BYU Football 2017 Season Review, Part 4: Milestones, Highlights, Records

Parts 1-3 of the 2017 Season Review can be found on the Scores & Analysis page.

Just because the BYU Cougars had a very disappointing season, that doesn't mean the positives should be completely ignored. Below is a list of milestones, highlights, and other accomplishments or events that deserve to be remembered. When it is known, it has been noted in parenthesis when the last time such a milestone happened. If it has never happened before, "school record" or "first" is noted in parenthesis.

RECORD:  4-9 (2-4 Home, 2-4 Away, 0-1 Neutral)
First losing season since 2004
Longest win streak: 1
Longest losing streak: 7 (1968)
*4 Opponents are ranked in the current AP Top 25
*3 Opponents are ranked in the current Coaches Poll

Milestones/Highlights 

• 12th in the nation in punt return defense (3.56 yards per return)*
• Squally Canada had the 10th best single game rushing total in school history (213)
• Aleva Hifo had first career 100-yard receiving game (ECU, 148)
• Two running backs in two different games rushed for over 100 yards in the first half (KJ Hall, 112 yards vs. SJSU; Squally Canada, 113 yards vs. Hawai'i)
• Ula Tolutau had his first career 100-yard rushing game (Utah State, 102)
• Sione Takitaki reached 100 career tackles (119)
• Fred Warner reached 250 career tackles (264)
• Butch Pau'u reached 100 career tackles (165)
• Dayan Ghanwoloku reached 100 career tackles (106) and 200 career interception return yards (218)
• Squally Canada reached 1,000 yards rushing for his career (1,026)
• Tanner Mangum reached 5,000 yards passing for his career (5,158)
• KJ Hall had the longest run (75 yards) for BYU since 2006 (87 yards, Mike Hague)
• Held three opponents to less than 100 yards rushing (Portland State, UMass, Hawai'i)
• Three quarterbacks started at least two games (2012)
• A true freshman quarterback won two starts for the fourth time this decade (2010, 2012, 2015)
• Won season opener for the fourth year in a row (6, 2007-12)
• Matt Bushman finished with the third most receptions by a freshman (49) and fifth most receiving yards (520) for a freshman in school history. (53, 771)
• Dayan Ghanwoloku had a 67-yard interception return at Mississippi State (2002)
• Forced 5 turnovers against San Jose State (2016)

* Subject to change after conference championship and bowl games

New School Records 

• Most interception return yards in a game: 105, Dayan Ghanwoloku vs. Mississippi State (97)

The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com