Football is a team sport. The Brigham Young Cougars showed us that
last Saturday as multiple players stepped-up to edge Houston 47-46.
Below is an overhaul of the players and their significant contributions
to the win.
Spencer Hadley
What better way to establish a game and a dominant defense than by an interception on the first play of the game? Hadley did just that to set-up BYU’s first score early in the game. He finished with 8 tackles and one tackle for a loss.
Ross Apo
Living up to his hype, Apo had his best game in a long time with two touchdowns in the first quarter to help establish a productive offense. Those two touchdowns were double the number he had the entire 2012 season. He also drew a key pass interference penalty in BYU's 97-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Being heavily recruited out of high school, it was only fitting for the Texas native to have the kind of game he was always meant to have playing in the Lone Star state.
Jamaal Williams
Although he missed much of the second half due to a hip-pointer injury Williams still managed a productive game of 83 total yards and 1 touchdown. These stats are more impresive when taking into consideration that Houston had not allowed a single 100 yard rusher all season.
Daniel Sorensen
Sorensen reestablished BYU’s defense as he intercepted John O’Korn late in the second quarter. He ended the game with 2 pass break-ups and 6 total tackles.
Cody Hoffman
We all expect Hoffman to produce and he didn’t let us down. Not only did he accumulate 7 receptions for a total of 156 yards, but his 25-yard touchdown in the fourth-quarter reclaimed the lead; something BYU didn’t have since the beginning of the second quarter. Receptions made by Hoffman early, and late, helped free up other receivers to make key receptions as Houston focused more on number 2.
Justin Sorensen
Like Apo, Sorensen is living up to what he was recruited for. Remaining 100% on PAT’s Sorensen also went 2-2 on field goals against Houston including a season long at 41; enough to give him FBS Independent Special Teams Player of the Week honors. In a game where every point counted, Sorensen's performance was especially critical, especially juxtaposed with the struggles of the Houston placekicker (1-3 on field goals).
Skyler Ridley
Generally a quiet producer, Ridley was forefront in this win. Having a career game with 7 receptions for 90 yards would be enough to qualify him for the list. Having found themselves down by five with two minutes left in the game Hill connected with Ridley for 28 yards and then another 11 yard strike for the game
winning touchdown. A game Ridley will not soon forget.
Mike Hague
The sixth year senior has made limited contributions throughout his career. His 15-yard sack in the fourth quarter was, easily his biggest. The sack moved Houston back to the BYU 23-yard line. It turned a chip shot field goal into a 40-yard attempt that sailed wide, thus preserving a slim 41-40 lead.
Alani Fua
Being quiet for most of the game with 5 total tackles, Fua came through for BYU when he intercepted O’Korn on the first play of Houston’s final comeback attempt. Fua's second fourth quarter interception in as many games, ultimately sealed the victory for BYU.
Taysom Hill
Of course we can’t forget about the "Mormon Manziel" as the commentators were calling him. Hill had a career game with 417 passing yards, 128 rushing yards, and 4 touchdown passes. This earned him the FBS Independent Offensive Player of the Week award, and rightly so. He earned it in a tough, long game.
BYU tied an NCAA record--set by Houston last season, ironically--with 115 offensive plays.
"Yeah, I’m pretty tired," were four words Taysom used to describe the game. "As we went in at halftime I felt like I just finished a game."
Trust me Taysom, it felt like that for the fans too.
"Without Taysom we don’t win that game," remarked Bronco Mendenhall after the game. "He not only carried the team, but that and then some."
Despite his impressive workload at Houston--Hill set a school record for most plays in a single game (78: 44 pass, 34 rush). Saturday still exposed weaknesses in Hill’s game. Hill threw a career high three interceptions (one was returned for a touchdown) and a career high 8 sacks (one being a safety).
Much of this can be blamed on the offensive line, but it will take Hill some more experience to get a feel for better escapability and timing when it comes to throwing the ball away. Fortunately for Hill, Houston gave him plenty of lessons to be learned from with BYU still emerging as the victor.
Truth be told, all ten players mentioned here were critical when it came to winning this game. BYU played and won as a team.
Mendenhall said, "Without Taysom we don’t win this game." That should be translated to, "Without Skyler Ridley, Jamaal Williams, Ross Apo, Justin Sorensen, etc……we don’t win this game."
By Tanner Spear
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
Spencer Hadley
What better way to establish a game and a dominant defense than by an interception on the first play of the game? Hadley did just that to set-up BYU’s first score early in the game. He finished with 8 tackles and one tackle for a loss.
Ross Apo
Living up to his hype, Apo had his best game in a long time with two touchdowns in the first quarter to help establish a productive offense. Those two touchdowns were double the number he had the entire 2012 season. He also drew a key pass interference penalty in BYU's 97-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter. Being heavily recruited out of high school, it was only fitting for the Texas native to have the kind of game he was always meant to have playing in the Lone Star state.
Jamaal Williams
Although he missed much of the second half due to a hip-pointer injury Williams still managed a productive game of 83 total yards and 1 touchdown. These stats are more impresive when taking into consideration that Houston had not allowed a single 100 yard rusher all season.
Daniel Sorensen
Sorensen reestablished BYU’s defense as he intercepted John O’Korn late in the second quarter. He ended the game with 2 pass break-ups and 6 total tackles.
Cody Hoffman
We all expect Hoffman to produce and he didn’t let us down. Not only did he accumulate 7 receptions for a total of 156 yards, but his 25-yard touchdown in the fourth-quarter reclaimed the lead; something BYU didn’t have since the beginning of the second quarter. Receptions made by Hoffman early, and late, helped free up other receivers to make key receptions as Houston focused more on number 2.
Justin Sorensen
Like Apo, Sorensen is living up to what he was recruited for. Remaining 100% on PAT’s Sorensen also went 2-2 on field goals against Houston including a season long at 41; enough to give him FBS Independent Special Teams Player of the Week honors. In a game where every point counted, Sorensen's performance was especially critical, especially juxtaposed with the struggles of the Houston placekicker (1-3 on field goals).
Skyler Ridley
Generally a quiet producer, Ridley was forefront in this win. Having a career game with 7 receptions for 90 yards would be enough to qualify him for the list. Having found themselves down by five with two minutes left in the game Hill connected with Ridley for 28 yards and then another 11 yard strike for the game
winning touchdown. A game Ridley will not soon forget.
Mike Hague
The sixth year senior has made limited contributions throughout his career. His 15-yard sack in the fourth quarter was, easily his biggest. The sack moved Houston back to the BYU 23-yard line. It turned a chip shot field goal into a 40-yard attempt that sailed wide, thus preserving a slim 41-40 lead.
Alani Fua
Being quiet for most of the game with 5 total tackles, Fua came through for BYU when he intercepted O’Korn on the first play of Houston’s final comeback attempt. Fua's second fourth quarter interception in as many games, ultimately sealed the victory for BYU.
Taysom Hill
Of course we can’t forget about the "Mormon Manziel" as the commentators were calling him. Hill had a career game with 417 passing yards, 128 rushing yards, and 4 touchdown passes. This earned him the FBS Independent Offensive Player of the Week award, and rightly so. He earned it in a tough, long game.
BYU tied an NCAA record--set by Houston last season, ironically--with 115 offensive plays.
"Yeah, I’m pretty tired," were four words Taysom used to describe the game. "As we went in at halftime I felt like I just finished a game."
Trust me Taysom, it felt like that for the fans too.
"Without Taysom we don’t win that game," remarked Bronco Mendenhall after the game. "He not only carried the team, but that and then some."
Despite his impressive workload at Houston--Hill set a school record for most plays in a single game (78: 44 pass, 34 rush). Saturday still exposed weaknesses in Hill’s game. Hill threw a career high three interceptions (one was returned for a touchdown) and a career high 8 sacks (one being a safety).
Much of this can be blamed on the offensive line, but it will take Hill some more experience to get a feel for better escapability and timing when it comes to throwing the ball away. Fortunately for Hill, Houston gave him plenty of lessons to be learned from with BYU still emerging as the victor.
Truth be told, all ten players mentioned here were critical when it came to winning this game. BYU played and won as a team.
Mendenhall said, "Without Taysom we don’t win this game." That should be translated to, "Without Skyler Ridley, Jamaal Williams, Ross Apo, Justin Sorensen, etc……we don’t win this game."
By Tanner Spear
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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