BYU football: Cougars blank another foe

PROVO — The scoreboard at LaVell Edwards Stadium indicated the final score — BYU 44, Wyoming 0 — but you wouldn't have known it looking at Max Hall's face. Sitting at an interview table outside the locker room in the moments after another Cougar blowout victory Saturday afternoon, it was clear the junior quarterback wasn't completely satisfied.

Sure, the No. 14 Cougars had just recorded their second consecutive shutout, improved to 4-0 overall, and rolled to their first Mountain West Conference win of the season. But Hall expects — or maybe demands—perfection.

"I was very frustrated with how we started the game today," he said. "I don't want that to happen again."

The Cougar offense sputtered in the first quarter, but it can thank its teammates on the other side of the ball for a big boost.

BYU's defense forced six Cowboy turnovers and scored a pair of touchdowns — including the first TD of the game in the opening minutes on a 64-yard fumble return by cornerback Scott Johnson. Prior to Johnson's score, however, Wyoming was marching into BYU territory with relative ease. Then the defense clamped down. In the third quarter, linebacker David Nixon returned an interception 19 yards for a touchdown.

"The defense was unbelievable," said wide receiver Austin Collie. "They are the reason why we're winning these football games. They keep on giving us chances to score. You can't ask for more as on offense."

"My hat's off to the defense, for shutting teams down. I'm excited and happy for them," said Cougar running back Fui Vakapuna. "When the defense executes like that, the offense takes it to another level."

In between those two defensive TDs, the offense found its rhythm, scoring touchdowns on four consecutive drives, and steamrolled Wyoming's defense.

"I was really impressed by the defensive performance and their ability to not only have great enthusiasm, but to have it result in turnovers," said Cougar coach Bronco Mendenhall. "Not only do we not risk giving up big play — which we have not given up the past couple of games — but now they're starting to take the ball away. That was probably the biggest improvement that I saw."

All that aside, the sluggish opening minutes bothered Hall. After one quarter of play, Wyoming had outgained BYU in total yardage, 87-40.