BYU football: Cougars bounce back big, crush hapless Cowboys
LARAMIE, Wyo. — For those wondering how BYU would respond two weeks after suffering an embarrassing 38-7 loss to TCU, the No. 25 Cougars answered that question emphatically from the outset Saturday.
On a sunny, warm afternoon in Laramie, a well-rested and fired-up BYU team coming off a bye week silenced the brown-and-gold-clad fans at War Memorial Stadium and shellacked Wyoming, 52-0.
The Cougars (7-2, 4-1) seemingly unleashed two weeks of frustration on the hapless Cowboys (4-5, 2-3).
"The scoreboard kind of reflects the couple of weeks of practice that we had," said BYU safety Andrew Rich. "We worked hard, prepared like crazy and kind of had a sour taste in our mouth from the TCU game. We needed a victory like this. All across the board, the offense, the defense all played well. It was a good victory for us."
"I was impressed with the way our team prepared starting (during the bye)," said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall. "Our coaches did an excellent job implementing the changes and things we needed to do to improve our program. I think our players responded well."
Running back J.J. DiLuigi, who scored a pair of touchdowns, said the Cougars were pumped up to play Wyoming.
"We got our swagger back on both sides of the ball," he said. "The defense was hitting hard, finally ?— getting back into it. The offense was able to do what we wanted to do. The last two weeks were able to heal up. It was an amazing game on both sides of the ball."
Quarterback Max Hall played one of his finest games as a Cougar and turned in one of the best performances, statistically, in BYU history. The senior completed 20 of 22 passes for 312 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in a little more than two quarters of play before giving way to sophomore backup Riley Nelson.
"My numbers were good, but I think that's because the guys around me played well. They made me look good," Hall said. "We had a week to fix the mistakes we were making. The energy was high, and everybody played with a passion like we did at the beginning of the season. It was a lot of fun. That's exactly what we needed to happen. I think it was kind of a defining moment for our offense."
"A lot of it had to do with preparation," Mendenhall said of Hall's outing. "He had an excellent plan, he had very clear reads and he was able to do exactly what he had practiced."
BYU didn't have to punt until early in the fourth quarter. By then, most of the fans populating the student section had left the stadium.
The Cougars capitalized on being familiar with the Cowboys' style of defense, according to Mendenhall.
Recent comments
What a great game! I really enjoyed watching that game. BYU's...
Digbads | Nov. 10, 2009 at 10:33 a.m.
So if the Utes lose it's for the greater good, go home and please...
RE:MWC Supports TCU | Nov. 9, 2009 at 6:40 p.m.
TCU is going to Cream the Utes in Fort Worth.
Go TCU | Nov. 9, 2009 at 9:31 a.m.
- Sports on the air 1:21 a.m.
- 2009 MLS Cup recap 12:45 a.m.
- MLS Cup winners, MVPs 12:41 a.m.
- Real Salt Lake: Game at a glance 12:36 a.m.
- Paper circulation worse than it looks 12:28 a.m.
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks 12:22 a.m.
- Editorial: Cancer screening 12:15 a.m.
- Afterthoughts 12:15 a.m.
- Treat teachers with respect, trust 12:15 a.m.
- 'Reform' helps old, hurts young 12:15 a.m.
- BYU records with win
- Jazz outlast Pistons in overtime
- Glenn Beck to enter politics?
- Cougars turn focus to dreaded rivals
- Cougars put the fun back in football
- Former BYU professor remembered
- Florida No. 1, TCU 4 in AP Top 25
- Man dies after being run over
- Kirilenko heating up for the Jazz
- Police link alcohol to murder
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
202 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
191 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
130 - BYU records with win
129 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
125 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
100 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
98 - Utes knock off rival Aggies
93
The Utah basketball team expected to win Saturday night, but not like this.
Real Salt Lake fans have watched first hand the evolution of Jason Kreis...
That game was amazing! I think this will really help the sport grow in Utah....
Congrats on a great win. Utah as a whole should be proud not just of a major...
Congrats Real Salt Lake! but, they aren't the first major sports team to...
I told ALL of you how much i liked NED Pure irony his contributions vs x...
this is to NevadaUTE @ 10:25!!! I love soccer, I love Real and it brought a...
wow!!! amazing. UTAH JAZZ DO SOMETHING!!!
So much fear and anger from Beck lovers. You all lost the last election, we...
This is the most emotion I have had watching a sporting event since my...
Nicky Rimando is my hero! I love that guy. He has had his detractors, but...
Two stars means nothing! We played as a team and it showed! I'm still in...



