Flashback: Mad Max, Hall rebounds with Heisman worthy play

BYU QB Max Hall attempts a pass against UNLV in 2008 (BYU Photo).

Six weeks ago, Blue Cougar Football featured a mind blowing three game stretch for quarterback John Walsh from 25 years ago. That stretch began following a disappointing game against one of the top teams in the nation. Likewise, 10 years ago, Max Hall rebounded from a sub par outing against one of the nation's best teams with a three game stretch that was worthy of the Heisman consideration he was previously receiving.

After throwing seven touchdowns in game three of the 2008 season to beat UCLA 59-0, Hall landed on virtually every Heisman Trophy watch list across the country. He stayed there for the next four weeks as the Cougars continued to shred the opposition. Then came TCU. BYU was ambushed at Fort Worth, and Hall was dropped from the Heisman discussion.

That game didn't define Hall. He bounced right back with three games that validated all of the earlier Heisman talk.

Game 1 
The next game was against UNLV. The biggest change after the TCU loss was the Cougar defense. They had been exposed, and even the likes of UNLV were able to take advantage of the weaknesses of the BYU defense. That put pressure on Hall and Cougar offense to deliver.

Trailing  35-34 late in the fourth quarter, Hall guided BYU 74 yards and threw a six-yard touchdown pass to tight end Dennis Pitta with 1:46 to play. That was complimented with a pass to running back Harvey Unga for a two-point conversion.

BYU now held a 42-35 lead that would be the final score.

Great field position during the game kept Hall's passing yardage total a little low, but he was very accurate, and finished drives with touchdown passes. Hall finished the game completing 24 of 31 passes (77%) for 245 yards and four touchdowns with zero interceptions. His pass efficiency rating was a strong 186.4. Hall had a career long 31-yard run during the game.



Game 2 
Another shootout followed the UNLV game. This time in Fort Collins, Colorado.

Hall tossed a long ball down the sideline in the first quarter that was so perfectly placed Austin Collie was able to one hand catch it without breaking stride or making any extra effort for a 58-yard touchdown. Early in the fourth quarter, while getting hit, Hall perfectly dropped a pass to Pitta between two defenders for a 23-yard touchdown, and a 31-28 lead.

Colorado State took a 42-38 lead with 1:44 to play in the game. After the kickoff, Hall had to drive the Cougars 76 yards if they were going back to Provo with a win. The drive was all Hall. Six plays; six passes. He completed five of them. Each completion was at least 14 yards. Hall threw the game-winning 17-yard touchdown to Pitta with 22 seconds left.

Hall's stats from the 45-42 win were his best of the season, from an efficiency standpoint. He completed 80 percent of his passes (28 of 35) for 389 yards (second most of the season) and five touchdowns (second most of the season) with one interception. His pass efficiency rating was 214.8 (season high). Hall also had a 25-yard run during the game (second longest of his career).



Game 3 
Hall and the Cougars' next victim was San Diego State. With the BYU defense holding the Aztecs to 12 points, there would be no need for late game heroics. That didn't interfere with Hall turning in another masterful game.

Under Hall's guidance, BYU built a 20-0 halftime lead. A 56-yard pass to Michael Reed set up Hall's only touchdown pass of the first half. He put an exclamation mark on the day with a 61-yard touchdown pass to Collie in the fourth quarter to push the lead to 34-6.

Hall had his second consecutive game with a pass efficiency rating above 200 (205.1). He completed 25 of 30 passes (83%) for his most accurate day of the season. He had his fifth 300-yard passing game of the season (317), and his seventh game with at least three touchdown passes (3).

   

It was a phenomenal three games for Hall, and ranks among the best for all BYU quarterbacks.

2008	Comp.	Att.	%	Yards	TD	Int	Long	Pass Eff.
UNLV	24	31	77.4	245	4	0	30	186.4
Colorado St.	28	35	80.0	389	5	1	58	214.8
San Diego St.	25	30	83.3	317	3	0	61	205.1
Total	77	96	80.2	951	12	1	61	202.6

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