A second look at the MW quarterbacks

Because quarterback is the most important position in sports, the Review-Journal examined each Mountain West football team before the season based on who was going to take the snaps.

The thinking was those with the strongest quarterback play would have the best shot at the conference title.

Now that the season has reached its midway point, this is the perfect time to see where those teams stand.

The R-J previously broke down the quarterback situations into three categories — proven, still some questions and unproven.

The proven quarterbacks were Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson, UNR’s Cody Fajardo, San Diego State’s Quinn Kaehler and Utah State’s Chuckie Keeton.

Behind Grayson, Colorado State is the conference’s best team. The senior leads the Mountain West with 303.8 yards passing per game and with a 157.9 pass-efficiency rating. Grayson is the leading candidate for league Offensive Player of the Year.

Fajardo has played up to expectations as well, passing for a 233.5-yard average and rushing for 67.5 yards per game. His Wolf Pack have been competitive, losing by a combined 12 points to Colorado State and Boise State, and they still have a shot in the wide-open West Division.

As for Kaehler and Keeton, both have been injured.

Kaehler, who has a sprained throwing shoulder, is expected to play this weekend, and the Aztecs badly need him because they are West contenders with him behind center, though his production has fallen off from last season. He has thrown just two touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

Utah State has seen this movie before with Keeton. He went down with the same knee injury last season, and Darell Garretson came in and led the Aggies to the conference title game. They are contending again with Garretson having directed back-to-back victories over Brigham Young and Air Force, passing for 619 yards and five touchdowns.

Two quarterbacks took major questions into the season — Boise State’s Grant Hedrick and New Mexico’s Cole Gautsche. Hedrick remains inconsistent (seven touchdown passes, 10 interceptions), a big reason the Broncos no longer are the team to beat. Gautsche’s injury problems have persisted, and New Mexico again is at the bottom of the league.

The rest of the league brought unproven quarterbacks into the season, and it’s little coincidence none will win the conference title, even if some provide more hope than others for future success.

So how does it break down at the midway point?

1. Grayson, Colorado State

2. Garretson, Utah State

3. Fajardo, UNR

4. Hedrick, Boise State

5. Kale Pearson, Air Force

6. Colby Kirkegaard, Wyoming

7. Blake Decker, UNLV

8. Brian Burrell, Fresno State

9. Kaehler, San Diego State

10. Joe Gray, San Jose State

11. Gautsche/Lamar Jordan, New Mexico

12. Ikaika Woolsey, Hawaii

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST

Air Force not only is 3-0 at home, the Falcons have yet to trail. ... Boise State is 10-0 in Friday games at home. The Broncos host Fresno State on Friday. ... Colorado State is off to its best start in 14 years. Also, Rams tight end Nolan Peralta is suspended for the first half of Saturday’s game against Utah State by the Mountain West for targeting a UNR player. ... San Jose State will play five of its final seven games on the road. The longest trip is to Navy in Annapolis, Md. The Spartans already have taken long trips to Auburn and Minnesota. ... Utah State has created 19 takeaways in the past five games.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Colorado State (5-1, 1-1 MW). Last game: Defeated UNR 31-24. Next game: vs. Utah State, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 13-0 in 2013. Line: Colorado State -5.

2. Utah State (4-2, 1-0). Last game: Defeated Air Force 34-16. Next game: at Colorado State, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 13-0 in 2013. Line: Colorado State -5.

3. Boise State (4-2, 2-1). Last game: Defeated UNR 51-46. Next game: vs. Fresno State, Friday. Last meeting: Lost 41-40 in 2013. Line: -17.

4. UNR (3-3, 1-2). Last game: Lost to Colorado State 31-24. Next game: at Brigham Young, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 28-23 in 2013. Line: BYU -10.

5. Fresno State (3-4, 2-1). Last game: Lost to UNLV 30-27 (OT). Next game: at Boise State, Friday. Last meeting: Won 41-40 in 2013. Line: Boise State -17.

6. San Diego State (3-3, 2-1). Last game: Defeated New Mexico 24-14. Next game: vs. Hawaii, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 28-21 (OT) in 2013. Line: San Diego State -8.

7. Air Force (4-2, 1-2). Last game: Lost to Utah State 34-16. Next game: vs. New Mexico, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 45-37 in 2013. Line: Air Force -10.

8. San Jose State (2-3, 1-1). Last game: Defeated UNLV 33-10. Next game: at Wyoming, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 51-44 in 2013. Line: San Jose State -1.

9. Hawaii (2-4, 1-0). Last game: Defeated Wyoming 38-28. Next game: at San Diego State, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 28-21 (OT) in 2013. Line: San Diego State -8.

10. Wyoming (3-3, 1-1). Last game: Lost to Hawaii 38-28. Next game: vs. San Jose State, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 51-44 in 2013. Line: San Jose State -1.

11. UNLV (2-5, 1-2). Last game: Defeated Fresno State 30-27 (OT). Next game: at Utah State, Oct. 25. Last meeting: Lost 28-24 in 2013. Line: N/A.

12. New Mexico (2-4, 0-2). Last game: Lost to San Diego State 24-14. Next game: at Air Force, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 45-37 in 2013. Line: Air Force -10.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Utah State at Colorado State: Before the season, it looked like Utah State’s Nov. 29 trip to Boise State would settle the Mountain Division. That still could have a big part in deciding that division, but this game between Utah State and Colorado State is the de facto conference championship. For now, at least.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.