Beck settles in for a big second half

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — John Beck reinvented himself Saturday in BYU's 41-24 win over the Air Force Academy.

The makeover came just in time.

In the first half, he overthrew receivers, threw an interception and even got the sun to get in the way of a long pass play to Todd Watkins.

But Beck led the Cougars to a blitzkrieg after being down 10-3 at intermission. BYU exploded for 21 points in the third quarter and 17 in the fourth — both season-highs — and a rare 38-point two-quarter display of firepower. Not too shabby for an offense criticized for its inconsistency the past two seasons.

"I got antsy and just had to settle myself down," Beck said of his two opposite halves after the victory that lifted the Cougars to 3-1 in MWC play and 4-4 overall.

"Sometimes you come out and everything you've worked on in practice is there, you get jumpy and antsy and need to settle things down."

Beck completed 4 of 10 passes in the first quarter and at the half was 8 of 16 for 83 yards, including a 26-yard sideline pass to Austin Collie to set up a field goal.

After intermission, Beck latched on to his receivers like sonar. He completed 12 of his next 15 passes for four touchdowns with hookups of 70 and 45 yards to Todd Watkins and a 38-yarder to Fahu Tahi. He launched a bomb to Watkins for a quick touchdown out of the chute. He tossed a fade for a score to Collie and hit tight end Dennis Pitta on a scoring screen and added another TD to Pitta on a sprint-out-and-fire play in the fourth quarter.

KA-POW.

The Falcons never knew what hit them.

Beck finished 20 of 30 for 319 yards. It marked his third 300-plus passing game in his last four outings. The four touchdown passes to Watkins, Collie and Pitta were career-highs for Beck in a game. BYU had 161 first-half yards but added 366 in the second, ending the game with a whopping 527 yards. Beck had a passing efficiency of 187.08.

"John is not lacking confidence," BYU coach Gary Crowton said. "And in the wind, he's got the arm to really put some heat on the ball — that wasn't the problem."

Crowton settled Beck down at the half — telling the sophomore to trust his instincts and make the play.

"He gets cautious and waits to make sure the play is there, to see where the safety is. He makes great reads; that is not the problem.