TEAM NOTES
BYU fell to Memphis 55-48 in double overtime in the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl at Marlins Park in Miami, Florida. The Cougars finished 8-5 on the season and are 546-398-26 all time.
Senior offensive lineman Solomone Kafu and senior defensive back Skye PoVey carried the team and special teams flags, respectively. Former center Robert Saunooke (1982-83, 86-88) carried the alumni flag.
Official attendance for the game was 20,761.
The 103 combined points is the highest total in BYU bowl history. The previous high was 91 in the 1980 Holiday Bowl when the Cougars won 46-45 over Southern Methodist. The 52 combined first-half points are the most in BYU bowl history. BYU led 28-24.
The loss was the second overtime game for the Cougars this season, falling to UCF in Christian Stewart’s first start.
Heading into the bowl game, Memphis had outscored its opponents 133-56 in the second quarter this season for a plus-77 margin. BYU outscored the Tigers 14-7.
Six BYU players totaled at least 20 receptions on the season: M. Mathews (73), Jordan Leslie (55), Mitchell Juergens (28), Paul Lasike (25), Terenn Houk (21) and Devin Mahina (20).
The BYU defense held came up with a season-high three interceptions.
BYU’s offense accumulated totals of 3,623 passing yards, 32 pass TDs, 26 rush TDs and 60 total TDs. These are all high marks since the 2009 season.
PLAYER NOTES
Senior quarterback Christian Stewart threw for 348 yards on 23-of-48 passing with three touchdowns and three interceptions. He threw at least three touchdown passes in six of his eight starts this season, totaling 25 TDs through the air on 2,621 yards with a 57.2 percent completion rate.
Senior linebacker Zac Stout recorded his first career interception and first career touchdown, picking off Lynch at the 19-yard line and taking it to the end zone for a 45-38 BYU lead with 7:48 left in the game. He had four tackles, including three solo.
Junior receiver Mitch Mathews caught a 25-yard TD pass for his ninth on the year. He finished with 82 yards on nine catches and one touchdown.
Placekicker Trevor Samson scored 12 points with 6 of 6 on PATs and 2 of 2 on field goals, including a career-long 45-yarder in overtime.
Senior running back Paul Lasike registered his sixth and seventh rushing touchdowns of the year. He punched in a 3-yard run to help BYU take a 28-24 lead with 3:11 left in the first half and a 7-yard run with 10:52 left in the fourth.
Sophomore receiver Mitchell Juergens grabbed a 47-yard touchdown pass from Christian Stewart for his fourth score on the year. It was his second-straight game with a 47-yard touchdown catch. He had four receptions for 87 yards and one TD.
Senior linebacker Alani Fua registered his fifth career interception and second of the year, returning it 37 yards. He had five tackles including two tackles for loss in addition to the interception.
Senior defensive back Robertson Daniel tied Daniel Sorensen in career pass breakups with 23.
Junior defensive lineman Graham Rowley recorded his first career forced fumble with 7:16 left in the first quarter.
Senior defensive back Skye PoVey recorded his first career fumble recovery in the first quarter. He finished the game with nine tackles, one tackle for loss and one pass breakup.
Sophomore running back Algernon Brown carried the ball for a career-high 19 times, accumulating 79 yards on the ground while also hauling in one catch for seven yards.
Senior tight end Devin Mahina’s career-long reception of 41 yards set up Trevor Samson’s 23-yard field goal, cutting the Memphis lead to 38-31 in the fourth quarter. He had two receptions for a career-high 54 yards.
Sophomore linebacker Manoa Pikula picked off Memphis QB Paxton Lynch for the first interception of his career with 12:43 left in the game, preceding the 41-yard pass to Mahina.
Va’a Niumatalolo/ Chris Badger
Freshman linebacker Va’a Niumatalolo had his first career forced fumble while sophomore defensive back Chris Badger had his first career recovery on the BYU kickoff following Samson’s first field goal.