Post-game Notes: BYU vs. Washington

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WIN STREAK IN TACT

BYU’s 28-27 victory over Washing on Saturday extended the Cougars’ nation’s best win streak to 12 straight games. The Cougars have put together their longest win streak since winning 12 straight games during the 2001 season.

COUGARS CONTINUE TO WIN

BYU has won 24 of its last 28 games, dating back to the 2006 season. During that season, the Cougars finished 11-2, followed by another 11-2 season in 2007, and they are off to a 2-0 start this season. BYU’s 2-0 record this season marks its best start since the 2002 season. In 2002, the Cougars beat Syracuse, 42-21, and Hawaii, 35-32, to get off to a 2-0 start.

CELEBRATING IN SEATTLE

Saturday’s victory over Washington marked the first-ever win against the Huskies in Seattle. Previously, the Cougars had posted a 0-3 record, including a 20-10 loss the last time the two teams met in Seattle during the 1998 season.

vs. THE PAC-10

Saturday’s victory over Washington marked the second straight win over a Pac-10 opponent, dating back to a 17-16 win over UCLA in the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl. BYU has won of its last five games against teams from the Pac-10. The Cougars will play host to UCLA next Saturday, marking the third time the two teams have played in 370 days.

NON-CONFERENCE ROAD DROUGHT OVER

Saturday’s victory over Washington marked the first non-conference road victory for the Cougars since beating Utah State, 35-34, in Logan on October 4, 2002. The win over UW ends a streak of nine straight loses that spanned nearly six years.

FLAG BEARER

Senior offensive lineman and All-America candidate Dallas Reynolds was elected by teammates to carry the team flag on to the field prior to today’s game at Washington. As part of the tradition, players elect a teammate who best represents the values and mission of BYU football. Each member of the team has signed the team flag as their commitment to uphold the tradition, spirit ad honor of the BYU Football program and to be a flag bearer of the University.

COIN TOSS

For the second week in a row, BYU won the opening coin toss. Unlike last week against Northern Iowa, however, the Cougars elected to receive the opening kickoff. The Cougars are 2-0 when winning the opening coin toss.

THE EARLY BIRD AND THE WORM

For the second week in a row, BYU scored the opening points of the game. The Cougars are 2-0 when scoring first.

HALL OF MAX

After going 34-of-41 for 486 yards and two touchdowns last week against Northern Iowa, Heisman Trophy candidate Max Hall turned in another standout performance in the Cougars’ 28-27 victory over Washington. Hall completed 30-of-41 attempts for 338 yards and three touchdowns, including a 15-yard game-winning pass to Dennis Pitta with 3:31 left in the game. On the season, Hall is averaging 401 yards passing per game and is completing 78 percent of his attempts. During the opening drive of the game, Hall led the Cougars on a 9-play drive, for 76 yards. During the drive he was 6-for-6 for 80 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown pass to Austin Collie for the early 7-0 lead.

THIRD-DOWN EFFICIENCY

BYU’s ability to convert on third down during the game played a key role in the 28-27 victory. The Cougars were 12-of-14 on third-down conversions, including 4-of-4 in the second half of the game.

REYNOLDS MAKES 40th CONSECUTIVE CAREER START

Senior offensive lineman Dallas Reynolds made is 40th straight career start for the Cougars.

UNGA PASSES CENTURY MARK

With 14:21 left in the fourth quarter, sophomore Harvey Unga turned in a 15-yard run to move him past the 100-yard mark for the game. Unga had a BYU record seven, 100-yard games as a freshman last season. Unga finished the game with 23 carries for a game-high 136 yards rushing. Unga also had five completions for 39 yards and one touchdown against the Huskies.

MOST PLAYS IN A SCORING DRIVE

BYU evened the score at 14-14 with 4:18 remaining in the first half on a 14-play, 71-yard drive. The drive marked the most plays in a scoring drive this season. The previous season-high was a nine-play scoring drive on the opening series of the game.

LOSING THE LEAD

After the Cougars scored on the opening drive of the game, the Huskies came back to score 14 straight points, marking the first time BYU has given up a lead since UCLA took a 3-0 advantage in the first quarter of the Las Vegas Bowl. (BYU won the game 17-16.)

BALL HOGS

The Cougars used 6:11 minutes off the clock during their second-quarter scoring drive, marking the longest scoring drive of the season (in terms of time off the clock.) On the day, On the day, BYU had x scoring drives over five minutes. Last week, vs. Northern Iowa, the Cougars didn’t have a single scoring drive that lasted over 2:50.

RECORD AT HALFTIME

BYU evened the score at 14-14 against the Huskies with 4:18 to go in the second quarter, preventing the Cougars’ first half-time scoring deficit since trailing UCLA 20-3 at halftime last season. BYU has not trailed at the half in 13 straight games, dating back to September 8, 2007 (at UCLA.)

INTERCEPTED

BYU quarterback Max Hall totaled 68 pass attempts to start the season before being credited with his first interception of the season. During his interception-less streak, Hall completed 52-of-68 (.765) attempts for a total of 653 yards and four touchdowns.

TOUCHDOWN, VAKAPUNA

Senior fullback Fui Vakapuna scored his first touchdown of the season with 4:17 left in the third quarter to equal the score at 21. His first carry of the game marked an 11-yard touchdown run that capped a 7-play, 63-yard drive. The carry marked his first touchdown run since the 12:17 mark of the fourth quarter at San Diego State last season. Vakapuna had only two rushing touchdowns during his junior season and eight as a sophomore.