A NEW QUARTER 'BECK'
With starting quarterback John Beck out for the game, another Beck stepped in for BYU. Jason Beck--no relation to starter John Beck--made his first career start. Today's game was the most action Jason has seen since stepping in for an injured Matt Berry in 2004, completing 23-of-46 passes for 232 yards in the Cougars 37-10 loss to the Cardinal. Beck threw for a game-high 305 yards and one touchdown. He completed 20-of-28 attempts in the Cougars' 38-0 victory.
FIRST CAREER STARTS
In addition to Jason Beck, and due to injuries and a suspension, BYU's offensive line had a new look against Utah State. Two sophomores, Travis Bright and David Oswald, made their first career starts. Jake Kuresa, who has started 37 of 38 career games, made his first start at center.
OPENING DRIVE SUCCESS
When Fui Vakapuna bulled his way into the end zone for a six yard touchdown in the first quarter, it marked the third consecutive game the Cougars opened with a touchdown drive.
VAKA 'PUNISHER'
Vakapuna's touchdown on the Cougars' first drive marked the fourth consecutive game he found his way into the end zone. On the opening drive, Vakapuna carried the ball four times for 44 yards, averaging 11.0 yards per carry. He finished the game with a team-best 73 yards on 13 carries and three touchdown.
FIRSTS
Jason Beck's first completion in two years was an 11-yard completion to Jonny Harline on BYU's first drive to convert a third down. Joe Semanoff made his first reception of the year in the first quarter. Bryan Kehl had a first-half sack, his first of the season and the first by a BYU linebacker. Beck had his first career touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give Harline his first touchdown reception of the season. Cornerback Justin Robinson recorded his first career interception and touchdown on a 64-yard return for a touchdown to give BYU a commanding 31-0 lead in the third quarter. The game was BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall's first shutout victory as a head coach.
HALFTIME LEAD
BYU's 24-0 halftime advantage was the Cougars' largest lead since BYU held a 31-0 advantage over Eastern Illinois Sept. 10, 2005. It was also the fourth straight game BYU has led at halftime.
PASSING DEFENSE
BYU held Utah State to just 122 yards passing, marking the fewest yards allowed by the BYU defense since giving up just 113 yards against Utah on Nov. 22, 2003.
PITCHING A SHUTOUT
BYU's shutout victory marks the first shutout for the Cougars since 1999. On Oct. 23, 1999, BYU beat UNLV 29-0. It was Utah State's third straight game without scoring a point.
FIRST-HALF SHUTOUT
The game marked the first time BYU shutout an opponent in the first half since holding Colorado State scoreless in the first half on Oct. 5, 2005.
STADIUM RECORD
Vakapuna's three first-half rushing touchdowns tied a LaVell Edwards Stadium record set in 2001 by Luke Staley against Colorado State. Staley went on to set the record for most rushing touchdowns in a game with five.
GOOD GRIEF, CURTIS BROWN
With his 59-yard rushing performance against Utah State, Curtis Brown stayed in sixth place on BYU's all-time rushing list. Brown has 2,467 career yards and needs just 504 yards to pass Jamal Willis as BYU's all-time top rusher.
QUARTER 'BECK' UPDATE
John Beck did not play against Utah State. Last week, Beck moved into fifth place on BYU's all-time passing list with 8,101 career yards, passing the likes of Steve Young (7,733) and Kevin Feterik (8,065). Having racked up 8,113 total yards over his career, Beck moved into fourth place on the Cougars' all-time total offense list, passing Kevin Feterik (7,731), John Walsh (7,736), and Robbie Bosco (8,073). With 52 touchdown completions, Beck now ranks 10th on BYU's all-time touchdown completions list. Saturday's performance marked his first 300-yard passing performance of the season and the 12th of his career.
DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWN
Justin Robinson's 64-yard interception for a touchdown was the Cougars first defensive touchdown since Cameron Jensen returned an interception for a touchdown in against UNLV in 2004.
LONG DRIVE
The Cougars put together their longest drive of the season against the Aggies, a seven-play, 99 yard drive that ended on an 18-yard Jason Beck to Jonny Harline touchdown connection. It marked the longest scoring drive since the Cougars scored on a 99-yard drive on August 29, 2002 against Syracuse.