Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
Provo, UT -- Overall: B
BYU arguably earned an A- in the first half with stellar defense and solid offense that sparkled at times, but the offense got a little too stagnant for comfort in the second half. A B- grade represents a solid overall performance against an overmatched opponent. A slew of penalties drew the ire of many fans. They cost BYU on several occasions, and also led to Washington State points. The BYU defense was stifling, holding Washington State to 229 yards passing on 45 attempts and -5 rushing yards.
Offense: B
BYU gained 426 yards, including 303 yards passing. The run game trailed off in the second half, only totaling 123 yards on 41 carries (3.0 per carry). Whether the offense turned lax after building a large lead, or whether penalties stifled continuity, or whether it was simply the first game - BYU no doubt was left feeling like there was room for improvement. The Blue Zone offense, where four of the trips ended in field goal attempts (3/4), will require some special attention.
Quarterback: A-
The stat that stood out the most was 0 interceptions for Riley Nelson. He once again excelled as a game manager while stringing together a number of nice throws. If there was a fault, he once again made some ill-advised throws, which is consistent with his track record. Washington State wasn't able to capitalize on any of those, and Nelson ended up with a very good statistical outing (25/36 285 yds 2 TD 0 INT). The game also marked the first action from Taysom Hill. Hill lined up in a quasi-wildcat formation a couple times. He wowed the crowd on a 4th and 1 where he ran to the sideline and then threw to an open Kaneakua Friel for an 18 yd TD pass.
Running Backs: B
Michael Alisa managed just 54 yards, but was only handed the ball 13 times. David Foote looked like he belonged on the field, totaling 26 yards on just four carries and showing some good burst. True freshman speedster Jamaal Williams saw his first collegiate action - mainly during cleanup - and had six carries for 15 yards.
Receivers: B
Cody Hoffman racked up 46 yards on three receptions before going out of the game with a thigh bruise. Kaneakua Friel was a revelation, racking up six receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns. It appears BYU finally has a go-to tight end, after going the entire year last year without one. Walk-on Skyler Ridley performed admirably, with six receptions for 54 yards and a score.
Offensive Line: B-
Washington State wasn't expected to have a great defense coming in, and yet the defensive line managed to get past BYU's line and bust up several plays in the backfield. The yards per carry average (3.0) needs to go up before BYU plays its tougher games.
Defense: A-
BYU held Washington State to 4.8 yards per pass, and just 229 yards passing total. The run defense never faltered, holding the WSU Cougars to -5 yards on 10 carries. The BYU Cougars appeared to be superior in strength and speed at virtually every position on defense.
Defensive Line: B+
BYU didn't let any of Washington State's few runs slip by and overall put adequate pressure on the WSU Cougar offense. Freshman Bronson Kaufusi and converted linebacker Ziggy Ansah saw more playing time than expected, and both played solid minutes.
Linebackers: A-
Kyle Van Noy logged a couple sacks. Uona Kaveinga registered a nice diving interception in the first half. This linebacking corp showed its depth. The second-string isn't too shabby either. This is BYU's strongest unit and played the part.
Secondary: A
There were questions about how well the secondary would respond to Washington State's very good receiving corp. While Marquess Wilson managed some nice catches (4 rec. 61 yds.) and had some even nicer catches called back, BYU's defensive backs held their own. Jordan Johnson registered a nice interception, which he returned for 64 yards.
Special Teams: B
Riley Stephenson punted just twice for a 49.0 average, including one kick inside the 20. He kicked for the apparently still-ailing Justin Sorensen. He was 3 of 4 field goals with a long of 31.
