BYU football: Live coverage at No. 12 Cougars face Texas State – Deseret News

BYU looked every bit the dominant team Saturday night, as the No. 12 Cougars beat Texas State 52-14 in front of 6,000 fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The BYU offense put on a show in the first home game fans have been allowed, as the Cougars rolled up 579 yards of total offense and quarterback Zach Wilson sat halfway through the third quarter with the victory well in hand.

BYU’s defense came up big, too, allowing the Bobcats just 267 yards as the Cougars improved to 6-0 on the year.

3 takeaways

Offense rolls again

BYU’s junior quarterback had another solid night in leading the Cougars to touchdowns on six of their first seven drives. More impressively, five of those drives went for 70-plus yards.

Wilson completed 19 of 25 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns — good for a 225.2 pass efficiency rating — while also running for 15 yards on four carries.

Receiver Dax Milne had another solid receiving night — four catches for 89 yards and a 45-yard touchdown just before halftime — and was joined by tight end Isaac Rex, who had five catches for 66 yards and two touchdowns. In all, 14 different Cougars caught passes.

The BYU running game also was strong, with Tyler Allgeier taking 12 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown. Eleven different Cougars had carries and BYU averaged 5.7 yards per carry.

Defense stands strong

After Texas State scored a touchdown on its first drive of the game, the BYU defense stiffened and held the Bobcats scoreless on their next nine possessions.

During the second and third quarters, the Cougars held Texas State to just 39 yards of total offense and 1 of 7 on third downs — the Bobcats were 2 of 11 on third down in the game. Those numbers helped BYU turn this one into a blowout.

Linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi turned in the biggest play for the Cougar defense, intercepting a Brady McBride pass in the third quarter and taking it 32 yards for a pick-six, his first career interception for a score.

At that point, the Cougars had a 49-7 lead. Jared Kapisi added an interception in the fourth quarter, as BYU got reps for players up and down its roster.

Next big challenge: Nov. 6

This isn’t a surprise — going into Saturday, the Cougars knew they were facing back-to-back opponents with a combined 2-9 record. Texas State held an early 7-0 edge before BYU took over.

Western Kentucky — the Cougars’ opponent next week — won, but it was a 13-10 decision over FCS Chattanooga after the Hilltoppers went into halftime down 7-3. Western Kentucky needed a touchdown with 1:21 to play to pull out its second victory of the year.

Boise State, meanwhile, rolled to a 42-13 victory over Utah State on Saturday. The Broncos led the Aggies 28-0 at halftime and scored a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to put the game away. BYU visits Boise State on Friday, Nov. 6 in a critical matchup for the Cougars.

End of fourth quarter

BYU 52, Texas State 14

A few notes postgame:

• BYU ran 76 plays and averaged 7.6 yards per play
• The Cougars put up 579 yards of total offense, showing nice balance with 352 yards passing and 227 yards rushing
• BYU went 9 of 15 on third down, and that included going 0 of 4 in the fourth quarter with the backups in the game

4:44, fourth quarter

BYU 52, Texas State 14

BYU adds a field goal on a 64-yard drive, as Jake Oldroyd connects for a 28-yarder with just under five minutes to play. It’s set up by a 49-yard run from punter Ryan Rehkow on a fake punt.

8:09, fourth quarter

BYU 49, Texas State 14

The Bobcats score for the first time since the first quarter, driving 96 yards on eight plays before Marcell Barbee makes a 20-yard touchdown grab — his second score of the night — to snap 49 straight points from BYU.

End of third quarter

BYU 49, Texas State 7

A few notes through three quarters:

• BYU has 510 yards of total offense, to 156 for Texas State (only 39 since the first quarter)
• Zach Wilson is done for the night, completing 19 of 25 passes for 287 yards and four touchdowns
• BYU is 9 of 11 on third down and has scored at least twice in every quarter
• 21 different Cougar defenders have recorded a tackle

9:50, third quarter

BYU 49, Texas State 7

The Cougar defense has a score, as Isaiah Kaufusi intercepts a pass near the sideline and weaves his way for the 32-yard return for a touchdown. BYU has scored 49 unanswered in this one and is dominant on both sides of the ball.

10:47, third quarter

BYU 42, Texas State 7

Zach Wilson’s fourth touchdown pass of the night is the second to Isaac Rex, hitting the tight end for a 30-yard score. BYU has five scoring drives of 70-plus yards in the game.

End of second quarter

BYU 35, Texas State 7

A few notes from the first half:

• Zach Wilson is 18 of 21 passing for 257 yards and three touchdowns for a 235.7 passer rating; Dax Milne has four catches for 89 yards and a touchdown
• The Cougars have 111 yards on the ground, with Tyler Allgeier running for 65 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries as BYU got its ground game going in the second quarter
• BYU is having little trouble on third down, converting 7 of 8; Texas State, meanwhile, is 1 of 6
• The Cougars have a significant edge in time of possession (17:43 to 12:17) and are averaging 8.7 yards per play on 44 offensive plays
• Linebacker Max Tooley has five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss to lead the BYU defense

0:27, second quarter

BYU 35, Texas State 7

Zach Wilson shows off his arm strength on an impressive 45-yard touchdown pass to Dax Milne from one side of the field to the other, and BYU capitalizes on the defensive stand with a seven-play, 94-yard touchdown drive right before halftime.

2:43, second quarter

BYU 28, Texas State 7

BYU’s defense held for a stand after a bad snap and defensive recovery gave Texas State possession at the Cougar 10. Brady McBride was incomplete with passes on third and fourth down from the BYU 6, and the Bobcats were denied points after getting possession in optimal position.

7:47, second quarter

BYU 28, Texas State 7

BYU uses a balanced offensive attack to score its fourth straight touchdown, going 3-for-3 on third down on the 71-yard scoring drive. Isaac Rex makes a nice grab over top the defender for a 3-yard touchdown reception.

12:35, second quarter

BYU 21, Texas State 7

The Cougars score on their third straight drive to start the game, going 60 yards on six plays after a nice punt return from Hobbs Nyberg. Tyler Allgeier scores his sixth rushing TD of the season — an 11-yarder — one play after receiver Neil Pau’u completed a 16-yard pass to Zach Wilson.

End of first quarter

BYU 14, Texas State 7

A few notes from the first quarter:

• BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is 9 of 10 passing for 145 yards and a touchdown, and the Cougars are driving again in Texas State territory
• Bobcats quarterback Brady McBride is solid, too, completing 7 of 9 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown
• The Cougars have the edge in total offensive yards, 184 to 117, though the rushing edge for BYU is closer at 36-33
• BYU is 2 of 3 on third downs, and 1 of 1 on fourth down, while Texas State is 1 of 3 on third down

1:43, first quarter

BYU 14, Texas State 7

The Cougars score for the second straight drive, as Keanu Hill’s first career touchdown — a 33-yarder on a fourth-and-3 — ends the seven-play, 90-yard drive.

7:01, first quarter

BYU 7, Texas State 7

BYU responds with its own touchdown, driving 86 yards in 10 plays and scores on a 4-yard Lopini Katoa run — his 16th career rushing score and fourth this year. Zach Wilson is 5 of 5 passing for 59 yards on the drive, to go with two carries for 12 yards.

11:33, first quarter

Texas State 7, BYU 0

The Bobcats come in firing, and Texas State scores a touchdown on the opening drive. The eight-play, 75-yard drive was capped by a 19-yard pass from Brady McBride — who was 5 of 5 for 66 yards on the drive — to Marcell Barbee on third down.

Pre-game

Here are a few links to stories you may want to read prior to or during the game:

A few personnel notes from Deseret News BYU football beat writer Jay Drew:

BYU fans are back in the stands — it’s the first game with fans allowed at LaVell Edwards Stadium:

BYU will be wearing all-navy jerseys, while Texas State is going all-white.

Texas State is making its first trip to LaVell Edwards Stadium: