BYU football: Cougars' defense rises up

LAS VEGAS — Every coach and player involved in BYU's convincing win over Oregon State in the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas on Tuesday at Sam Boyd Stadium pointed to one play that turned the game around.

Even after the Cougars marched 85 yards into the wicked wind to tie the game 7-7, the game really turned BYU's way for good when Beaver back Jacquizz Rodgers dropped a lateral, and Cougar linebacker Matt Bauman picked up the loose ball and rambled 34 yards to put BYU ahead for good.

"That was a huge play in this game," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said.

Actually, Jordan Pendleton's hit on Rodgers had just as much to do with the score, because that's what kept Rodgers from just picking up the ball himself.

"My hat's off to him. He didn't just jump on the ball, he tackled Rodgers, and by doing that he opened it up and I was able to scoop and score," Bauman said.

But that defensive gem by the Cougars was just one of many, regardless of the Beavers two scores late in the fourth quarter. The Cougars forced Oregon State into three turnovers, and BYU scored on all three of the extra opportunities. Scott Johnson's interception in the fourth quarter near BYU's goal line and his 56-yard return pretty much closed the door on Oregon State.

"The turnovers we created were just that, turnovers that we did create," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said.

The Cougars also stopped the Beavers on 11 of 16 third-down conversions and spoiled 4-of-6 fourth-down attempts. Oregon State did not score a point in the second and third quarters, in large part to BYU filling every gap, rushing to team tackle and getting hands on passes.

"We played fast. We played very fast, and when you know where they're going you have a pretty good chance," Cougar defensive coordinator Jaimie Hill said.

What Hill was alluding to was BYU's preparation and game plan to stop the Beavers' two main offensive threats —- brothers Jacquizz Rodgers and James Rodgers. Combined, the two averaged around three yards per play whenever they touched the ball.

"It took all 11 players doing what they were supposed to be doing to contain those two, and we didn't think they could score enough points if we did contain those two, and that's exactly how it worked out," Mendenhall said.

The Beavers, however, weren't giving BYU all the credit, but placed a lot of their lack of offensive production on themselves.

"We were the victim of not getting going with any rhythm. We just couldn't get anything going," Riley said.

But the Cougars feel they had a lot to do with that.

"We knew what they were going to run and we knew where they were going to be, and it showed," Bauman said.

e-mail: jimr@desnews.com