Cougars Extend MWC, Home Win Streak

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COUGAR TOWN -- Playing in its second game at LaVell Edwards Stadium in five days, the BYU Cougars (7-2, 5-0) notched another conference win, defeating TCU (5-5, 2-4) 27-22 Thursday night. The game marks the fifth consecutive sellout for the Cougars this season.

"I'd like that connection to be drawn between our team and the community so they embrace what we're doing and how we're doing it," said BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall. "I'm not sure if there is a more visible way than selling out the stadium five straight games. It is something I have never been a part of, and I am very appreciative and know our players are as well."

Remaining undefeated in Mountain West Conference play, BYU extended its conference winning streak to 13 games dating back to a 31-17 victory at TCU last season.

"It was a really hard fought victory," said Mendenhall. "I think it's the most complete game we have played yet, and in all phases I thought the team played with heart and determination."

Quarterback Max Hall threw 26-44 for a total of 305 yards and one touchdown. The game marks Hall's third overall 300-or-more passing yard performance.

Sophomore Austin Collie led all receivers with 109 yards, his third 100-yard game this season, including BYU's previous game against CSU.

Running back Harvey Unga had 64 yards on 16 carries, giving him a season total of 799 rushing yards. Unga also scored two rushing touchdowns, a new single game career-high.

Late in the fourth quarter, and down by five points, TCU regained control of the ball with less than three minutes to play in the game. However, the BYU defense stepped up and made crucial stops to prohibit a comeback for the Horned Frogs. An initial sack by junior linebacker David Nixon pushed TCU to third-and-16. Senior linebacker Bryan Kehl put the Horned Frogs away for good with a sack of his own on fourth down.

To start the game, BYU found itself at midfield after a facemask call against TCU on the opening kickoff. Hall recorded his longest career run of 20 yards followed by Unga rushing into the end zone untouched.

The Horned Frogs were forced to kick a field goal on their second possession, bringing the score to 7-3.

Collie caught a 66-yard reception, a career-long pass for Hall, as the first quarter came to a close. Senior running back Joe Semanoff caught a one-yard pass to earn his second touchdown in as many games for the Cougars.

Sophomore defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen continued his strong defensive play when he sacked TCU quarterback Marcus Jackson for a loss of 11 yards. Jorgensen made his presence felt once again on the following play when his tackle brought about a fourth-and-19 for the Horned Frogs.

Hall's lone interception of the game came on BYU's next possession. TCU's Brian Bonner returned the pick 21 yards, which was later converted into the team's second field goal of the night.

With the Cougars facing a third-and-10 situation, Hall connected with Collie again for a 29-yard gain. A touchdown catch by Dennis Pitta was taken away on a BYU holding call, forcing the Cougars to settle for a 33-yard field goal by Mitch Payne. Payne's last field goal came during BYU's 24-14 win against UNLV.

For the first time this season, a challenged call went the Cougars way. In the second quarter, with the Horned Frogs on their own 15-yard line, BYU's Corby Hodgkiss was called for pass interference in the end zone. Mendenhall challenged the call, as replays indicated that the ball was tipped before the infraction. After review, the ruling on the field was reversed.

Senior linebacker Kelly Poppinga's first interception of the season came on a pick from TCU's Andy Dalton with 14:02 to play in the third quarter. His 22-yard return set up Unga's second touchdown of the night--a three-yard run.

Trying to cut BYU's lead down to seven points, the Horned Frogs attempted a two-point conversion following their second touchdown but came up short.

Payne kicked a second field goal for the Cougars to begin the fourth quarter.

Up next the Cougars will travel to Laramie, Wyo. where they will take on the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday, Nov. 17. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. (MT) and will be shown live on The mtn.

Score by Quarters     1  2  3  4   Score
  -----------------    -- -- -- --   -----
    TCU.................  3  6  6  7  - 22       Record: (5-5,2-4)
    Brigham Young.......  7 10  7  3  - 27       Record: (7-2,5-0)
  Scoring Summary:
  1st 11:23 BY - UNGA, Harvey 15 yd run (PAYNE, Mitch kick), 7-50 3:37
      04:44 TCU - Manfredini, Chr 38 yd field goal, 6-25 2:24
  2nd 11:41 BY - SEMANOFF, 1 yd pass from HALL, (PAYNE, Mitch kick), 10-89 4:08
      06:53 TCU - Manfredini, Chr 37 yd field goal, 4-7 1:23
      01:47 BY - PAYNE, Mitch 33 yd field goal, 12-61 4:59
      00:01 TCU - Manfredini, Chr 33 yd field goal, 10-64 1:41
  3rd 13:58 BY - UNGA, Harvey 3 yd run (PAYNE, Mitch kick), 1-3 0:04
      10:10 TCU - Brock, 1 yd run (Jackson, Marcus rush failed), 10-65 3:48
  4th 13:06 BY - PAYNE, Mitch 29 yd field goal, 13-57 4:21, 
      03:49 TCU - Johnson, 7 yd pass from Dalton, (Manfredini,kick), 11-94 2:55
                                      TCU       BY
  FIRST DOWNS...................       22       19
  RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............   39-130   34-112
  PASSING YDS (NET).............      222      305
  Passes Att-Comp-Int...........  37-24-1  44-26-1
  TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS.....   76-352   78-417
  Fumble Returns-Yards..........      0-0      0-0
  Punt Returns-Yards............     3-26     1--2
  Kickoff Returns-Yards.........    5-116     6-83
  Interception Returns-Yards....     1-21     1-22
  Punts (Number-Avg)............   4-42.5   5-39.8
  Fumbles-Lost..................      1-0      1-1
  Penalties-Yards...............     3-37     4-30
  Possession Time...............    27:01    32:59
  Third-Down Conversions........  4 of 14 13 of 20
  Fourth-Down Conversions.......   0 of 3   0 of 0
  Red-Zone Scores-Chances.......      5-5      5-6
  Sacks By: Number-Yards........      1-8     3-29
  RUSHING: TCU-Dalton, Andy 12-60; Turner, Joseph 9-32; Jackson, Marcus 9-21;
  Brown, Aaron 7-8; Kerley, Jeremy 1-8; Brock, Marcus 1-1. Brigham Young-UNGA,
  Harvey 16-64; HALL, Max 5-28; TONGA, Manase 5-17; VAKAPUNA, Fui 4-3; 
  SEMANOFF,Joe 3-1; TEAM 1-minus 1.
  PASSING: TCU-Dalton, Andy 18-30-1-165; Jackson, Marcus 6-7-0-57. Brigham
  Young-HALL, Max 26-44-1-305.
  RECEIVING: TCU-Dickerson, Ervi 6-48; Moore, Derek 4-61; Massey, Donald 4-35;
  Johnson, Bart 2-23; Brown, Aaron 2-14; Bryant, Walter 2-14; Brock, Marcus 2-
  7;Kerley, Jeremy 1-14; Young, Jimmy 1-6. BYU-PITTA, Dennis 7-88; COLLIE,  
  Austin 4-109; REED, Michael 3-23; TONGA, Manase 3-19; ALLEN, Matt 2-20; 
  SO'OTO, Vic 2-16; GEORGE, Andrew 2-16; UNGA, Harvey 2-13; SEMANOFF, Joe 1-1.
  INTERCEPTIONS: TCU-Bonner, Brian 1-21. Brigham Young-POPPINGA, Kelly 1-22.
  FUMBLES: TCU-Jackson, Marcus 1-0. Brigham Young-SO'OTO, Vic 1-1.
  SACKS (UA-A): TCU-Blake, Tommy 1-0. Brigham Young-KEHL, Bryan 1-0; NIXON, 
  David 1-0; JORGENSEN, Jan 1-0.
  TACKLES (UA-A): TCU-Hodge, Stephen 6-3; Bonner, Brian 7-1; Washington, Dar 7-
  0; Roach, David 2-5; Hawthorne, Davi 5-0; Henson, Robert 2-2; Stewart, 
  Torrey 3-0; Phillips, Jason 2-1; Massey, Donald 2-1; Priest, Rafael 2-1; 
  Blake, Tommy 2-0; Hughes, Jerry 1-1; Moore, Cody 1-1; Panfil, Matt 0-2; 
  Grant, Cory 1-0; Ibiloye, Alex 1-0; Griffin, Kelly 1-0; Coleman, Steven 1-0; 
  Sanders, Nick 0-1; Young,Jimmy 0-1. Brigham Young-POPPINGA, Kelly 7-10; 
  NIXON, David 8-0; KEHL, Bryan 5-3; JORGENSEN, Jan 3-4; BOLDEN, Chris 3-2; 
  STAFFIERI, Mark 3-2; CRIDDLE, Ben 4-0; GOOCH, Quinn 2-2; DENNEY, Brett 2-2; 
  BUCHANAN, Kayle 3-0; HODGKISS, Corby 2-0; JOHNSON, Scott 2-0; HOOKS, 
  Terrance 1-1; MANUMALEUNA,Eth 0-2; SAULSBERRY, And 1-0; FOKETI, Mosese 1-0; 
  UNGA, Harvey 1-0; BAUMAN, Matt 1-0; PAYNE, Mitch 1-0; MUNNS, Jason 0-1; 
  DULAN, Ian 0-1.