LARAMIE — If misery loves company, then the defenses for BYU and Wyoming should feel quite comfortable on Saturday afternoon at War Memorial Stadium.
While the No. 9 Cougars (9-0, 5-0) boast one of the country's most prolific offenses, they must also admit to having one of the country's worst rushing defenses — making BYU college football's version of Jekyll and Hyde. The Cougars, playing for a Mountain West Conference title and a possible Bowl Championship Series berth, are ranked No. 92 nationally in total defense and No. 110 in rushing defense. BYU has given up 725 yards on the ground to its last two opponents, San Diego State and Colorado State.
Not that those facts about BYU's defense matter much to Wyoming coach Vic Koenning. "If a team scores 28 on them, who cares?" he said. "Their offense averages 50 points a game."
And BYU just might be able to score that many by halftime against the Cowboys (2-6, 0-5), who are rated No. 107 nationally in total defense, surrendering an average of 470 yards per game, and No. 113 in rushing defense. Cougar running back Luke Staley is ranked fourth nationally in rushing and quarterback Brandon Doman is fifth in total offense.
Both teams' defenses have something else in common — a slew of injuries. The Cowboys have lost four players for the season: defensive end Brandon Casavan (ankle), linebacker Jason Jones (torn finger tendon), free safety Al Rich (broken wrist) and linebacker Herman White (right shoulder).
Meanwhile, BYU coach Gary Crowton explained this week that his defense's front seven have been hit hard by injuries. While linebacker Paul Walkenhorst is suffering from a pulled groin muscle, another linebacker, Isaac Kelley, has a medial collateral sprain in his knee "and his arm is purple because of the contusion he has on his bicep," Crowton said.
Also, defensive end Ryan Denney (turf toe), defensive end Brett Keisel (severely sprained ankle), defensive tackle Jeff Cowart (slightly separated shoulder and ailing foot), and defensive tackle Brandon Stephens (knee) have been hurting. Keisel, a native of Greybull, Wyo., could sit out of Saturday's contest.
"You take those things into consideration and I watch those guys go out there and play for the team," Crowton said. "None of them came out of the game (against CSU). I was very proud of them. I really don't feel like I need to defend them, but I felt like maybe I needed to let people know there were circumstances in these last two games."
The Cougars' defensive secondary has been solid, but it could be tested on Saturday. Wyoming quarterback sophomore Casey Bramlet leads the MWC in passing (279.9 ypg) while sophomore wide receiver Ryan McGuffey leads the league in receiving, averaging 7.6 catches per game.
The Cowboy offense, like the defense, has been affected by injuries. Bramlet (right shoulder contusion) and McGuffey (right shoulder sprain) are expected to play against BYU. Three Wyoming running backs, Nate Scott (concussion), Derek Armah (knee) and Kit Bradshaw (hamstring) are banged up as well. Scott and Armah are doubtful, Bradshaw is questionable. Two tight ends and an offensive guard may also sit out against BYU.
"We're going to play with what we've got," Koenning said.
NOTES: A Fiesta Bowl official is scheduled to attend Saturday's game . . . The Cougars can clinch at least a tie for the MWC title with a victory . . . Wyoming had a bye last week . . . Since beating BYU two years ago, the Cowboys have posted a 1-12 record against MWC teams . . . BYU leads the all-time series with Wyoming, 35-29-3 . . . Crowton has a 0-1 record against the Cowboys. His Louisiana Tech team visited Laramie in 1998 and lost, 31-19.
E-MAIL: jeffc@desnews.com