No. 15 BYU struggles with UTSA, but hangs on for 27-20 victory

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars tight end Masen Wake (13) leaps over the top of UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26) in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) has the ball stripped by UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26), resulting in a fumble, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) has the ball stripped by UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26), resulting in a fumble, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) has the ball stripped by UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26), resulting in a fumble, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) has the ball stripped by UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26), resulting in a fumble, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) has the ball stripped by UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26), resulting in a fumble, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) has the ball stripped by UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26), resulting in a fumble, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) BYU takes the field for football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars tight end Masen Wake (13) leaps over the top of UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26) in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) grabs a touchdown pass in the endzone, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars tight end Masen Wake (13) leaps over the top of UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26) in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars tight end Masen Wake (13) leaps over the top of UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26) in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars tight end Masen Wake (13) leaps over the top of UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26) in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars tight end Masen Wake (13) leaps over the top of UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Corey Mayfield Jr. (26) in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) UTSA Roadrunners linebacker Trevor Harmanson (15) grabs Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) by the face mask, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) UTSA Roadrunners linebacker Trevor Harmanson (15) grabs Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) by the face mask, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) UTSA Roadrunners linebacker Trevor Harmanson (15) grabs Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) by the face mask, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) tosses a shovel pass to Brigham Young Cougars tight end Masen Wake (13), in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) tosses a shovel pass to Brigham Young Cougars tight end Masen Wake (13), in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Team mates congratulate Brigham Young running back Lopini Katoa (4) after scoring a Cougar touchdown, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) tosses a shovel pass to Brigham Young Cougars tight end Masen Wake (13), in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Team mates congratulate Brigham Young running back Lopini Katoa (4) after scoring a Cougar touchdown, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Lopini Katoa (4) scores a touchdown for the Cougars, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Lopini Katoa (4)runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young quarterback Zach Wilson (1) runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) runs the ball for the Cougars, as Roadrunners linebacker Trevor Harmanson (15) defends, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Gunner Romney (18) stretches for extra yards after catching along pass, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young quarterback Zach Wilson (1) runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Gunner Romney tries to hang on a long pass, as UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Tariq Woolen (20) defends, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Dax Milne (5) snags a pass, as UTSA Roadrunners safety Antonio Parks (4) defends, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Gunner Romney reacts after catching along pass, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Team mates congratulate Brigham Young running back Lopini Katoa (4) after scoring a Cougar touchdown, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Gunner Romney tries to hang on a long pass, as UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Tariq Woolen (20) defends, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young wide receiver Neil Pau'u (2) runs the ball for the Cougars, as Roadrunners linebacker Trevor Harmanson (15) defends, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young quarterback Zach Wilson (1) runs the ball for the Cougars, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs for a Cougars as UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Ken Robinson (21) defends, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Gunner Romney (18) congratulates Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) on his touchdown, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs for a Cougar touchdown, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs for a Cougar touchdown, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs for a Cougars as UTSA Roadrunners cornerback Ken Robinson (21) defends, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Brigham Young running back Tyler Allgeier (25) runs for a Cougar touchdown, in football action between the Brigham Young Cougars and the UTSA Roadrunners, at Lavell Edwards stadium, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020.

Provo • Maybe it was bound to happen sooner or later, but No. 15 BYU returned to earth on Saturday.

Grinding out the yards but struggling to score, the Cougars found themselves in a close game for the first time all season. Yet, they did rise to the occasion when it counted, holding off the upset-minded Roadrunners 27-20 at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

It was a wake-up call.

For the first time in four games, the Cougars trailed and failed to score in the first quarter. BYU started the game started the game looking a little out of sorts, and never really did get untracked save some explosive bursts.

Example: Midway through the first half and facing a fourth-and-short on the UTSA 4-yard line, BYU quarterback Zach Wilson was forced out of the pocket, but found wide receiver Neil Pau’u tucked away in the back right corner of the end zone — where the redshirt junior managed to keep his feet inbounds to score for the Cougars less than two minutes in the second quarter.

By halftime, BYU extended its lead to 14-7 thanks to an 11-yard reception by Lopini Katoa.

Toward the end of the third quarter, the Cougars added another score on a 4-yard rushing touchdown by Wilson, but the Roadrunners responded at the start of the fourth quarter with a 32-yard touchdown reception.

With a tight score, 21-13, BYU saw its first competitive fourth quarter of the season. In all three previous games, the starters had been pulled from the field by the fourth quarter or shortly thereafter.

This time, the Cougars had to leave the starters in.

Playing his first complete game of the season, Wilson finished the day with 292 passing yards (22 of 30) and two touchdowns. The junior also added a rushing score.

Wilson also made a little BYU history.

With his first two completions of the day, the junior quarterback surpassed 1,000 passing yards this season. The 73 attempts it took to get the mark is the fastest of any BYU quarterback in school history

This story will be updated.



from The Salt Lake Tribune https://www.sltrib.com/sports/byu-cougars/2020/10/10/no-byu-struggles-with/

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