LAS -- With a 24-14 victory over UNLV, the Cougars improved to 4-2 on the season and 3-0 in league play. With an unblemished league record, the Cougars remain the only undefeated team (vs. league opponents) in the Mountain West Conference. The win also marked the Cougars' league-leading 41st Mountain West Conference victory, dating back to the league's first season in 1999. BYU has won 11 straight league games, including an 8-0 league record last season and a 3-0 mark this year.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Cougars' victory at UNLV marked the second road win of the season and extend the Cougars' conference road win streak to nine straight MWC road victories. The current streak started with a 27-24 win at New Mexico during the 2005 season.
RUSHING RECORD
The Cougars were credited with a season-high 227 yards rushing in the 24-14 victory at UNLV. The victory improved the Cougars' record to 94-18 when rushing for 100 or more yards since the 1991 season. During the Bronco Mendenhall era, BYU is 18-3 when rushing for 100 or more yards.
FIRST BLOOD
Sergio Aguayo's 37-yard field goal with 7:44 left in the first quarter marked only the second time this season BYU has allowed its opponent to score first in the game. It is the first time the Cougars have not scored first since giving up a 37-yard field goal (ironically) at UCLA with 3:39 left in the first quarter. BYU has scored first in 16 of the last 18 games. BYU is 14-2 in those 16 games.
FIRST-QUARTER SHUTOUT
Despite out-gaining UNLV in total yards, 80 to 48, the Cougars failed to score in the first quarter, marking only the second time this season BYU has failed to score in the opening quarter.
CAREER BEST
Bryce Mahuika's 34-yard return with 7:34 left in the first quarter marked a career-long kick return for the junior receiver from Vancouver, Wash. His previous long was 21 yards during the 2004 season.
CAREER FIRST
Vic So'oto hauled in a four-yard touchdown reception with 9:49 left in the third quarter to give the Cougars a 14-6 lead. The play marked So'oto's first-career touchdown reception.
TOUCHDOWN LEADER
Junior Manase Tonga scored his team-leading sixth touchdown of the season with 6:30 left in the second quarter to give BYU a 7-3 lead. Tonga's run capped a 12-play, 93-yard drive that cleared 6:10 from the playclock. The touchdown was set up by a Harvey Unga 32-yard run to give the Cougars a first-and-10 at the UNLV three-yardline.
IRONMAN UNGA
Freshman running back Harvey Unga carried the ball a career-high 25 times for a career-best 177 yards in the Cougars' 24-14 victory over UNLV. After gaining 59 yards in the first half, Unga took over in the second half with 18 carries for 118 yards. During the Cougars' first drive of the second half, Unga carried the ball seven times for 49 yards, leading BYU on a 10-play, 66-yard scoring drive to take a 14-6 lead. With 3:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, Unga put the proverbial nail in the coffin with a 5-yard touchdown run to give the Cougars a 24-6 lead.
HALFTIME LEAD
The Cougars held a 7-6 lead at halftime marking the fifth time in six games this season BYU has held a lead at intermission. The one-point lead marked the smallest halftime lead of the season. The Cougars have led at halftime in 18 of the last 19 games. During those 18 games, the Cougars are 15-3.
CLOCK HOGS
Entering Saturday's game ranked third in the nation in time of possession, averaging 33:49 minutes per game. The Cougars continued to dominate the clock, owning the ball for 37:24, while allowing UNLV just 22:36. During the third quarter, the Cougars chipped away 12:02 of the 15-minute quarter.
INTERCEPTION NOTES
Linebacker Bryan Kehl picked off UNLV's Travis Dixon with 1:01 left in the second quarter to mark his second interception in as many games. Kehl had his first-career interception against New Mexico, returning it 36 yards for a touchdown.
LONG-DISTANCE DRIVES
The Cougars' 12-play, 93-yard scoring drive in the second quarter that took 6:10 marked the longest scoring drive of the season--in terms of yardage and time of possession. The 12 plays equaled a season-long that was previously set on a 12-play scoring drive against Air Force. With 1:31 left in the third quarter, Mitch Payne connected on a 27-yard field goal to cap a 14-play scoring drive, marking the longest scoring drive of the season. In the fourth quarter, BYU turned in a season-long 15-play drive that covered 81 yards and ended with a Harvey Unga touchdown to give the Cougars a 24-6 lead.
TURNOVER TROUBLES
The Cougars were plagued with turnovers early in the game. BYU had a career-high three turnovers in the first half. Matt Allen fumbled to end the Cougars' first drive and Max Hall threw an interception with 2:05 left in the opening quarter to end a 12 play, 56-yard drive that consumed 5:29 and took the Cougars to the UNLV 7-yardline. Hall was credited with his second pick of the half when Beau Bell picked off a deflected pass with just over 30 seconds left in the second quarter. Bell picked off Hall again with 14:52 left in the fourth quarter to mark Hall's career-high third pick of the night.
RUSHING DEFENSE
UNLV entered Saturday's game averaging 158.2 rushing yards per game. The BYU defense held the Rebels to a season-low 96 yards. The Cougars ended Frank Summers' streak of three straight 100-yard rushing games, holding the Rebels' leading rusher to just 50 yards on 13 carries. All totaled, the BYU held the Rebels to a season-low 217 yards of total offense.
FLAG BEARER
Andre Saulsberry, a senior defensive back from Long Beach, Calif., was elected by teammates to carry the Y Flag prior to tonight's game at UNLV.BYU has a tradition of selecting a player before each game to run the team flag onto the field. The white flag with a blue "Y" logo has been signed by each member of the team. Their signature reflects their commitment to uphold the tradition, spirit and honor of the BYU football program, and to be a flag bearer of the University. The flag bearer is elected each week by his teammates.
COUGARS AND THE REBELS
Saturday's victory over UNLV marked the Cougars' third straight over the Rebels and improved BYU's record to 7-0 against UNLV in Las Vegas. BYU is 9-2 all-time at Sam Boyd Stadium, including bowl games and conference championships.