar linebacker Markell Stafflerl during Saturday's game run, but couldn't get closer thanat Falcon Stadium. BYU beat the Falcons 41-24 in a Mountain West Conference clash for second place. 10 points. pass to Pitta on a screen. trouble with four kicks in the behind Daniel Coats, leading SPORTS BRIEFS:_ BYU made sure of that with a Beck also tossed a 14-yard first half, but dropped a snap late to Bobby Giannini's intercepYouth Basketball registration set dominating third quarter. After touchdown pass to Austin Col- in the third quarter. Pitta movedtion at the Cougars 29. struggling most in the first half,lie on the first play of the fourthin for the block - BYU's first in Air Force, after managing just the Cougars had three touch- quarter to put BYU up 31-10. 12 years - and Gary Lovely ran 50 yards on 18 plays in the first Youth Programs Basketball registration is currently being downs and a 222-49 advantage He finished 20-for-31. it in 10 yards for a touchdown quarter, capitalized on the next held through Nov. 19 at the Youth Center. Registration is in total yards to turn a sevenAir Force followed Collie's that put the Cougars up 24-10. play when Stephens took off $35 for members and $45 for non-members and includes point deficit to a 24-10 lead. touchdown with a 26-yard touch-It was a surprising turnaround left and cut back across the fieldjersey, shorts, Utah Jazz tickets, Jazz clinic invitation and for a 29-yard touchdown run. more. Each league must have 28 participants or players Beck had a lot to do with it. down pass from Carney to Gregafter the way BYU started. The sophomore shook off a Kirkwood just 34 seconds later, Beck seemed off-kilter in the The Cougars had another mis- will be consolidated into the nearest age group. First Step Basketball registration will be held through Dec. 10. A regbut that only cut the lead to 31- early going, repeatedly sailing take three plays later, when difficult first half, hitting Watkins istration fee of $20 is required. Participants will receive a on a 70-yard touchdown pass 17 because of yet another mis- passes over and behind his Brown fumbled a handoff from T-shirt, mini-basketball and seven scheduled classes. Adult on the second play of the third cue by punter Donny Heaton. receivers. He overthrew Col- Beck and Air Force's Nate Teris mandatory in this program. First Steps is participation quarter. Beck followed with a Heaton had two punts blockedlie on what would have been a razone recovered at the BYU 38-yard pass to fullback Nau- and four others that went less touchdown on BYU's second 36. That set up Michael Green- an instructional league that doesn't conduct competitive fahu Tahi on the next drive, set-than 20 yards last week against drive and his first pass of the away's 48-yard field goal that games. For more information about these programs, contact the Youth Center at Ext. 7-2419. ting up an 11-yard touchdown New Mexico. He didn't have any second quarter was thrown put the Falcons up 10-3. Hilltop Times Football Contest sponsored by the 75th Services Division During the college football season, the Hilltop Times and Services Division will hold a 'U-pick' football contest for local college football games. Participants need to pick a team to win each of the four games, and submit the score Airman Jenny Chong Hilltop Times staff for the tie breaker game. All entries must be submitted via E-mail to hill.sportstrivia@hill.af.mil by 4 p.m. Nov. 5. All entries with the most correct games and closest tie breaker score will be Shad West Hilltop Times staff Capt. Sean Carter Deputy chief, 75th ABW PA put into1 the weekly drawing held Nov. 8, for a free lunch at Club Hill. Winners will be contacted via E-mail by close of business, Monday. Master Sgt. Elton Price Superintendent, 75th ABW PA Army Utah Weber State San Diego State Air Force Utah Weber State San Diego State Air Force Utah North Dakota State San Diego State Air Force Utah Weber State San Diego State Tie breaker total: 21 Tie breaker total: 31 Tie breaker total: 28 • Tie breaker total: 47 Your picks here Air Force at Army Colorado State at Utah North Dakota State at Weber State San Diego State at BYU Tie breaker total: Air Force at Army |