Posts Tagged ‘recap’

Older Entries »
h1

BYU 41, Hawaii 20

December 14, 2011

Led by the just recently healthy Riley Nelson, the Cougars ran away with this game in the islands, and came awfully close to my prediction of 49-20. Here’s the skinny on what went down.

Running away with it.

Riley Nelson. I’ve been waiting for this all season long: BYU finally had a quarterback with a breakout performance that included multiple touchdown passes (3), zero (0) interceptions, and more than three hundred (363) yards passing. But it wasn’t Jake Heaps. Riley Nelson was 25/37 in what became his career high game for passing yards.

Receivers. Cody Hoffman had a HUGE day, reeling in 7 passes for 123 receiving yards and a touchdown. Falslev and Mathews added 80 yards each, and Ross Apo caught two more TD passes in an effort that was very representative of the strength of this unit. These guys ran good routes, fought to get open, and broke routes to make plays when necessary. It was really a great day for BYU WR’s. Memorable moment: Hoffman’s one-handed TD reception.

Defense. The Cougar defense did a good job of clamping down after giving up a 79 yard TD pass in the second quarter. That left the Cougars trailing at halftime. In the end though, the defense had good stats for the day. They held the Warrior offense nearly 30 yards below their season average (308) in passing, and held them around 70 yards below their rushing average (95). Joe Sampson recovered an Uona Kaveinga forced fumble for a touchdown, which ended up being the winning score, and the true turning point in the game.

What we know about Hawaii (6-7, 3-4 WAC)

This loss officially disqualified Hawaii from the playoffs, and since then, their coach chose to retire rather than return for another season. With so many better jobs available this off-season, it will likely be difficult for the Warriors to bring in anyone of note.

What we know about BYU (9-3, 5-0 WAC)

Sure, I know BYU isn’t in the WAC, but they did dominate WAC play this year going unbeaten! On a more serious note, BYU is heading into the bowl season with the opportunity to win a tenth game. They will be playing against Tulsa (8-4, 7-1 C-USA) in the Armed Forces Bowl on December 30th. The Cougars have plenty of momentum going into the bowl game, which should be a very good matchup. It will also be a good chance for revenge on Tulsa, who beat the Cougars in their last meeting (in 2007).

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

h1

BYU 56, Idaho State 3

October 24, 2011

As expected, the Cougars decimated Idaho State, in a way that said, “we are an FBS team, and you are not.” The Cougars held the Bengals to just a single field goal, while tallying 8 touchdowns of their own: four rushing, three receiving, and one on defense. It was by far BYU’s best offensive and defensive performance of the season. It did come against a weak opponent, but the Cougars did everything they were expected to.

Pendleton and Eason combine for a tackle

Keys to the game

All the Cougars had to do was show up, and they did. The defense tallied three interceptions (one for a touchdown), held Idaho State to just 5/18 on third down, and allowed just 20 yards on 19 rushing attempts. They doubled their season sack total by reaching the quarterback six times. Offensively, the Cougars racked up more than 500 yards, with Nelson throwing for 215, and the team rushing for 290. Hoffman and Apo each had 5 receptions for 71 yards – Hoffman had 2 TD receptions, and Apo had one.

What we know about Idaho State (2-6, 1-4 Big Sky)

Idaho State got what they expected from this weekend: a six-figure paycheck. They have a couple of talented kids, and a coach who obviously cares about them and the program. It shouldn’t be hard to recruit a QB and WR’s to a program that is so dedicated to the passing game. I think they will likely see improvement over the next few years, but they certainly have a long way to go. Next week they continue in Big Sky Conference play as they will take on Montana State (7-1), which will likely lead to their sixth straight loss, as Montana State’s one loss came at the hands of Pac 12 Utah.

What we know about BYU (6-2)

The Cougars are now (Armed Forces) Bowl eligible, and riding a 5 game winning streak, since starting the season 1-2. Certainly the streak has been partly due to a change in difficulty, but there has also been a change of quarterback and a change of identity. This team is not the same one that lost to Utah 54-10. They are peaking at the right time, too, as they have a big game against TCU this week down at Cowboy’s Stadium in Dallas. This will be the perfect stage for the Cougars of 2011 to declare who they are.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

h1

BYU 29, San Jose State 16

October 10, 2011

I predicted this game would end at 34-10 in favor of the Cougars. One more score in favor of BYU and one less in favor of San Jose State and I’d have been pretty close. A safety will blow the spread every time anyway. The 29 points scored is a season high for the Cougars, while the 16 allowed are the fewest given up by the defense since the first game against Ole Miss, when the Cougars gave up just 13.

Here’s a look back at our keys to the game:

Doman. I think that Coach Doman is maturing as a play-caller. It helps that for this game he planned to play Nelson, who plays the QB position much like Doman did. The easier competition doesn’t hurt either, but I was happy with the play calls, and felt that the team was more than a match for the Spartans D. The Cougars were nearly balanced as well, gaining 219 passing yards and 224 rushing yards. Another note: the team was driving well on their last possession, reaching the San Jose State 25 yard line, but ended the game by taking a knee twice.

Nelson (or Heaps). Riley continued his success from the Utah State game through the first half against San Jose State. At one point, Riley had 4 consecutive completions, and 3 of those four were touchdown passes. He topped out at a QB rating of 334 in the first half. Nelson did fumble the ball on the SJSU 3 yard line after driving for 51 yards. The next play was a safety, as SJSU hiked the ball out of the back of the endzone. Riley also threw two interceptions during the game. In the end, the Cougars did not punt, and were forced to attempt (and make) field goals on only 2 of 5 scoring drives. With Nelson at the helm, the offense continued to make gains. Probably the play of the night for Nelson was the play immediately following a Kyle Van Noy interception, when Riley threw a 40 yard touchdown pass to a McKay Jacobson, who caught the ball without having to break stride. It was the best pass of the season by either quarterback.

Receivers. The tight ends continue to get more and more involved in the game – and this time Richard Wilson led all receivers with 3 receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown. McKay Jacobson had 2 receptions for 63 yards (and the aforementioned TD), and Ross Apo added another 41 yards on 3 receptions. This game marks two in a row that tight ends have a TD reception after having gone 17 games in a row without scoring. The more the TEs get involved, the better off this offense will be.

The Rush Attack. For the second game in a row, the Cougars have gained more than 200 yards rushing. They were led by a surprising figure, Mike Alisa, who carried 16 times for 91 yards! Nelson and Quezada each had 9 carries, for 65 and 47 yards, respectively. DiLuigi had a diminished role in this game, recording only one reception and 5 carries.

Special Teams. Justin Sorensen was perfect in the kicking game today, going 2/2 on field goals of 42 and 45 yards, as well as hitting all three PATs. Nothing special happened on our kick returns, but Hoffman averaged 24.3 yards on three returns.

Bronco D. I really thought the defense would come up with a fumble, which they did not, but they did come up with two interceptions. Kyle Van Noy and Travis Uale each made a pick, and Van Noy ran his back 31 yards before being stopped. That set up the Nelson to Jacobson 40 yard TD play. The defense was stingy on the ground, only allowing 70 yards rushing on 26 attempts (that’s 2.7 yards per attempt). The Spartans were never penalized in the game, but the Cougars kept a couple of SJSU drives alive with penalties. All in all, it was a good-not-great day for the defense.

What we know about San Jose State (2-4, 1-1 WAC)

San Jose State came into this game on a two game win-streak, after dropping their first three games in a row. The Spartans will continue on with their conference (WAC) schedule next weekend, as they will face Hawaii at home. Last year they lost 41-7 at Hawaii. Bowl eligibility is not expected at this point, but on the bright side, the Spartans already have won twice as many games as last year.

What we know about BYU (4-2)

BYU fans probably hoped this game would be a little more lopsided in favor of the Cougars. In fact, if just one or two more plays had swung in their favor, the scoreboard would have read quite differently. In the end, it was a good win for a team that needs something to build on. There is still room for improvement in each aspect of the game. The Cougars will test their skills next week against Oregon State, who has been off to a rough start at 1-4.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

h1

BYU 27, Utah State 24

October 1, 2011

Call it a tale of two halves, or more appropriately, a tale of two quarterbacks. Jake Heaps led the team to ten points on the first two drives of the game, but then proceeded to gain only 3 points on the next five drives. BYU went into halftime trailing against Utah State 14-13. In the third quarter, Utah State added a touchdown, and Riley Nelson entered the game for BYU. He revitalized a team that I described at halftime as “uninspired.” The defense buckled down, the receivers were diving toward the ball and making catches, and blockers were making blocks. The team was playing to win, instead of just playing. On the final four drives, Nelson led a charge that netted 234 yards and two PASSING touchdowns, the final one coming with just 11 seconds remaining, to put BYU up 27-24 and capping the improbable comeback win.

Here’s a look back at what worked and what didn’t in the Cougars’ win.

Doman. The offensive coordinator stayed up in the box again, and even without being on the field, he could tell that a change needed to be made. Doman called down to Bronco and said the team needed a spark to win the game, and that Riley would add some different energy than they currently had, when they were stalling. It was a game-changing, game-winning decision.

Heaps. Nelson. Riley came in with only 5:08 remaining in the 3rd quarter, but he ended the game with better stats than Heaps. Riley went 10/14 passing for 144 yards and 2 touchdowns, while also rushing 11 times for 62 yards, making him both the leading passer and rusher for the team. Jake ended up 11/25 for 107 yards. More than just the stats though, was the leadership. Some of Bronco’s comments after the game: (paraphrased) “Riley is a fierce competitor…unconventional. In the spring game he rallied  his side in overtime. I admire his natural, competitive, get it done mindset. The team respects his unselfish mindset, and that brought the spark to the team.”

Receivers. Eight different players recorded catches, and were led by Cody Hoffman, with 4 receptions for 68 yards and 1 TD from Nelson. Mckay Jacobson had a crucial 40-yard grab from Nelson during the final drive of the game, and Marcus Mathews caught the game-winning touchdown off of a tipped pass with 11 seconds remaining. The TE’s have made great plays when they’ve been thrown the ball; I’m not sure why they aren’t getting it more.

The Rush Attack. BYU was able to run the ball effectively, amassing 200 yards on the ground, with nearly even carries by Nelson, DiLuigi, Kariya, and Quezada – and each had at least 40 yards.

Special Teams. Hoffman had a couple of good KR’s, with a long of 33 yards, but an average of only 22.5.  The only real note is that Sorensen was 2/3 with field goals, missing a 47 yarder on Nelson’s first drive. He was good from 23 and 29 yards in the first half.

Bronco D. After an inauspicious start, where the defense gave up an 80 yard touchdown run on the Aggies’ first play from scrimmage, the defense buckled down for the next few drives, holding Utah State to a mere 31 yards and thee punts. Once the Cougar offense started to sputter, the defense let up, allowing long touchdown drives right before and right after the half. The defense held Utah State to a three and out right before Riley Nelson came in on offense, and from that time, the Aggies only managed a field goal. Brandon Ogletree’s remarks about Nelson: “He’s one of the hardest workers I know. He’s gritty, he’s tough. He’s had a tough road, and stayed with it. It’s inspiring. You saw the way the team rallied around him.”

What we know about Utah State (1-3, 0-0 WAC)

Utah State is just three plays from being 4-0. The only other team that has had a worse, “what could have been” start to the season is Toledo. The Aggies gave up late leads against Auburn, Colorado State, and again at BYU. They just have to learn how to finish. Up next for Utah State is a a home game against 3-1 Wyoming, whose lone loss came against then #9 Nebraska. In the new, Boise-less WAC, these Aggies will be a force to be reckoned with.

What we know about BYU (3-2)

Expectations were at a season low around halftime of this game. Riley came in and completely revitalized the entire team, and in fact, he led the team to that win. Jake Heaps was anointed the starter beginning with Riley’s injury last season, but his inability to improve is calling into question how solid his “starter” title is. When asked who would start next week, Bronco said the coaches would have to think about it. The Cougars will host 2-3 San Jose State next week, and the coaches apparently have a decision to make.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

h1

BYU 24, UCF 17

September 25, 2011

After the blowout loss to Utah last week, the Cougars were hoping to use this game as a turning point – something to build on – to define the rest of the season. BYU was able to accomplish that goal by pulling out a win against a tough UCF team – reigning C-USA champs who went 11-3 last season. While the Knights outgained the Cougars by nearly 140 yards, BYU won the game as I called it: on strong plays by the defense and by winning the turnover battle. Here’s a look at what went right and what didn’t, as we review our keys to the game.

Hoffman takes it to the house!

Doman. The BYU OC moved up to the box for this game. I won’t say that was why they won, but it certainly can’t hurt to be able to see the whole field of play, and thus be better able to identify the strengths and weaknesses that the opposing defense is showing you. Credit Doman for not losing the second half battle – as was the case the previous two weeks. The Cougars overcame deficits of 10-3 and 17-10 to eventually win the game.

Heaps. Jake continues to be a work in progress. His accuracy was below 50% this week, at 16/34 for a mere 133 yards and an INT. He was competent enough to win the game. One really encouraging piece, the leading receiver in the game was TE Marcus Mathews, who caught 4 passes for 35 yards.

The Rush Attack. BYU’s rushing crew had a much better night this week, combining (less the Heaps sack) for 137 yards. Kariya rushed for 52, DiLuigi for 38, and Quezada for 26 yards. Kariya and DiLuigi each scored a touchdown on the ground as well. After the game, Bronco said that they had simplified some of the running game. Whatever they did, I hope they do it again, and that it continues to be effective.

Special Teams. Special teams! From an abysmal game last week to saving the game this week! I cannot fully express how big an impact special teams had on this game. In the second half, BYU was finally able to put together a touchdown drive, only to have that be followed by a UCF touchdown drive, which put the game right back where it was. On the ensuing kickoff, Cody Hoffman accomplished what no other Cougar had done in 13 years: he returned that ball for a touchdown. 93 yards, and all he needed was one monster block as he ran the ball all the way back, untouched. It was an amazing moment for the team and for the fans. It also demoralized the UCF team who had just scored what would be their last points of the night.

Again, in the fourth quarter, with the game tied at 17, UCF’s JJ Worton muffed a Riley Stephenson punt, which was recovered by BYU’s Michael Alisa. Michael ran it into the endzone and the entire team gathered around him to celebrate. It was something these guys needed to help ease the pain of the week before, when nothing went the Cougars’ way. They got flagged for a celebration penalty, and the touchdown didn’t count because you can’t advance a muff, but 3 Bryan Kariya rushes later, BYU had that touchdown and the winning score 24-17. Further, 4/5 Sorenson kickoffs were for touchbacks, and Riley Stephenson averaged 45 yards per punt on 6 punts, with a long of 67. It was really an amazing night for Cougar special teams.

Bronco D. The defense really had a great game. UCF came in averaging more than 200 yards per game on the ground, and the BYU defense was able to hold them to just 81. They were also held to just about half of their usual points per game, at just 17. The defense, like the offense this week, did not fall behind due to poor halftime adjustments, as they allowed only one scoring drive in the second half. Standout performances by Joe Sampson (impressive Sack early on, and an INT to seal the game), Uona Kaveinga (who continues to force fumbles and just be plain nasty), and Kyle Van Noy (who showed off a wicked vertical leap to tip the ball that Sampson intercepted).

The biggest weakness for the defense continues to be Corby Eason. He dropped a potential INT that hit him in the numbers, and the UCF quarterbacks were targeting (and having success against) his side of the field all game long.

What we know about UCF (2-2, 0-0 C-USA)

UCF expected to come in and win against BYU this week. Their players were frustrated by the loss, especially when they were able to dominate the offensive statistics. UCF has a bye this week, so they will have plenty of time to dwell on the loss, and prepare to open C-USA play on October 8th against 1-3 Marshall. The following week will be a rematch of last year’s C-USA championship game at SMU.

What we know about BYU (2-2)

This game felt much like last year’s game against San Diego State. It was a close, hard-fought game, which I felt helped to define the season. I applaud the fact that the players were able to come together to win a tough, close game, just one week after having so much go wrong against Utah. Hopefully the Cougars can build on what they did in this game as they take on Utah State next week.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Older Entries »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

%d bloggers like this: