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| Photo: Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo |
The game has been played, and there are now answers to our pre-game questions.
1. What will BYU do at quarterback? Tanner Mangum stepped up as a leader and started the game. There is no way he was 100%, but he played until there was no chance to make a comeback. Joe Critchlow came in with 2:17 to play in the game and with BYU trailing 24-7. It saved Mangum a little bit of wear and tear on that bad ankle.
2. Will BYU's pass defense continue to improve? There were some positives. Boise State didn't put up killer stats through the air, and Grant Jones had a nice interception on the first series of the game. However, that doesn't tell the whole story. BYU did not have a single sack. When it was a 10-7 game and time running out in the half, Boise State completed a 22-yard pass on the first play of the drive, and completed a 24-yard touchdown pass with 36 seconds left in the half. The second half might have been different if it was still 10-7 going into the locker room.
3. Will BYU have a pick six? The streak of games with an interception returned for a touchdown ended. BYU did intercept a pass, which led to the only touchdown of the game for BYU.
4. Is this deja-vu? It wasn't deja-vu. The first half did feel a lot like the 2015 game. BYU jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, but then showed very little life offensively while Boise State gradually built a 17-7 lead. There would be no 4th quarter comeback in this one. Boise State, actually, extended its lead in the fourth quarter of this one.
5. Can BYU pull off the upset? There was a real feeling that BYU could do it after the Cougar defense forced a punt on Boise State's second possession without allowing a first down. That gave BYU the ball back with a chance to increase it's 7-0 lead. It would all unravel in the second quarter, and the Cougars couldn't do anything in the second half to rally.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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