Team Notes
BYU fell 31-24 in overtime to UCF at Bright House Networks Stadium. The Cougars fell to 4-2 on the season and 542-395-26 all time.
Travis Tuiloma and Scott Arellano carried the team and special teams flags, respectively. Former defensive lineman Brad Smith (1980-84) carried the alumni flag.
Official attendance for the game was 41,547.
The matchup against the Knights is the Cougars’ first overtime game since 2009, when the team beat Utah 26-23 at home.
BYU intercepted UCF quarterback Justin Holman twice. The last time the Cougars had more than one pick in a game was Oct. 19, 2013, when they had three against Houston.
Receiver Mitch Mathews blocked the field goal attempt at the end of regulation to send the game into overtime. It was the first block since Logan Taele’s in a 28-23 win over Nevada in 2013.
Since 2008, BYU is 9-11 when its time of possession is between 26 to 29 minutes. It held the ball for 28:07 against the Knights.
Nine different receivers caught passes from quarterback Christian Stewart.
The scoring drive in the third quarter that put the Cougars up 24-10 was the second-fastest of the season, taking seven seconds off the clock. The fastest was a six-second drive against UConn in the first game of the season.
Player Notes
Sophomore defensive lineman Travis Tuiloma tallied career highs of five total tackles and three tackles for loss.
Senior transfer Keanu Nelson received his first punt on the season and returned it for 17 yards to the BYU 45-yard line. The return was prior to the Cougars’ field goal drive.
Freshman linebacker Sione Takitaki recorded his first sack, forced his first fumble and recovered his first fumble all on the same play in the first half. He notched his second sack of the game with 1:17 left in the game.
Senior defensive back Skye PoVey recorded his first interception of the season and second of his career.
Freshman linebacker Fred Warner played in place of Alani Fua (ankle) and notched a career-high six total tackles.
Sophomore linebacker Harvey Langi recorded his first tackle as a Cougar and ended the game with five total.
Senior defensive back Robertson Daniel tied career highs in total and solo tackles with 10 and seven, respectively.
Senior punter Scott Arellano averaged 43.5 yards per punt while notching a career-high 435 yards punting. He also tied his career high of three punts of at least 50 yards.
Sophomore defensive back Kai Nacua reached a career high in tackles with seven and recorded his first career interception with 3:15 left in the game on UCF’s drive in BYU territory.
Senior quarterback Christian Stewart got the start for the first time in his career. He threw 22 of 37 for 153 yards, three touchdowns and one pick. Stewart also rushed for a career-high 52 yards on 13 carries, including a long of 20. His three passing touchdowns match Taysom Hill’s season high reached in the win over UConn.
Sophomore wide receiver Colby Pearson had three catches for 22 yards while hauling in the first touchdown catch of his career during the drive that tied the game at 10-10.
Senior tight end Devin Mahina caught his first touchdown of the year and third of his career on a 15-yard reception in the third quarter with 9:30 left in the game to put the Cougars up 17-10. He hauled in his second of the night on a quick strike from Stewart with 9:05 to play in the third quarter. He led receivers with 46 yards on four receptions.
He is also the first BYU player with two touchdown receptions in a game since Cody Hoffman’s two against No. 21 Wisconsin in 2013.
Sophomore running back Algernon Brown recovered the first fumble of his career on a punt in the third quarter that set up the Stewart’s first passing touchdown to Mahina. He also carried the ball 16 times for a career-high 80 yards.