Post-game Notes: BYU vs. Colorado State

a-unga-csu07_0a-unga-csu07_0

PROVO -- With Saturday's win over CSU, the Cougars remain atop the Mountain West Conference with a perfect 4-0 record. BYU has won a MWC record 12 straight league games, dating back to a 31-17 road victory over No. 15 TCU last season. It is the longest conference win streak for the Cougars since winning 12 straight from November 20, 1982 to October 19, 1985. That 12-game streak was actually part of a school-record, 25-game league win streak that dated from October 2, 1982 until October 19, 1985. The streak includes a record nine straight road victories against league opponents.

BOWL ELIGIBLE

Saturday's win against Colorado State gives the Cougars their sixth win of the season and qualifies the team to participate in its third straight bowl game for the first time since the 1994 season. BYU has not played in three straight bowl games since playing in the 1992 Aloha Bowl, the 1993 Holiday Bowl and the 1994 Copper Bowl. From 1978 through 1994, the Cougars participated in a school record 17 straight bowl games.

COUGARS CONTINUE TO WIN

With a 35-16 victory over Colorado State, the Cougars have won 16 of their last 18 games, dating back to last season. BYU is currently on a five-game win streak, including a 19-point win against CSU, a 35-point victory over Eastern Washington, a 25-point win over Air Force, and road wins over New Mexico and UNLV.

A BYU COACHING FIRST

BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall became the first coach in BYU history to qualify for three straight bowl games in his first three years with the victory against CSU. Mendenhall currently ranks second behind LaVell Edwards with the most post-season appearances in BYU football history.

FOURTH STRAIGHT SELLOUT

The Colorado State game marked the fourth consecutive sell-out at Edwards Stadium and the first time since the 1999 season the Cougars have had four sell-outs during the same season. Since 1999, the Cougars are 11-4 in games with a sell-out crowd. The Cougars are averaging 64,498 fans per game -- that's 101 percent of the stadium's capacity.

HOMELAND SECURITY

The victory over Colorado State ran BYU's consecutive home winning streak to 10 games, dating back to last season. Over that span, the Cougars have beaten their opponents by an average of 30.3 points per game. During that stretch, BYU is allowing just 10.8 points per game. The Cougars have allowed seven points or less in seven of the last 10 home games. In the first four games this season, the Cougars have outscored opponents by an average 23 points per game and have allowed just nine 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. BYU is 13-3 in Provo during the Bronco Mendenhall era.

HOME WIN STREAK CONTINUES

The Cougars' 35-16 victory over Colorado State extended BYU's home win streak to 10 straight games. The Cougars will look to win their 11th consecutive home game for the first time since winning 17 in a row from Oct. 7, 1989 to Nov. 23, 1991 when they play host to TCU on November 8.

UNGA MAKING CLAIM FOR TOP FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICA HONORS

Harvey Unga rushed 11 times for 51 yards against CSU giving him a season total of 735 yards rushing on the season. Unga has now surpassed Ronney Jenkins' freshman record of 733 yards. Unga has a team-leading 735 yards rushing on the season, averaging 91.9 yards per game. All totaled, Unga accounts for 46 percent of BYU's total rushing attempts and 65 percent of the team's total rushing yards. Unga was credited with 161 total yards on the day, including three receptions for 110 yards.

RUSHING DOMINANCE

Following Saturday's game against Colorado State, the Cougars own a record of 96-18 when rushing for 100 (or more) yards since the 1991 season. The Tulsa game marked only the fifth time since 1991 that the Cougars had gained over 150 yards rushing in a game and lost. (BYU is 75-5 since 1991 when rushing for 150 or more yards). During the Bronco Mendenhall era, the Cougars are 20-3 when rushing for 100 or more yards.

IMMEDIATE RETURNS

CSU senior Damon Morton's 45-yard kickoff return to start the game is the longest the Cougars have given up this season.

GOING DEEP

Freshman running back Harvey Unga's 53-yard reception on BYU's first play from scrimmage in the first quarter is his longest reception of the year. Also, sophomore tight end Dennis Pitta had a 45-yard reception in the fourth quarter, which is his longest reception of the season.

FIRST BLOOD

Max Hall's nine-yard touchdown lob to Michael Reed gave the Cougars a 7-0 lead with 8:57 remaining in the first quarter. BYU has scored first in 18 of the last 20 games. BYU is 16-2 in those 18 games.

HALL IN A DAY'S WORK

BYU quarterback Max Hall completed 22 of 30 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns against Colorado State. It is Hall's third-career game with 350 or more yards passing and his best performance pass percentage-wise (73 percent). Additionally, Saturday's game against CSU is the first game since the season-opener against Arizona in which Hall did not throw an interception.

COLLIE'S CATCHES

Sophomore wide receiver Austin Collie caught eight balls for 111 yards, marking his second game this season with 100 or more receiving yards. He had 121 receiving yards against Tulsa.

QUARTER REPORT

The victory over Colorado State marked the fifth time this season the Cougars have held their opponent scoreless in the first quarter. An October 20 win against Eastern Washington marked the first second-half shut out the BYU defense has recorded this season. All totaled, BYU has recorded 14 shutout quarters on the season, including three scoreless quarters against Arizona, Air Force and Eastern Washington. BYU has outscored its opponents in every quarter. The Cougars have outscored their opponents 49-27 in the first quarter, 81-46 in the second, 65-35 in the third and 52-48 in the fourth quarter.

FIRST-HALF DOMINANCE

The Cougars held a 21-3 lead at halftime against Colorado State, marking the seventh time in eight games this season BYU has held the lead at intermission. The Rams' three points is the fewest BYU has allowed this year since its first-half shutout against Air Force. It also marks the fourth time in eight games that the Cougars have held their opponent to seven or fewer points in the opening half. BYU's 21 first-half points marks the second straight game the team has done so and the third time this year it has scored at least 21 in the opening half. The 18-point lead marked the largest halftime lead of the season. The Cougars have led at halftime in 20 of the last 21 games. During those 20 games, the team is 17-3.

BALANCED ATTACK

The Cougars have scored 32 touchdowns on the season. Of the 32 TDs, 17 have been scored via the passing game while 15 have been scored on the ground. Running back Manase Tonga leads the team with eight rushing touchdowns while sophomore receiver Austin Collie has a team-leading five touchdown receptions. Freshman running back Harvey Unga has eight touchdowns on the season, including five rushing and three receiving.

INTERCEPTION NOTES

Senior defensive back Ben Criddle grabbed his second interception of the season when he picked off CSU's Caleb Hanie midway through the first quarter. All totaled the Cougars have recorded 10 interceptions on the year, including at least one pick in seven consecutive games.

PAPER OR PLASTIC

BYU sophomore defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen had a career-high 2.5 sacks Saturday against CSU. Jorgensen leads the team with 6.5 sacks on the season. The Cougars have recorded 18 sacks on the year and have recorded at least two sacks in seven out of eight games this season.