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| BYU defensive lineman Merrill Taliauli returns a 2nd quarter fumble (BYU Photo). |
The 2017 season is going to be remembered for a lot of bad reasons, but this BYU Cougars squad can, at least, say they went out as winners. BYU (4-9) dominated the Hawai'i Warriors (3-9) from the very beginning. Hopefully, the 30-20 victory is the beginning of the rebound.
BYU received the opening kickoff and completely manhandled the Hawai'i defensive front. Squally Canada ripped off 22 yards on the first play of the game. He ran for six more on the next play. Austin Kafentzis took a turn the next two downs and moved the ball 17 yards closer to the end zone. Play five, Canada busted loose for 40 yards and scored to take a quick 7-0 lead.
The BYU defense matched the offense by not giving up a first down, and forced Hawai'i to punt after three plays.
The Warriors defense made some good adjustments, and forced BYU to punt after just three plays on its next possession.
Following the punt, Hawai'i started moving the ball with back-to-back pass completions for first downs. The second one was a 44-yard bomb to BYU-transfer Dylan Collie. The Cougar defense quickly stiffened. Facing 4th and 3 at the BYU 27-yard line, Hawai'i decided to go for the first down. The Cougar defense made a big stop and got the ball back.
BYU missed an opportunity for a big play when quarterback Joe Critchlow stumbled as he dropped back to pass and couldn't get off a good throw to an open Jonah Trinnamann downfield. BYU did, however, move the ball 23 yards on the next four plays. As Critchlow was trying to throw on 3rd and 7, he got hit. The ball popped out and went right to a Hawai'i defender who had a clear path to the end zone.
With 4:40 left in the first quarter, the game was tied, 7-7.
BYU came right back. Using a mix of Canada and Kafentzis, with an occasional throw mixed in, the Cougars moved to the Hawai'i 30-yard line. The drive stalled there, and BYU had a decision to make on 4th and 12. Head coach Kalani Sitaki decided it was too long for a field goal, so the offense stayed on the field. Critchlow hit Trinnaman for 19-yards to keep the drive alive. Canada's hard running earned him his second touchdown of the day two plays later.
The extra point was no good making the score 13-7. The scoring drive was 16 plays, it covered 80 yards, and it took 8:05 off the clock.
After the kickoff, there was 11:25 left in the second quarter. The BYU defense came back on the field for the first time since 7:34 remained in the first quarter.
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| Courtesy BYU Photo |
Hawai'i was able to overcome a five-yard tackle for loss courtesy Sione Takitaki, but it took a 4th down conversion to do it. When Khyiris Tonga batted a pass at the line of scrimmage three plays later to set up 4th and 5, Hawai'i thought it would be better to punt this time.
BYU had to punt, as well, after Critchlow missed a wide open Kafentzis deep downfield on 3rd and 3.
The Cougar defense was able to get a turnover four plays later, which gave BYU one last chance before halftime to add to the lead.
Starting at the Hawai'i 42-yard line, Critchlow hit Micah Simon for 11 yards. A 15-yard pass to Matt Bushman helped recover from a nine-yard sack, but it took a seven-yard grab by Talon Shumway on 4th and 4 to keep the drive going. A completion to Trinnaman on 3rd and 9 was just short of the first down, so BYU sent in the kicking team.
The kick missed, so the score remained 13-7 at the half.
Canada had 17 carries for 113 yards and two touchdowns. It appeared he was headed for his second 200-yard game of the season. However, an undisclosed injury kept him out of the second half.
As the second half started, so did the rain. It would continue for the rest of the game.
Hawai'i couldn't do much on its first possession of the second half and punted to BYU. The Cougars placed the burden of carrying the ball on Kafentzis. His 41 yards on four carries helped move the ball to the Hawai'i 30-yard line.
A false start penalty on 3rd and 4 ended up killing the BYU drive. On 4th and 9, Critchlow found Shumway for just eight yards.
Hawai'i couldn't overcome a penalty of its own on the ensuing drive. Chris Wilcox was ruled to have made an interception on 3rd and 20, but replay review overturned the call.
BYU continued to pound the ball with Kafentzis, but a 37-yard pass to Bushman was the highlight of the drive. It ended with an 11-yard touchdown catch by Neil Pau'u. That gave BYU a 20-7 lead with 1:39 left in the third quarter.
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| Credit: Eugene Tanner, AP |
Hawai'i couldn't move the ball and punted on the final play of the quarter. BYU fumbled on the return, and Hawai'i was set up at the BYU 19-yard line.
The Warriors got to the six-yard line in just two plays. The pride of the Cougar defense wouldn't give up an easy touchdown. Hawai'i went backwards 10 yards the next two plays. A sack by Takitaki and Tonga did most of the damage, but on 3rd and Goal from the 16 Hawai'i scored.
BYU blocked the extra point to make it 20-13 with 12:23 to play.
BYU responded with a field goal to make it a 10-point game with 5:21 to play. Kafentzis was nearing the 100 yard mark, too, but BYU had started using Riley Burt to switch reps. Burt had 23 yards rushing on the drive. Kafentzis wouldn't carry the ball again, and he finished the game with 98 yards on 18 carries.
Time was of the essence now. Hawai'i was playing with a sense of urgency. The Warriors had 4th and 3 and needed to go for it. The Cougar defense rose to the occasion and stopped Hawai'i for a loss of one.
Burt then put the hurt on Hawai'i. He broke off a 21-yard run. The Warriors had to grab him by his facemask to stop him. That moved the ball to the 10-yard line. He ran the ball in for a touchdown to put the game out of reach two plays later.
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| Credit: Eugene Tanner, AP |
Hawai'i wasn't going to just give up. The Warriors quickly scored a touchdown to close the gap to 30-20 with 1:48 to play.
A terribly executed onsides kick made for an easy recovery for BYU. The Cougars then ran out the clock.
Burt would finish with 13 carries for 75 yards.
For the first time this season, BYU dominated time of possession holding the ball for 36:30. The Cougars converted 50 percent of third downs (9 of 18) and three of four fourth downs.
Hawai'i had just 28 yards rushing.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Squally Canada 40-yard touchdown run.
PLAYERS OF THE GAME: Anchored by senior captain Tejan Koroma, the entire offensive line.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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