In the aftermath of watching their team win its first Mountain West Conference title since 2001 and accepting an invitation to the Las Vegas Bowl, BYU fans were instructed to, on the count of three, yell out "Viva Las Vegas!"

BYU quarterback John Beck would have none of that.

He told fans to give a "Beat Utah!" first.

That's something BYU (9-2 overall, 7-0 MWC) hasn't done since that 2001 season, and the players are all well aware of that. A question was thrown out in the post-game news conference: Do you hate the Utesfi

"I'll go first with 'Yes,' " said BYU senior tackle Jake Kuresa. "Then I'd follow that up with this: The main thing for us to focus on during Utah week is ourselves. We don't need to change anything. What we've been doing has been working and working well in conference games.

"We need not to get caught up in the hype of Utah week. We just need to focus on ourselves. If we do that, we'll come out victorious like our other conference games. If we don't, we're gonna be in for a long game."

BYU really hasn't been challenged during MWC play. Its closest game was a 14-point victory over TCU, where the Horned Frogs scored a meaningless touchdown in the game's final minute. Saturday's win over New Mexico grew close in the third quarter, when the Lobos put up two quick touchdowns to get to within 11 points at 28-17. But BYU responded with another touchdown and a couple of defensive stops.

The final fourth-down stand came in the waning moments of the game as New Mexico, trailing 42-17, used up all of its timeouts to reach the BYU 4-yard line. But four incomplete passes later, the BYU defense ran off the field having held the Lobos out of the end zone.

"It was my last game in the stadium and I didn't want to go out on my last play having given up a touchdown," said BYU senior linebacker Cameron Jensen. "I love how much that meant to our defense. I love that mentality in our defense."

BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall complimented his former mentor, UNM coach Rocky Long, and the Lobos' effort.

"New Mexico was a physical football team and they ran the ball effectively against us most of the day," Mendenhall said. "I was impressed with their offensive line and their running back and they kept us off balance.

"But give our players credit. The No. 1 objective is still points and turnovers and those two things still held."

BYU caused three first-half turnovers and the Cougars defense held New Mexico to just 10 points (the other seven points for the Lobos came on an interception return).

As expected, most of the questions directed at the BYU players and coaches after the game were about trying to beat Utah. The Utes used a last-second field goal to edge Air Force 17-14 on Saturday to move to 7-4 overall and 5-2 in conference play.

"I can't wait," said BYU junior linebacker Bryan Kehl. "I grew up in Salt Lake and I would look forward to that game every year. I'd plan it out and wear my BYU shirt to school. We'll come into this game well prepared. It's been four years since we beat them and that's significant. There's not another team in our conference that's done that.

"If we play our game, I don't think any team in our conference can play with us."

Steady climb: BYU moved up two more spots in the Associated Press poll from 23rd to 21st. The Cougars are 23rd in the USA Today/Coaches poll and 23rd in the BCS standings.

Thanks for nothing: MWC commissioner Craig Thompson was booed lustily when he presented the league championship trophy to BYU. The fans were likely taking out their frustration for the lack of accessibility to MWC games on television. But reports on the negotiations between CSTV and the satellite providers are cautiously optimistic: A deal is very close with Cox Cable, which is the major cable provider in Las Vegas and San Diego. The satellite providers are expected to follow close behind.

How about a rematchfi BYU's opponent for the Las Vegas Bowl will be the Pac 10's No. 4 team. Right now, the most likely candidate is Arizona. It could happen like this: If Oregon State (7-4, 4-4) beats Oregon (7-4, 4-4) and UCLA (6-5, 4-4) loses to USC, Arizona (6-5, 4-4) could lock up fourth place with a win over rival Arizona State.

Of course, Arizona beat BYU 16-13 in the first week of the season.

Bowling for dollars: While BYU is locked up with the Las Vegas Bowl, Utah and TCU are the strongest candidates for the Armed Forces Bowl in Ft. Worth and Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. TCU (8-2, 4-2) seems an obvious choice for the Armed Forces Bowl, but the Poinsettia Bowl has the second MWC selection and a 10-2 Horned Frog team might be too good to pass up. Of course, if TCU and Utah end up tied for second in the MWC, Utah won the head-to-head meeting. Wyoming (6-6) is bowl eligible and New Mexico needs a victory over San Diego State to reach six wins. Albuquerque is hosting the first "New Mexico Bowl" in December.

It's good to be a Reynolds: Lance Sr., BYU's assistant head coach, spent Friday watching youngest son, Houston Reynolds, and his Timpview teammates win the Utah state 4A championship with a 20-12 victory over Highland. Houston Reynolds has made an oral commitment to play for BYU. Lance Jr., a two-time All-MWC center with BYU who graduated last year, is an assistant coach at Timpview.

On Saturday, Lance Sr. and the Cougars beat New Mexico 42-17 to clinch the school's first MWC title since 2001 and earned a Las Vegas Bowl invitation. Dallas Reynolds, a sophomore, starts at tackle for BYU. Another son, Matt, will return home from an LDS mission this spring.

On your side: Only two of BYU's 12 possessions didn't end in New Mexico territory or with a score. BYU scored six touchdowns, punted once, missed a field goal and turned the ball over on downs. Twice, New Mexico halted BYU drives with interceptions.

Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at ddickson@heraldextra.com. Read his blog at heraldextra.com/blogs.

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This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B1.