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PROVO — In what amounted to a defensive battle at LaVelle Edwards Stadium in Provo, the BYU Cougars beat the Utah State Aggies 6-3.
Quarterback: B+
Considering the tremendous pressure put on quarterback Chuckie Keeton all night, Keeton looked composed and in charge. BYU's defense did not make it easy on Keeton, who was sacked three times Friday night. However, Keeton finished the night going 22-of-38 for 202 passing yards and 22 rushing yards.
Running Backs: C
Kerwynn Williams was the only player to touch the ball. And although Williams is an explosive player, who generally creates his own plays, he was no match for BYU's defense. Williams ended the night with only 18 rushing yards.
Receivers: B+
BYU's defense forced Chuckie Keeton to throw all night. Seven players were part of the action, amounting for a total of 202 receiving yards. While all the blame cannot be placed on the receivers, there were several dropped passes that could have been the difference in Friday night's game.
Offensive Line: B+
The offensive line was under attack all night, with BYU's defense never letting up. Three sacks were allowed, but stopping Ezekiel Ansah and Kyle Van Noy is a daunting task. While improvements can always be made, the offensive line handled the pressure well.
Overall Offense: B-
Although it is often said defense wins ball games, the offense has to get it done on their end to secure the victory. The offense had opportunities to score, but struggled to get around a difficult defense. Still, the offense cannot let that be an excuse. Passes were dropped, gaps were not created and points were left on the board.
Defensive Line: C+
The defensive line did a decent job of containing the run, but gave up 145 rushing yards. There could have been more pressure put on BYU quarterback Taysom Hill, who was given plenty of time in the back field to make a play. BYU's offensive line has struggled this year to contain opposing defenses, but it wasn't evident Friday night.
Linebackers: B-
Utah State's linebacking core put pressure on BYU, but allowed for some easy first downs for the Cougars. Linebackers could have also been utilized more to put pressure on Hill.
Secondary: B-
BYU managed 245 receiving yards, with many of their passes going for more than 10 yards. The secondary needed to put more pressure on Cody Hoffman, who was ultimately BYU's biggest playmaker.
Overall Defense: B-
The defense held BYU to a single touchdown, which should be commended. While the defense wasn't perfect, it was a decent match against BYU's offense. More pressure should have been put on Hill, especially being a Gary Andersen defense.
Special Teams: C+
In a close, defensive battle, it is the special teams that has a major impact on the game. USU kicker Josh Thompson had the opportunity to hit a 38-yard field goal attempt, but missed the uprights. While one kick should not be blamed for the team's loss, it was an essential aspect to the game.
Special teams failed to put any pressure on BYU's punts, except for the fake BYU field goal attempt. Considering the trouble BYU has had on special teams, Utah State could have had a huge impact on special teams with more pressure.
Overall Team: B-
Utah State fought hard and held their own defensively — it's what you get with two defensive-minded head coaches. The end result is a loss for the Aggies, but they have tremendous talent and will likely have one of their best season ever. The team has areas to work on, but will likely not face the fierce competition of their early schedule.
