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HONOLULU -- There wasn't necessarily a lot on the line when BYU stepped on the field against Hawaii, but that doesn't mean there wasn't a lot to play for.
BYU got quarterback Riley Nelson back and he had arguably the best game of his career. The Cougars got their ninth win of the season, meaning another 10-win season is possible. And they overcame their Hawaiian curse and beat the Warriors for the first time ever in Honolulu.
Not too shabby for a game with nothing on the line. Here's a look at some observations after 60 minutes of football.
BYU's slow start
BYU was slow to start and could not get anything going in the first quarter. Both the offense and the defense struggled to get rolling. BYU only had five rushing yards in the first quarter. Justin Sorensen came up short on a 48-yard field goal attempt. Hawaii was the first to get on the board and at the end of the first quarter Hawaii led 6-0 (The Warriors missed an extra point). BYU made the necessary half time adjustments and came out energized in the second half. BYU made some big plays and quickly gained control of the game, at one point scoring 31 unanswered points.
Riley Nelson's hesitation
Early in the game BYU quarterback Riley Nelson looked like he was afraid to get hit. Nelson stayed in the pocket and kept drives alive, but didn't scramble, he avoided hits and seemed a bit more hesitant to initiate contact but, as is typical, after a few hits Nelson found his game and his rhythm. He shook off some early sacks, began bouncing off defenders and started making the atypical plays BYU fans are used to. Nelson threw several passes that made those same fans cringe, but some how the ball still found its way into the hands of BYU receivers (thank Cody Hoffman and Ross Apo). Nelson finished the game 25-37 for 363 yards and three touchdowns and one big sign of relief.
The struggles of Justin Sorensen
Justin Sorenson is struggling. Sorenson missed two field goals in the first half. The first attempt was a 48-yarder and is a tough field goal by any standards, but his attempt wasn't even close. The second attempt was a 38- yarder, well within his range, and it bounced off the goal post. He also sailed a kick-off out of pounds. Those two misses made for five consecutive misses for Sorensen, but head coach Bronco Mendenhall continued to turn to the young kicker and it paid off. Sorensen hit two field goals (33 yards and 36 yards). He also made all five of his extra point attempts. Sorensen still holds the state record for the longest field goal, he made one from 62 yards out when in high school, but he's been nothing but inconsistent and sporadic this year.
The patience of Brandon Doman
Brandon Doman called a good game. Doman was the starting quarterback the last time BYU played in Hawaii, where he suffered a humiliating loss. Doman did not step off the throttle and found the right plays and right balance after a sluggish start for the Cougars. Doman also didn't give up on Nelson despite his slow start and allowed the junior quarterback to work through the rust. Doman's patience and play-calling paid off with a career night for Nelson and a blow out win for the Cougars.
The dominance of the BYU Defense
The defense once again showed how dominant they could be. The defense was slow to start, and gave up a 79-yard touchdown on a wide receiver screen, but in the second half they simply stopped Hawaii prompting the Warrior coaching staff to make a change at quarterback. The defense also had the game-changing and momentum-swinging play. Just after the offense took the lead 17-13, the defense matched the score when Matt Putnam forced a fumble and Joe Sampson scooped it up and returned it 26 yards for the score. The defense's intensity and aggresiveness was made apparent on that same play when safety Daniel Sorensen went hunting for someone to block, minus his helmet. The defense gave up just 299 total yards to a team that averages well over 400 yards a game.
