Post-Game Notes: Cougars Improve to 3-3, 2-1

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SAN DIEGO -- Entering Saturday's game, the San Diego State defense ranked fourth nationally, allowing just 248.2 yards per contest. The BYU offense, which ranked 86th nationally, posted a season-high 418 yards against the Aztecs. It was the highest offensive total since racking up posting 359 yards against fourth-ranked USC.

-The BYU defense held the league's second-leading rusher, Lynel Hamilton, to just 74 yards on 22 carries. Entering the game, Hamilton was averaging 119.2 yards per contest.

-In Saturday's 44-36 win over San Diego State, the Cougars racked up 238 yards rushing and 180 yards passing, marking the first time since 2001 (vs. Colorado State) BYU has recorded more rushing yards than passing yards in a game. (Against the Rams, BYU had 410 yards rushing and 284 yards passing.)

-Entering Saturday's game, the Cougars ranked 115th nationally, averaging just 75.2 yards per contest. The Aztecs ranked 26th nationally in rushing defense. BYU posted 238 rushing yards on the Aztecs, the most rushing yards against an opponent since recording 269 yards in a 35-34 win over Utah State last season.

-Reynaldo Brathwaite's 95-yard touchdown run in the second quarter marked both the longest run from scrimmage and the longest touchdown run in BYU football history. It also tied the MWC record for the longest run.

-John Beck's four-yard touchdown run in the first quarter extended the Cougars' NCAA-record streak to 356 games without being shutout. The Cougars were last shutout during the 1975 season (vs. Arizona State.)

-John Beck's four-yard touchdown run in the first quarter marked the Cougars first rushing touchdown in 30 quarters, dating back to the second quarter of BYU's 35-31 win over Wyoming on Nov. 9, 2002. The touchdown run also marked the first rushing touchdown allowed by the Aztecs this season. It was also the first first-quarter score by an opponent since the Ohio State game. Prior to Saturday, the Aztecs had posted first-quarter shutouts against UTEP, Samford and UCLA.

-BYU improved to 21-6-1 all-time against the Aztecs, including a stretch of three straight victories. The Cougars have now won four straight against SDSU in San Diego.

-In BYU's 44-36 win over San Diego State, the two teams combined for 80 total points, marking the seventh time the two schools have scored 80 or more points in the 28-game history. The game also marked the third time the two teams have scored exactly 80 points.

-With Brathwaite's touchdown run in the second quarter, the Cougars took a 21-14 lead, marking the first time San Diego State has trailed at home this season.

-The Cougars' 44 points marks the highest scoring total since recording 45 points in a 45-21 victory over Syracuse in the 2002 season opener in Provo. It marked the first time since Dec. 8, 2001 (at Hawaii) the Cougars have scored over 40 points when playing on the road.

-San Diego State's touchdown with only 54 seconds in to the game marked the fastest score by a BYU opponent since Hawaii scored in just 23 seconds during the 2001 season.

-Brett Cooper recorded a 49-yard kickoff return to open the game, marking the longest kick return since Luke Staley went 49 yards against Utah State in 2001. Cooper finished the night with four returns for 154 yards.

-Naufahu Tahi's 35-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter marked his first touchdown in nearly four years. Tahi's last touchdown came on Oct. 16, 1999 at New Mexico. Only a sophomore, Tahi missed the 2000 and 2001 seasons while serving a Church mission. Tahi recorded his second touchdown of the night on an eight-yard reception, marking the second time in his career he has posted two touchdowns in a single game.

-Jeff Webb's 70-yard touchdown reception marked the longest pass play allowed by the Cougars since giving up a 95-yard reception against Nevada last season.