No. 15 BYU gets 59-14 win over Idaho State on Senior Day

PROVO, Utah – No. 15 BYU football entertained a sell-out crowd as it scored early and often in a 59-14 senior day win over Idaho State at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday.

BYU (8-2) racked up 560 yards of total offense and seven different players scored touchdowns on the day. Idaho State (1-8) was held to just 238 total yards and just 1 of 12 on third down. 

Quarterback Jaren Hall played just one half but made it count with five total touchdowns, four passing and one on the ground. He completed 20 of 25 passes for 298 yards. His four passing touchdowns and one rushing put him has just the fourth quarterback to accomplish the mark in a single game at BYU. 

Wideouts Puka Nacua and Keanu Hill led with 120 and 92 receiving yards, respectively. Hill later blocked a punt and scored a touchdown. Running back Tyler Allgeier scored his 17th rushing touchdown of the year in the first quarter and didn't see much action after.

Defensive back Matthew Criddle had five tackles and an interception in his first career start while defensive lineman Pepe Tanuvasa added three tackles, an interception and a sack. 

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POSTGAME NOTES

First Quarter

The BYU offense put the pedal down early, as it found the end zone on each of its four first quarter drives. The Cougar attack rolled to its first score of the day on the ground as Hall scrambled for a key first down and Allgeier finished the drive with an 11-yard touchdown score.

After a holding call pinned BYU deep in their own territory on the ensuing Cougar possession, Allgeier flipped the field with a 46-yard catch-and-run following a dump-off pass from Hall out of the backfield. Puka Nacua hauled-in a 35-yard pass to penetrate deep into Bengal territory on the next play and Lopini Katoa finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown reception from Hall.

The following Idaho State possession was short-lived as BYU defensive lineman Pepe Tanuvasa intercepted a Bengal pass and returned it 16 yards to the 6-yard line. Hall picked up where Tanuvasa left-off and put the Cougars up 21-0 with a quarterback keeper at the goal line. For the quarter, the Cougar defense held Idaho State to two yards of total offense on 0-of-4 passing. The BYU offense racked up 200 yards of offense in the opening quarter.

Second Quarter

BYU wide receivers Keanu Hill and Puka Nacua showed-out in the second quarter as Hall found them for his second and third touchdown passes of the afternoon, respectively.

Hill’s 13-yard touchdown reception came after the redshirt freshman from Bedford, Texas stretched for the goal line to give BYU a 28-0 lead. Nacua snagged his lone touchdown reception of the afternoon when Hall found him in the left corner of the north end zone from 23-yards out.

Idaho State found its way on the scoreboard for the first time on Saturday following a costly fumble deep in the Cougars’ territory. Hall and the BYU offense quickly responded with a touchdown drive that ended in Neil Pau’u powering his way into the end zone off a 14-yard reception.

The Cougars entered half time leading 42-7. Hall finished the day with 298 yards passing for four touchdowns, with one on the ground.

Third Quarter

With a sizable second half lead, BYU provided meaningful playing time to several underclassmen. Criddle celebrated what was likely his last game in LaVell Edwards Stadium with an interception of Idaho State quarter back Sagan Gronauer early in the quarter. The Cougar offense struck again with two possessions later as Baylor Romney found Dallin Holker for a 17-yard touchdown. Holker’s touchdown reception marked the fifth different BYU receiver to record a touchdown on the afternoon.

The Bengals got on the scoreboard for the second time with a rushing touchdown late in the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

BYU extended their 49-14 lead late in the game with a 39-yard field goal from Justen Smith and a punt blocked and recovered for a touchdown by Keanu Hill.

BYU now has a bye week after 10 consecutive weeks of play. The Cougars will take on Georgia Southern on the road on Saturday, Nov. 20. Broadcast plans will be announced at a later date.