No. 8 BYU Steamrolls North Alabama, Improves To 9-0

PROVO, Utah – On a sun-drenched Saturday afternoon at LaVell Edwards Stadium, No. 8 BYU cruised through FCS foe North Alabama to improve to 9-0.

The Cougars entered the game as a 51 1/2-point favorite and that was probably the biggest opposition for Kalani Sitake’s undefeated squad. BYU won by a score of 66-14 in front of the families of BYU and North Alabama players and coaches. No fans were permitted to attend due to the State of Emergency enacted by Utah Governor Gary Herbert on November 8th amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Heisman Trophy hopeful Zach Wilson had another productive afternoon in two quarters of work. Wilson passed for 212 yards on 10-of-16 passing, tossing four touchdowns and zero interceptions. The fast-rising NFL Draft prospect produced a QB rating of 256.3.

Wilson didn’t play in the second half. But he did make his presence felt on the sideline sporting an “Any team, any time, any place” headband.

#BYU improves to 9-0.

Will they get another game added to the schedule between now and December 12th?#BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/dyJeB64Ug0

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 21, 2020

BYU scored 42 of its 66 points with Wilson at quarterback. In the second half, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake turned to a lot of his backups to go against the Lions who scored the most points by an FCS team against BYU since 2008.

Sidearm screen for a #BYU TD by @zachkapono.#W1LSONHE1SMAN // @kslsports #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/E5j4VXFTTQ

— 𝙷𝚎𝚖𝚊 𝙷𝚎𝚒𝚖𝚞𝚕𝚒 𝙹𝚛. (@x_hems) November 21, 2020

Two of Wilson’s touchdown passes were to tight end Isaac Rex who now has eight touchdown catches on the season.

Running back Tyler Allgeier started in replace of the injured Lopini Katoa. Allgeier displayed a patient but violent running style against a Lions defense that had six players suffer injuries during the game. The Fontana, California native rushed for 141 yards on 13 carries.

BYU’s defense was never threatened but the Lions put up 354 yards against the Cougar defense that didn’t get a three-and-out stop until midway through the fourth quarter. Senior captain Isaiah Kaufusi had a fumble recovery in the first half that he returned to the UNA six-yard line.

First time in the Kalani Sitake era that #BYU has scored more than 60 points.

Last time the Cougars scored 60+ was against Wagner in 2015.#UNAvsBYU #BYUFootball @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 21, 2020

Safety Malik Moore had an interception and led all BYU defenders with five tackles in the 52-point victory.

BYU’s 66 points are the highest scoring total in a game during the Kalani Sitake era (since 2016) and the most since a win over Wagner in 2015 where the Cougars scored 70 points.

9️⃣ STRAIGHT pic.twitter.com/24mZxtvztU

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 21, 2020

The Cougars are now 9-0 and don’t have a game scheduled until December 12th against San Diego State. Will they get a game between now and the 12th is what we will all be watching the next few weeks.