PROVO -- With No. 16 BYU’s 41-17 win over Northern Iowa on Saturday, the Cougars’ extended their nation’s longest, active win streak to 11 straight games, dating back to a 31-6 win over Air Force on Sept. 22, 2007. With Saturday’s victory over the Panthers, BYU has won 22 of its last 24 games, dating back to the 2006 season.
Edward Stadium Win Streak Now Spans Three Seasons
With No. 16 BYU’s 42-17 win over Northern Iowa on Saturday, Aug. 30, the Cougars have not lost in Edwards Stadium since November 19, 2005. BYU has won 13 straight home games, dating back to September 9, 2006
Another Sellout
Today’s attendance of 64,108 marks the seventh straight sellout at Edwards Stadium. The current streak marks the longest streak of consecutive sellouts since the 1991-1992 seasons.
Pitta Power
Junior tight end Dennis Pitta racked up 213 yards receiving on the afternoon with 11 catches. Pitta’s performance equaled the 10th highest performance in BYU history, tying Eric Drage’s mark set against Air Force back in 1993. Pitta, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound native of Moorpark, Calif., is 2008 Mackey Award and All-America candidate.
Reynolds’ Streak Extends to 39 Straight Starts
Senior offensive lineman, Dallas Reynolds, made his 39th straight career start on Saturday. During that streak, Reynolds has started at every position on the offensive line, including tackle, guard and center. Reynolds’ younger brother Matt started at left tackle on Saturday against Northern Iowa. His father, Lance, is the associate head coach for the Cougars.
No Place Like Home to Start the Season
Dating back to the Cougars’ first season in 1922, BYU has posted a record of 31-11-1 when opening the season in Provo -- that’s a winning percentage of 73.8 percent! Interestingly, BYU’s longest home-opening win streak is 10 seasons, dating from 1930 through 1939. Overall BYU has won six of their last seven home-openers.
Season Openers
The Cougars opened with a win for only the second consecutive season as BYU defeated Northern Iowa 41-17 at home in LaVell Edwards Stadium. In 2007, BYU edged Arizona, 20-7. Since 1922, the Cougars have posted a 48-35-2 record in season-opening games.
Home Win Streak Continues
The Cougars’ 41-17 victory over Northern Iowa extended BYU’s home win streak to 13 games. The last time the Cougars won 13 consecutive home games was 16 seasons ago when the team won 17 in a row from Oct. 7, 1989 to Nov. 23, 1991.
Cougars Continue to Win
With a 41-17 victory over Northern Iowa in their season opener, the Cougars have won 22 of their last 24 games, dating back to the 2006 season. BYU is currently on a eleven-game win streak that includes a win over UCLA in the Las Vegas Bowl, a 25-point win on the road at Wyoming, a win over TCU, a 19-pont victory over CSU, a 35-point victory over Eastern Washington, a 25-point win over Air Force, and road wins over New Mexico, UNLV and San Diego State. BYU holds the nation’s longest active win streak. Over the past 27 games, the Cougars have posted a record of 23-4.
Homeland Security
The Cougars’ victory over Northern Iowa ran BYU’s consecutive home winning streak to 13 games, dating back to the 2006 season. Over that span, the Cougars have beaten their opponents by an average of 26.1 points per game and have allowed just 11.6 points per game. The Cougars have allowed seven points or less in six of the last 13 home games. In six home games in 2007, the Cougars outscored opponents by an average 17.3 points per game and allowed an average of just 11.3 points per game. BYU’s current win streak is the longest since posting a 17-game home win streak from Oct. 7, 1989 to Nov. 23, 1991.
Don’t Look Back
In the Bronco Mendenhall era, BYU is 28-4 when leading at halftime and 27-1 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter.
First-Half Dominance
The Cougars held a 27-3 lead at halftime against Northern Iowa, marking the 13th time in the past 14 games BYU has held the lead at intermission. The Cougars have held their opponent to seven or fewer points in the opening half eight times in 14 games. BYU has led at halftime in 26 of the last 27 games. During those 26 games, the team is 23-3.
Flag Bearer
BYU has a tradition of selecting a player before each game to run the team flag onto the field. In 2008, the team implemented a new tradition—an alumni flag. The team selects a former Cougar to carry out the alumni flag, along with the chosen current player who runs out with the current team flag. Both flags are white with a blue “Y” logo. The team flag has been signed by each member of the team, while the alumni flag has been signed by former BYU players. Their signatures reflect their commitment to uphold the tradition, spirit and honor of the BYU football program and to be a flag bearer of the University. Hall of Fame coach LaVell Edwards was voted by the current team to carry the alumni flag, while David Tafuna was elected by teammates to carry the team flag.
He Who Scores First
Senior Michael Reed’s 27-yard touchdown reception gave BYU an early 7-0 lead. The play marked the 23rd time in the last 26 games BYU has scored first. BYU is 21-2 in those 23 games.
All in the Family
Senior wide receiver Reed White recorded his first reception as a Cougar against Northern Iowa. White brought down a 30-yard pass from his cousin, junior quarterback Max Hall. White’s father, Danny, is Hall’s uncle on his mother’s side of the family.