BYU football: Y. almost perfect in Las Vegas

PROVO — There were plenty of impressive offensive statistics accumulated by BYU during the Cougars' 59-21 thumping of UNLV Saturday night at Sam Boyd Stadium — 291 rushing yards, six rushing touchdowns, 320 yards passing and a pair of touchdown passes.

But the number that the Cougars (5-1, 2-0) seemed to be most pleased with was zero -- as in zero turnovers.

"It was one of our best all-around games because we didn't have any turnovers," said quarterback Max Hall.

"It was one of those things where we've strived and talked and talked about it, knowing that one of our weaknesses has been turnovers," said running back Harvey Unga, who rushed for 149 yards and three TDs. "To come out here and not turn over the ball, to move the ball efficiently, it's a great feeling. It's one of those things that you couldn't ask for anything more."

The Cougars, who remained No. 18 in the Associated Press poll and moved up one spot to No. 19 in the coaches' poll, return to the road Saturday when they visit San Diego State (2-3, 0-1). The Aztecs had a bye last weekend.

BYU's offense rolled in Las Vegas, albeit against a porous Rebel defense. Still, it was a performance the Cougars are hoping to replicate throughout the rest of the season.

"We executed very well, we ran the ball well and we threw it well," Hall said. "It's fun to play football when you play like that, you execute right and your guys are playing very physical. As long as I can get us in the right play, execute and not do anything that's going to hurt us, we're tough to stop."

"(Eliminating turnovers) has been an emphasis since week one, but we've still struggled with it," said tight end Andrew George, who caught three passes for 61 yards. "This week, we managed not to turn it over at all, which has been our goal."

Wide receiver O'Neill Chambers, who nearly scored a touchdown on a 97-yard kickoff return, said he liked the way his team played on both sides of the ball.

"I would say it's our best performance. But we do good all the time. We just had minor mistakes other games, little tweaks. We didn't have those tweaks (Saturday). Our defense came up with some interceptions and turned the game around for us."

Aside from a giving up a 75-yard touchdown pass and a 94-yard kickoff return for a TD, BYU played its most complete game of the season.