FLAG BEARER
BYU has a tradition of selecting a player before each game to run the team flag onto the field. In 2008, the team implemented a new tradition—an alumni flag. The team selects a former Cougar to carry out the alumni flag, along with the chosen current player who runs out with the current team flag. Both flags are white with a blue “Y” logo. The team flag is signed by current players, while the alumni flag is signed by former BYU players. Their signatures reflect their commitment to uphold the tradition, spirit and honor of the BYU football program and to be a flag bearer of the University. Carrying the team flag today was senior offensive lineman Ray Feinga, with former Cougar defensive back Kyle Morrell carrying the alumni flag. Morrell played for BYU from 1981-84 and is best known his over-the-top, goal-line sack against Hawaii to preserve BYU’s undefeated and national championship 1984 season.
COIN TOSS
The Utah game marked the seventh time this season BYU won the opening coin toss, with the Cougars electing to defer to the second half. BYU is now 5-2 when winning the opening toss.
COMPETING AS A RANKED TEAM
After Saturday’s loss to Utah, the Cougars are 148-43 when nationally ranked in the Top 25. With the loss, a ranked BYU team has won 17 of its last 19 games, dating back to 2006.
LOSING IN UTAH
BYU’s loss tonight marks its first loss in the state of Utah since a 41-34 overtime loss to Utah at home in LaVell Edwards Stadium on Nov. 19, 2005. The Cougars won 20 straight games in their home state before tonight.
COLLIE HITS CENTURY MARK-EXTENDS MWC RECORD
Junior Austin Collie broke the 100-yard receiving mark for the 10th straight game with 104 yards on 10 catches against the Utes. Collie’s 10-consecutive games extend a MWC record he broke a month ago against UNLV. The record was previously held by SDSU’s J.R. Tolver (2002) with five.
Collie also tops the MWC record book with his 10 100-yard games in a single season. SDSU’ Kassim Osgood and J.R. Tolver held the previous record of eight 100-yard games.
CLIMBING UP THE BYU RECORD CHARTS
With less than two minutes to play in the half, Austin Collie caught a 19-yard pass from quarterback Max Hall, giving him 3,077 career receiving yards to become BYU’s all-time leading receiver. With that catch he surpassed Eric Drage’s previous record of 3,065 set in 1993. With 104 yards receiving against Utah on the night, Collie now has 3,136 career receiving yards.
On the season, Collie has 1,289 yards receiving and is BYU’s all-time single-season record holder.
The junior now has 16 career 100-yard receiving games—a BYU record. He also holds the MWC record, three game ahead of the old leader, SDSU’s J.R. Tolver.
UTES GET THEIR PICK
Against Utah quarterback Max Hall threw a career-high five interceptions. His previous high was three against UNLV in 2007. The junior has thrown a scoring pass in every game this season except for the Cougars’ two losses—to TCU earlier in October and Utah tonight (Hall contributed rushing touchdowns in both those games). Hall has thrown a touchdown pass in 22-of-25 career games.
HALL RUNS IT IN
Quarterback Max Hall brought the Cougars to within three points (27-24) with 6:46 remaining in the third quarter with his 11-yard touchdown run. Hall has scored three rushing touchdowns on the season, including the season opener against Northern Iowa and BYU’s loss at TCU. Hall finished the night with 42 yards rushing against the Utes, a new career high.
CONSECUTIVE STARTS
The Utah game marked senior offensive lineman Dallas Reynolds’ 50th straight career start. During that streak, Reynolds has started at every position on the offensive line, including tackle, guard and center. Reynolds’ younger brother Matt started at left tackle in the 2008 season opener. His father, Lance, is the associate head coach for the Cougars. Reynolds is currently tied at first for the most consecutive starts by an active Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) player. Reynolds has started in every game of his BYU career, beginning with the Cougars’ 20-3 loss to Boston College on Sep. 3, 2005.
HE WHO SCORES FIRST...
Louis Sakoda’s 37-yard field goal with 9:48 remaining in the first quarter marked the fourth time this season BYU has failed to score first. The Cougars previously gave up touchdowns to New Mexico, TCU and CSU. BYU is 2-2 when failing to score first.
TRAILING AT THE HALF
For only the third time this season and second consecutive game the Cougars found themselves down at the halfway mark, entering the locker room behind the Utes 27-17. The Cougars last trailed 14-10 heading into the break at Air Force, as well as 23-0 at TCU. BYU is now 1-2 when down at halftime.
RUN UNGA!
Sophomore Harvey Unga’s rushing touchdown with 10:38 remaining in the first half helped close BYU’s deficit to 17-10. His second came on a 2-yard rush directly from the snap later in the second quarter to tie the score 17-17. Unga has run for a touchdown in four of BYU’s last five games. He has also run for two touchdowns in three games this season, including last week’s win at Air Force and BYU’s season opener against Northern Iowa.
On his career, Unga has scored 24 rushing touchdowns along with 8 receiving, for a combined 32 touchdowns. With that number he is tied for fourth on BYU’s all-time touchdown list, with Lakei Heimuli and Waymon Hamilton. Combined with a two-point conversion, Unga has scored 194 points for BYU over the past two years, currently placing him seventh on BYU’s all-time list of points scored in a career.
With 116 yards on the night, Unga surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second consecutive season. He now has 1,082 yards in BYU’s 12 games in 2008, after racking up 1,227 yards as a freshman in 2007.
PAPER OR PLASTIC
Junior linebacker Matt Ah You’s sack against Utah’s Brian Johnson in the second quarter marked a career first. Through 12 games this season the Cougar defense has recorded 21 sacks.
GOING FOR IT
On fourth-and-one with 7:22 remaining in the second quarter, Max Hall’s quarterback keeper secured the first-down for BYU. The Cougars converted again when Dennis Pitta caught a 16-yard pass on fourth-and-seven. With those two plays, BYU, who currently ranks 27th nationally in fourth-down conversions (7-of-10), remained perfect on the night.
MAKING THEM COUNT
Despite seeing limited action due to a knee injury suffered last week, tight end Dennis Pitta’s two receptions proved valuable to the Cougars, as both resulted in first-downs. His first reception of the night didn’t come until 10 minutes remained in the third quarter—a 16-yard pass from quarterback Max Hall. On a vital fourth-and-seven, Pitta once again proved useful as he caught a 17-yard pass from Hall.