Wilson leads offensive resurgence, BYU cruises past Hawaii, 49-23


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PROVO — Former Corner Canyon star quarterback Zach Wilson made history Saturday night, when he became the youngest BYU quarterback to start a game in the one-time Quarterback U.’s tenured history.

What could be better? How about a win?

Wilson threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns, and ran for 16 yards and another score to help BYU snap a two-game losing streak with a 49-23 win Saturday night over former rival Hawaii in his first collegiate start.

“Everyone knows a quarterback can’t be successful without a good line, or good receivers — or, shoot, even a good scheme,” Wilson said. “Everything was in place tonight.”

Lopini Katoa added 83 yards and a touchdown on the ground for the Cougars (4-3), who scored the most points at home since 2016. Matt Hadley ran for 91 yards and a touchdown after moving to running back from linebacker for BYU.

“Forty-nine points. That’s pretty dang good for a 19-year-old kid to come in and play as confident and to be as confident as he was,” wide receiver Dylan Collie said of Wilson. “To be honest, I don’t think a lot of kids could do it. But Zach did it, and he’s going to continue to do it, because I think his preparation will continue to stay the same.

Aleva Hifo led the Cougar receivers with 45 yards on three catches, including a 24-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that put BYU comfortably in control with a 42-17 lead.

Dayton Furuta had scored two touchdowns to lead Hawaii (6-2), which got 89 receiving yards and a touchdown from gormer Cedar High quarterback John Ursua in the loss that dropped the Warriors to 0-10 in Provo since 1930.

“Damn you, LaVell Edwards, and your curse,” Hawaii coach Nick Rolovich quipped, jokingly. “No, I thought BYU played very hard. They played a great football game. I don’t think we executed very well. Offensively, I think I made some poor decisions as far as putting the defense in some bad spots early in the first half.

“I appreciate our kids for the way they battled and kept fighting. BYU’s a good football team.”

A quarterback is only as good as his teammates, though, right?

BYU opened the scoring with Katoa’s 12-yard touchdown run, plowing into the end zone on fourth down with 7:28 left in the first quarter.

It was the first time in 2018 the Cougars have scored on their opening possession, the first time they’ve scored a touchdown in the first quarter since a 24-21 win over Wisconsin, and just the second first-quarter touchdown of the year for BYU.

Wilson completed 5-of-6 passes for 48 yards on the opening drive, a 12-play, 87-yard jaunt downfield that lasted just over four minutes.

Even an interception in the first half could barely dampen his team’s spirits.

“For what we recruited him to do, he came in and did it,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I’m really pleased with the way he led the team, and he’ll keep competing to try to keep that spot. That’s the goal for Zach, and everyone else that is starting.”

Wilson got into the end zone via a 23-yard score that gave the Cougars a 14-0 lead after the first quarter, and Hadley scored his first career touchdown since moving from linebacker with a 21-yard stroll into the end zone with 7:28 left until halftime.

BYU’s defense held Hawaii to just 28 yards in the field quarter, and kept the ‘Bows off the scoreboard until Ryan Meskell’s 33-yard field goal with 4:24 left in the half.

Hawaii’s prolific offense that averaged 38.4 points in the first seven games of its season was held to 311 yards, including a scant 63 yards on the ground.

Brigham Young Cougars running back Lopini Katoa (4) tries to stiff-arm Hawaii Warriors defensive lineman Kaimana Padello (96) as BYU and Hawaii play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
Brigham Young Cougars running back Lopini Katoa (4) tries to stiff-arm Hawaii Warriors defensive lineman Kaimana Padello (96) as BYU and Hawaii play at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

“Our defensive backs, especially the young guys, were really able to contain those receivers,” Collie said. “That’s a very, very talented group of receivers, and our guys did a phenomenal job of locking them up. Our defense is very exciting to watch; it’s my favorite defense in the country.”

The Cougars immediately answered the ‘Bows’ first score, and Wilson threw his first career touchdown pass to fellow freshman Dallin Holker for 13 yards en route to a 28-3 halftime lead.

Dayton Furuta broke the Warriors’ touchdown-less streak with a 2-yard run to start the third quarter, after the Warriors forced BYU into a three-and-out on their first drive. But the Cougar offense didn’t let up, either.

After two-straight three-and-out, Dayan Ghanwoloku made something happen with his third fumble recovery of the year. The recently healthy safety jumped on a muffed punt at the Hawaii 35-yard line, and Riley Burt bullrushed toward the end zone on five-straight runs, including a 3-yard touchdown with 6:39 left in the third that gave the Cougars a season-high 35 points.

Furuta doubled his haul with a 20-yard screen pass that pulled the ‘Bows within 35-17 with 2:57 left in the third.

But the Warriors couldn’t stop BYU’s newly resurgent offense, and Wilson added a 24-yard strike to Aleva Hifo early in the fourth to help salt away the game before a late touchdown to fellow freshman Gunner Romney.

“Our guys were competing, and every position got evaluated,” Sitake said of his decision to start Wilson over incumbent Tanner Mangum. “I feel like every position has to compete for their job every week; there were a lot of changes, and that just happened to be one of them.

“We felt like in the competition, it was good enough to give him the starting spot. He deserved it.”

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