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BYU football: Defense is quicker, Mendenhall says

D-News you're a BYU homer. I still love you!

First, about the last 2 years of BYU/Utah games: BYU made plays at the end of the game to win. Period. Sorry, it wasn't the refs, BYU didn't get lucky, BYU won by making plays. So the last 2 years, BYU has had the better team, better bowl, better record, won the rivalry game. Yes, the the Utes broke into the BCS first, congrats to them for that(thanks Urban). This year, nothing is guarunteed. Yes BYU is going to be good. No doubt about that. They will have a great offense, and a good defense. After all, it IS a Bronco Mendenhall defense. So they will be fine. But they could still lose 2-3 games. It doesn't matter what they are ranked at the beginning of the season (see Michigan last year). Utah will be good too. The rivalry game is at RES, so Utah could win. They always come to play against the Cougers. I am looking foward to a great year from both teams, and as ALWAYS, a great rivalry game.

I am not sure what game some of the Ute Fans saw last year, but BYU was the one who dominated the game. Utah got the momentum in the 2nd half and granted played well, but look at these stats! Utah Stats are listed first.

Team Stat Comparison

1st Downs 14 21
3rd down efficiency 7-18 5-17
4th down efficiency 0-0 2-3
Total Yards 244 424
Passing 129 269
Comp-Att 17-29 17-41
Yards per pass 4.4 6.6
Rushing 115 155
Rushing Attempts 39 33
Yards per rush 2.9 4.7
Penalties 10-94 5-48
Turnovers 2 2
Fumbles lost 0 1
Interceptions thrown 2 1
Possession 31:17 28:43

About the only meaningful stat where Utah had a nice edge was in time of possesion. BYU was on top everywhere else. Yes BYU won on basically a late blown assignment play, but BYU should have won the game easily if you want to go by who dominated the game.