Good enough: BYU Cougars get what they expected — a win

PROVO — For all intents and purposes, everybody got what they expected in BYU's 42-7 rout Saturday afternoon of Eastern Washington — the Cougars a lopsided victory and near-shutout over a lesser nonconference opponent, the Cougar coaches enough less-than-stellar plays to hold attention at this week's practices, the visiting Eagles a $325,000 payout, and BYU fans a good look-see before bailing when fourth-quarter snow flurries smothered Edwards Stadium.

"It was good to win a football game, but it certainly wasn't as clean as I would have hoped," said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall, later adding "I didn't think our offense executed the way they are capable of, and it gives us a great chance to add a sense of urgency."

BYU, now 5-2 overall, takes its 3-0 Mountain West Conference record to San Diego State next weekend. Eastern Washington drops to 4-3.

On a day when Pass U. wasn't quite clicking at aerial standards, the Cougars benefited from a reunited "Tongan Trio" backfield, led by freshman Harvey Unga's 202 yards of total offense — 21 carries for 145 yards and a touchdown and four catches for another 57 yards and another score.

Add in Fui Vakapuna's 37 yards, fourth-quarter TD run and yeoman's snowman work in the late-game blizzard, and Manase Tonga's 21 yards and third-quarter rushing score, and the threesome finished with 203 yards and three touchdowns.

Meanwhile, the defense — which at times seemed flustered by EWU quarterback Matt Nichols' passing (20-of-32 for 216 yards and a TD) — clamped down on the Eagles for most of the game, allowing a mere 42 yards rushing.

Corby Hodgkiss' 39-yard interception return for a touchdown 86 seconds into the game set the tone and highlighted the Cougars' three picks. Bryan Kehl snagged his third in as many games, getting stopped 7 yards short of his second pick-six score of the season. Quinn Gooch added the third.

Meanwhile, Kehl and fellow linebacker Chris Bolden were staples in the EWU backfield, the latter with two near-safety sacks.

On special teams, Bryce Mahuika sparked two second-half scores with a pair of near-score returns — a 61-yard kickoff return to the Eagle 19 and a 25-yard punt return to EWU's 17 — while Travis Kozlowski added a blocked punt.

It all compensated for BYU's passing struggles — quarterback Max Hall finished 15-of-30 for 156 yards, a score and an interception. But he and his receivers often weren't connecting — particularly the "money" hook-ups to tight end Dennis Pitta and deep threat Austin Collie. Too many passes were too high, too far out in front or too easily dropped.