Estimated read time: 5-6 minutes
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BYU's season-opening 30-6 home win over Washington State was at the same time extremely promising and just the smallest bit frustrating--and that's a good thing.
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After helming his team to a sixth straight season-opening victory, head coach Bronco Mendenhall told us during our KSL Radio postgame coverage that "I like our starting point, and I congratulated our team. What's fun is, they fired right back how much better they can get. That's a good sign, when I'm praising them and they're knowing that they can perform better. That's a nice place to begin from."
The first 30 minutes gave BYU very little upon which to improve, as the Cougars rolled up 294 yards and 24 points on 48 offensive plays. The defense limited Mike Leach's offense to 111 yards and six points on only 33 plays.
BYU converted seven of 10 third-down attempts, controlled the ball for 18 of 30 minutes, and ran a faster-break than the "Air Raid," with the Provo Cougars going hurry-up for much of the half.
Seven first-half penalties for 87 yards did present a problem for BYU, and represented practically the only openings Washington State would get while driving the football, but the flags aside, this game was essentially over at the intermission, with BYU out to a 24-6 lead. The Cougars have now won 84 consecutive games (dating back to 1987) when leading by 14 points or more at halftime.
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The Cougars' first-half efficiency waned, as in the third quarter, all three of BYU's possessions penetrated the Washington State 15-yard line yet resulted in only six points (two field goals and a missed field goal).
On the night, BYU drove inside the Wazzu 15-yard line on six occasions, and scored just two touchdowns. BYU's "blue zone" missteps help to account for the minimal frustration expressed above.
The Cougars left points on the board, gave the visitors too many yards via penalty, and so a game that ended in a 30-6 shellacking could have looked even more dominant for home team.
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With that being said, at no point after the opening minutes was BYU justifiably threatened, and what more does a coach or player want than to win comfortably while knowing the team is only scratching the surface of its potential.
Blue zone issues notwithstanding, BYU was crisp, innovative and physical on offense, paced by Riley Nelson's head-first initiative.
Nelson started his senior season right on pace for offensive coordinator Brandon Doman's weekly projections, completing 69% of his passes (25-of-36) for 285 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. It wasn't a prolific rushing night for Nelson (12 carries, 18 yards), but he lowered his helmet time and again, as he continues to impress teammates and fans with his leadership, while perhaps worrying others with his penchant for contact.
Doman's play-calling embodied the balance BYU seeks; counting two Washington State sacks as passing plays, Doman called 39 runs and 39 throws.
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Names and Notes:
It had been almost three years since a BYU tight end recorded a 100-yard receiving outing or multiple-touchdown performance (Dennis Pitta, v. Air Force on 11/21/09; 9 rec, 111 yds, 2 TD). Last night, junior Kaneakua Friel followed an impressive camp with a break-out game, catching six balls for 101 yards and two scores.
WR Cody Hoffman had three first-quarter receptions before leaving the game with a quad contusion; he would not return. That meant an opening for Hoffman's backup Skyler Ridley, who tied Friel for the game-high lead with six catches--the first of which was the first of Ridley's career, and went for a seven-yard touchdown.
After three years on the scout team, Ridley had essentially quit the program before spring ball, but came back to give it another go; what a great reward for the junior from Murrietta, Calif, who took a number of hard hits last night and never dropped a ball.
Sophomore CB Jordan Johnson came up with his third career interception, followed by a 64-yard return (setting up a BYU FG).
RB David Foote kept his career carry average high, running four times for 26 yards. He also had two solo tackles and blocked a would-be rugby punt on special teams.
LB Kyle Van Noy and DE/LB Ziggy Ansah both recorded a pair of tackles for loss and a pass break-up; Van Noy added three quarterback hurries. Both of Van Noy's TFLs were sacks.
Six BYU players recorded pass break-ups.
Return missionary freshman Remington Peck got his first career sack.
Taysom Hill threw a touchdown (18 yards to Kaneakua Friel) on his first pass as a Cougar. Hill also ran twice, and would also attempted a field goal, but for a BYU time-out called after clock issues.
Justin Sorensen (back) got in for one kickoff, even though it was credited to Riley Stephenson, who went three of four on field goals and punted twice for a 49-yard average.
BYU has won 40 of its last 42 games when leading or tied at the half.
Bronco Mendenhall is 37-0 when leading by 14 points or more at the half.
Bronco Mendenhall is 61-3 when leading or tied after three quarters.
BYU has won 52 of its last 54 games when allowing 24 points or fewer.
BYU has won 25 of its last 26 games when scoring 24 points or more.
In the Bronco era, BYU is 38-3 with positive turnover margin (+2 v. Washington State). BYU is also 20-2 with zero turnovers in the Bronco era.
Bronco Mendenhall's home record is now 37-7.
BYU has won seven of its last nine games against Pac-12 opponents; Mendenhall is 9-5 v. the Pac-12.
Under Mendenhall, BYU is 11-11 v. teams from BCS conferences (and Notre Dame), and after losing six of its first eight such games, has won nine of 14.
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You can hear a brief highlight/sound-bite recap of last night's game, in "Cougar Cuts," above left.
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Photo: courtesy Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo
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