UNDER THE ROOF
Today’s game marked the fifth game BYU has played in a domed stadium. The Cougars are now 2-3 in those games, including wins in 2009 vs. Oklahoma and Tulane and losses to Syracuse in 2000, to Marshall in the Motor City Bowl in 1999 and to TCU today.
MANY HAPPY RETURNS
Cody Hoffman became the sixth player in BYU history to gain 1,000 kickoff return yards after running for a career-high 167 yards on seven returns. The sophomore now sits at 1,060 career yards, good for fifth all-time at BYU. His 680 return yards this season is currently fourth-best in a season. Hoffman’s 52-yard kickoff return in the second quarter is the second-longest of his career and fourth return of 50 or more yards in his career.
HOFFMAN HYPE
Hoffman finished the game with 234 all-purpose yards, his fifth game of over 100 and his third game over 200 all-purpose yards this season. Hoffman had 277 yards vs. Utah and 205 yards at Oregon State.
JD FOR A TD
Sophomore JD Falslev’s 67-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter was the punt return for a TD by a BYU player since 2006 when McKay Jacobson turn a punt into six points vs. Wyoming.
NOT SINCE ‘96
Falslev’s return gives BYU a kick and punt return touchdown in the same season for the first time since 1996. Cody Hoffman’s returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown vs. UCF earlier this season.
CAREER HIGHS
JD Falslev also set career-highs with 35 yards and five receptions, a team high. His 69 punt return yards is also a career-high mark.
SPREAD THE WEALTH
Riley Nelson’s first seven completions went to seven different receivers, five of which went for 10 yards or more and included a 42-yarder to Ross Apo and a 22-yard throw to Michael Alisa.
GOOD ON THIRD
BYU converted 8 of 15 (.533) third-down conversions, its fourth-straight game of 50% conversion or better.
RUNNING PAST COACH
With 84 yards rushing tonight, Riley Nelson moved into third place on the all-time rush list among BYU quarterbacks, passing current Cougar offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman. Nelson now has 638 career rushing yards.
RUNNING OUT THE FLAG
BYU was led out of the tunnel today by senior receiver McKay Jacobson carrying the team flag and sophomore linebacker Spencer Hadley with the special teams flag. The special teams flag, highlighted by an old school BYU logo adopted by the special teams, is a new addition this season. Former Cougar defensive lineman Vic So’oto (2005-10), an All-MWC honoree and current member of the Green Bay Packers, carried out the alumni flag.
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