Brian Hill showed a glimpse of what he was capable of when he ran for 121 yards in a loss at Colorado State last week.
The Wyoming followed with some eye-popping numbers Saturday in first college start, breaking the Mountain West and school game records for all-purpose yards with 387 from scrimmage in a 45-17 victory at Fresno State.
The 6-foot-1, 204-pound Hill had the most rushing yards of anyone in the country for the week, finishing with 281 yards on 23 carries. He added 107 yards receiving on three catches, topping Fresno State’s entire offensive output of 318 yards by himself.
The former Belleville, Illinois, high school star scored runs of 32 and 66 yards in the romp, and added an 89-yard run in the fourth quarter — earning the second-best rushing performance in Wyoming history behind Kevin Lowe’s 302-yard effort in 1984.
“On the last one, I felt like I was slow because I got brought down,” Hill said, smiling.
The 387-yard effort topped the previous Mountain West mark of 378 yards was set by New Mexico’s Deon Long in 2011.
Hill, who had a season total of 20 carries for 50 yards rushing prior to last week’s game against Colorado State, has 402 yards rushing in his last two games.
He earned the Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors with his performance, but more importantly, he helped the Cowboys (4-5) snap a four-game losing streak.
“I’m always confident,” Hill said. “Right now, I’m just confident about the (offensive) line. I have all the confidence in the world, and I know the sky’s the limit if we keep on playing like that.”
A look at some of the other outstanding performances around the country in college football’s 10th week of the season:
OUTSTANIDNG OWLS: Temple had never beaten a ranked opponent at home before Saturday. Thanks to the effort of Praise Martin-Oguike, and an overall defensive effort that forced five East Carolina turnovers, the Owls shocked the Pirates 20-10.
The win was the third for Temple over a ranked opponent, and first since 1998 against Virginia Tech.
Martin-Oguike, a junior defensive end, was the catalyst for much of the defensive effort caused by the Owls — finishing with 1 1/2 sacks, 3 1/2 tackles for losses, three forced fumbles and a blocked field goal.
PANTHER POWER: Pittsburgh’s slide continued in a double-overtime loss to Duke, the Panthers’ fifth loss in their last six games.
Running back James Conner, however, starred despite Pittsburgh’s woes — taking over the national rushing lead with a 263-yard effort in the loss. Conner, a sophomore who ran for 799 yards last season as a freshman, has 1,342 yards and 17 rushing touchdowns this season, 12 yards ahead of Western Michigan’s Jarvion Franklin.
HALLIDAY’S END: Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday has been a regular all season when it comes to statistical highlights.
The senior’s college career appears to have ended when broke his right leg in the first quarter Saturday in a 44-17 loss to Southern California.
Halliday still leads the country in total offense with an average of 415.8 yards through nine games for the Cougars. He also leads the country at 430.3 yards passing per game, nearly 55 yards ahead of second-place Brandon Doughty of Western Kentucky.
AGUAYO’S SHOCK: Only five kickers who have attempted at least one field goal per game this season remain perfect.
Florida State stalwart Roberto Aguayo is no longer on that list after his 41-yard miss in a 42-31 win over Louisville on Thursday night. The sophomore had made 23 consecutive field goals before the miss, dating to a win over Wake Forest last season. He 14 of 15 this year and 35 of 37 in his two seasons for the Seminoles.
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