In what ended up being a much stranger game than it appeared would be the case early, the 15th-ranked BYU Cougars held on to beat the USF Bulls 35-27 on Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah.
Here are three keys in the Cougars’ win.
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Brigham Young Cougars fullback Masen Wake (13) tries to hurdle South Florida Bulls defensive back TJ Robinson (2) on a run as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU quarterback Baylor Romney (16) takes off on a run as the Cougars and USF Bulls play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars defensive back Ammon Hannemann (22) makes a tackle on South Florida Bulls running back Jaren Mangham (0) as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Baylor Romney (16) looks to make a throw as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake, walks off the field after a timeout as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. BYU won 35-27.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars running back Tyler Allgeier (25) motions first down after a run as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. BYU won 35-27.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) is tackled after a catch and short run by South Florida Bulls defensive back Jalen Herring (19) and South Florida Bulls safety Matthew Hill (1) as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. BYU won 35-27.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Gunner Romney (18) celebrates after making a long catch for a touchdown as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. BYU won 35-27.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Gunner Romney (18) stretches out for a long pass reception ahead of South Florida Bulls defensive back TJ Robinson (2) as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) has the ball knocked away in the end zone by South Florida Bulls defensive back Daquan Evans (0) as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. BYU won 35-27.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) hauls in a long pass ahead of South Florida Bulls defensive back Daquan Evans (0) as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Fans prepare to watch BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Fans sing and dance prior to watching BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Fans sing and dance prior to watching BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Jacob Conover (17) warms up as BYU and USF prepare to play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters (10) warms up as BYU and USF prepare to play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Baylor Romney (16) warms up as BYU and USF prepare to play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU students cheer as they prepare to watch BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU players get warmed up as they and USF prepare to play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU players get warmed up as they and USF prepare to play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars mascot Cosmo, waves a giant “Y” flag at the start of the fourth quarter as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. BYU won 35-27.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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South Florida Bulls quarterback Timmy McClain (9) runs away from Brigham Young Cougars defensive lineman Fisher Jackson (53) as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. BYU won 35-27.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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South Florida Bulls fans complain as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. BYU won 35-27.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Gunner Romney (18) stretches out for a long pass reception ahead of South Florida Bulls defensive back TJ Robinson (2) as BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Fans sing and dance prior to watching BYU and USF play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters (10) warms up as BYU and USF prepare to play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU players get warmed up as they and USF prepare to play a college football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
Incredible start
The Bulls have not been good for quite a while, and it seemed in the first quarter Saturday night as if the Cougars would walk all over them.
BYU scored touchdowns on its first three offensive possessions — all rather quick scores — and barely allowed any yards at all on its first two defensive possessions as it opened up a 21-0 lead less than 11 minutes into the contest.
Filling in for injured starting quarterback Jaren Hall, Baylor Romney was tremendous early, the offensive line was opening up holes for running backs and the defense swarmed to the ball.
The psychology of a big early lead could have played a role in how close the game ended up being, but regardless of why and how USF got back into it, the great start ultimately proved necessary for the Cougars.
Baylor Romney was outstanding
When Hall was named BYU’s starter before the season, coaches made sure to say that Romney was also a very good quarterback. Romney has shown that throughout his career when he has gotten the opportunity to play, but he elevated to another level on Saturday.
Romney finished a remarkable 20 of 25 for 305 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. At one point, he completed 12 passes in a row.
Credit surely has to be given to Romney’s receivers and perhaps USF’s defense is not great, but Romney certainly was far more than adequate in filling in for Hall.
Romney connected with his brother Gunner five times for 119 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown. He also found Masen Wake five times in short yardage situations including a touchdown and Puka Nacua and Neil Pau’u four times apiece for a combined 144 yards, with Pau’u scoring a touchdown.
The defense was interesting
While BYU’s offense hummed along very nicely much of the night, its defense was not as stout after the great start, especially in the second half.
In the first half, the Cougars bent in allowing a couple of long drives, but only broke to the extent of allowing two field goals. In the second half, however, the long USF drives not only remained, but they turned into touchdowns.
When it was all said and done, the Bulls had scoring drives of 13, 12, 14, 6 and 19 plays as BYU just could not find a way to get off the field.
In just his second career start, USF freshman quarterback Timmy McClain went 17 of 24 for 186 yards and added 55 rushing yards on 15 carries. Jaren Mangham led the Bull rushing attack with 86 yards on 26 carries and Kelly Joiner added another 28 yards on just four carries.
