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| Morgan Unga breaks up a pass vs. San Jose State (Ravell Call, Deseret News) |
Fred Warner has been the heart and soul of the BYU Cougars defense this season. Going into the game Saturday, the senior outside linebacker led the team in tackles (67), tackles for loss (7.5), and was second with three pass breakups. In the first half of the San Jose State game, Warner hobbled off the field. He returned momentarily, but then sat out the rest of the game.
Warner had just one tackle when he left. Without Warner in the line up, the Cougar defense rallied around the inspired play of Sione Takitaki.
Takitaki came ready to play Saturday. Even before Warner went down, he was a difference maker. During the game's opening drive, Takitaki made two of his seven tackles for the game, including the third down stop that forced the Spartans to punt. During drive two, he registered a quarterback hurry to add to his team leading total. The second drive ended in a punt as well.
BYU forced two turnovers in the second quarter. Cornerback Michael Shelton is a junior, but hasn't seen much playing time on defense the last year and this year. Saturday, he made an interception for the defense's first turnover of the game. Shelton's big play would be followed the next series by Austin Lee recovering a fumble forced by Zayne Anderson. This is Lee's first year on the roster and he plays sparingly.
San Jose State didn't turn the ball over on its final series of the first half, but BYU did get two sacks. Morgan Unga made the first sack. Unga is a junior who had just six tackles in 2016. He came into the game with two tackles this season. At the end of the game, Unga was BYU's leading tackler with eight. He also had a pass break up in the end zone.
The second sack on the Spartans' final first half drive was made by Takitaki himself. It was a drive-killing, 10-yard loss.
In the third quarter, Takitaki made a tackle for loss. That made him the new team leader with eight on the season.
As San Jose State drove into BYU territory, freshman defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga made back to back big plays to end the drive. On 2nd and 10, he knocked down a pass at the line of scrimmage. He followed that with a sack that knocked the ball loose and forced a punt.
With less than two minutes to play in the third quarter, Anderson was involved in another turnover. The junior defensive back is a starter this season, but had just 14 tackles in his career coming into the season. When San Jose State muffed a punt, he was right there to recover. That turnover turned into seven points for BYU.
The final big defensive play was turned in by another unknown, inexperienced Cougar. San Jose State had trouble with the quarterback-running back exchange. When the ball fell to the turf, Langi Tuifua was there to recover. Tuifua is a true freshman who has played sparingly in six games this season.
Warner stayed in his pads all game. If he was needed, then the BYU coaches probably would have sent him back in. Thanks to the leadership of Takitaki that wasn't necessary.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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