SALT LAKE CITY - Utah beat BYU 52-21 on Saturday, completing its first unbeaten season since 1930 and putting it one step closer to the first BCS appearance by a school from a non-BCS conference.
Fans tossed tortillas and some Utes donned sombreros in reference to the Fiesta Bowl, their likely destination, and both goalposts came down.
Quarterback Alex Smith's 2-yard run gave Utah a 21-14 halftime lead. BYU trailed only 31-21 late in the third when Spencer White intercepted Smith at the Utah 45. But a trick play backfired. Eric Weddle intercepted receiver Austin Collie's pass at the Utah 8.
On the next play, Smith pitched the ball to Steve Savoy, who bolted down the sideline for a 92-yard touchdown. Savoy then caught a 20-yard pass 4:26 into the fourth to seal it.
BOISE ST. 55, LA. TECH 14: Jon Helmandollar rushed for a school-record five touchdowns for the host Broncos, who extended the nation's longest win streak to 21 and tied BYU's record for consecutive conference wins at 25. Their last WAC loss was Nov.3, 2001, 48-42 at Louisiana Tech.
Ahead 17-14 at halftime, the Broncos scored 28 in 5:23. Helmandollar scored from 4 yards with 2:16 left in the third and 12 with 32 seconds left. Erick Franklin fumbled away the ensuing kickoff. Lee Marks made it 41-14 with a 19-yard run. After another punt, a screen pass to Jeff Carpenter turned into a 31-yard score.
UTEP 57, SMU 27: Jordan Palmer threw for a season-high 339 yards and five touchdowns for the host Miners, who won their seventh straight.
Up 24-20 at halftime, UTEP scored 28 in the third, 21 during the first 4:35. After Johnnie Lee Higgins' 5-yard touchdown catch, UTEP recovered an onside kick. Three plays later, Palmer hit Higgins for a 45-yard score.
On the second play of the ensuing series, Quintin Demps returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown and 45-20 lead.
NEW MEXICO 16, WYOMING 9: The host Lobos became bowl eligible for the third consecutive season for the first time. DonTrell Moore won it with a 20-yard run on the second play of the fourth. It was set up by a 24-yard run by quarterback Kole McKamey, who earlier scored on an 80-yard option.
MIAMI (OHIO) 37, AKRON 27: Luke Clemens and Brandon Murphy combined for 230 rushing yards and two touchdowns as the visiting RedHawks clinched a spot in the MAC title game. Murphy capped an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 35-yard run to make it 34-27 51 seconds into the fourth.
N. ILLINOIS 34, EASTERN MICH. 16: Garrett Wolfe ran for 325 yards on 43 carries and scored twice to tie his school record of 20 for the visiting Huskies. Northern Illinois went up 20-13 when Shatone Powers caught a 41-yard Hail Mary at the end of the first half. Wolfe made it 27-13 49 seconds into the third with a 70-yard run.
Harvard finishes perfect, but Yale gets satisfaction
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Ricky Williamson scored on a 100-yard interception return and Brian Edwards ran back a punt for a touchdown to help Harvard complete a perfect season by beating Yale 35-3 in the 121st edition of The Game.
The Crimson (10-0) finished unbeaten for the second time in four seasons. Before 2001, it had not done it since 1913.
A Yale fan managed to steal Harvard's flag during halftime. A Harvard cheerleader went into a crowd of Bulldogs fans. Fists flew as he pursued the flag up the concrete seating bowl before security stopped him.
