BYU Pulls Away From Utah Tech For Blowout Win On Senior Day

PROVO, Utah – In the first BYU/Utah Tech meeting on the gridiron, BYU pulled away in the second half from the Trailblazers. BYU defeated Utah Tech, 52-26.

#BYU defeats Utah Tech, 52-26.#BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/bhsaFaveYz

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2022

Here’s a breakdown of how the game played out via social media.

Pregame Notes

• First-ever meeting
• Both teams will face off again in 2026
• The weather forecast calls for a lot of sun. Bad news? The high will only be 34 degrees today. So bundle up if you’re coming to LaVell Edwards Stadium.
• Two BYU football staffers (Justin Anderson & Patrick Hickman) and one Utah Tech assistant (Shane Hunter) will wear blue and orange Virginia gear to honor the UVa shooting victims. All three men worked for the Virginia football program under Bronco Mendenhall.
• Utah Tech has a lot of connections to BYU football. Head coach Paul Peterson was a graduate assistant for BYU in 2006 and is the younger brother to former BYU QB Charlie Peterson.
• Utah Tech plays in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Despite not playing in that league since 1998, BYU still holds the record for most league championships (19).
• BYU honored former basketball coach Dave Rose as the “Y Lighter” for the game. Rose coached at both BYU and Dixie State when during his basketball coaching career.

Utah Tech jumps out to an early lead in First Quarter

Utah Tech has an early 3-0 lead on #BYU after making a 47-yard field goal.#BYUFootball #TheRise

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

One drive out of a bye week is excusable to have some early struggles. Time for #BYU‘s offense to take off from here. #BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

#BYU RB Lopini Katoa fumbles. Utah Tech recovers and takes over in BYU territory.#BYUFootball #TheRise

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Brutal start to Senior Day for #BYU RB Lopini Katoa. Fumbles on his first carry of the game and Utah Tech is in business.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

Tough start for the #BYU offense. A punt on the opening drive followed by a fumble by Lopini Katoa.

Utah Tech with great field position and a chance to grab a double-digit lead on the road. #BYUFootball

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 19, 2022

Brutal start to Senior Day for #BYU RB Lopini Katoa. Fumbles on his first carry of the game and Utah Tech is in business.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

#BYU’s best play works again.

The screen play to Hinckley Ropati continues to flourish. #BYUFootball

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 19, 2022

Utah Tech gets another defensive stop against #BYU.

On 3rd & 7, BYU pitches to Chris Brooks for his first carry since Liberty and the Trailblazers keep Brooks well short of the sticks.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

Did the season end in Boise? #BYU is struggling in all phases today early on.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

@UtahTechFB scores first touchdown off long passing touchdown against #BYU 🏈 https://t.co/Xi9gxvVEIJ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Utah Tech goes with a jet sweep to Joey Hobert on 4th & 2, #BYU‘s defense gets the stop. Needed that.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

End of the 1st Quarter@UtahTechFB – 6@BYUfootball – 0 pic.twitter.com/dFFYkhj2H0

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Back-and-forth Second Quarter

Keanu Hill TD grab gets BYU on the board. pic.twitter.com/6yVyDWYOgI

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Great catch by Keanu Hill for the first #BYU TD of the game.

He fought through tight coverage to make the play.

His 5th TD grab of the season. #BYUFootball

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 19, 2022

Jake Oldroyd bringing back his game-winner green cleats from his freshman season in 2016.#BYU #BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

Utah Tech pops off an 80-yard touchdown pass to retake the lead against #BYU.

Deven Osborne has two catches for 134 yards on the day.#BYUFootball #TheRise

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Gabe Jeudy-Lally gives up a deep ball intended for Deven Osborne it appears & the result is a long TD pass for Utah Tech TD to re-take the lead at 13-7. Coverage bust of the highest order there for BYU. Abysmal for the Cougars’ secondary #UTUvsBYU #BYUfootball #BYU

— Jake Hatch (Yawk) – Slava Ukraini (@JacobCHatch) November 19, 2022

Jaren Hall goes deep to Chase Roberts for a 59-yard TD!#BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/LVO0RzQDnC

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Jaren Hall throws a deep ball to Chase Roberts for a 59-yard touchdown pass.

Roberts has endless potential as #BYU moves into the Big 12 era. He's going to be one of the faces of the offense moving forward.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

Utah Tech believes they belong on this same field as #BYU.

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

Utah Tech with another touchdown. Trailblazers star Joey Hobert with his first TD grab of the day.

Utah Tech – 20
BYU – 14

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Jaren Hall worked all off-season on his deep ball accuracy and there’s no doubt his work with John Beck and others paid off.

His accuracy is night-and-day better than last year.

Hall with 3 30+ yard passing touchdowns in the first half against Utah Tech. #BYU #BYUFootball

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 19, 2022

BYU matching up well with Utah Tech

— Patrick Kinahan (@PKKinahan) November 19, 2022

BYU matching up well with Utah Tech

— Patrick Kinahan (@PKKinahan) November 19, 2022

28 points for #BYU 🏈 in the second half.

Can the Cougar defense slow down the Utah Tech offense after halftime to open this game up? #BYUFootball

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 19, 2022

Impressive first half for #BYU QB Jaren Hall, which included two deep ball TD passes against Utah Tech.#BYUFootball #GoCougs https://t.co/uPDEoKaDrB

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Halftime@BYUfootball – 28@UtahTechFB – 20 pic.twitter.com/qjBQOuJMyw

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Keanu Hill is having himself a day for #BYU 🏈 #BYUFootball https://t.co/x474McptHG

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

First half summary from #BYU vs. Utah Tech.

Cougs lead the Trailblazers 28-20 at the half.#BYUFootball #TheRise https://t.co/sXEy8QEhF2

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Third Quarter

Both #BYU and Utah Tech open up the third quarter with punts to start the second half.

BYU offense is returning to the field. Will they take over this game from this point forward?#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

BYU's inability to get sacks is weird. They seemingly go high every time& QB's are able to escape it pretty easily #UTUvsBYU #BYUfootball #BYU

— Jake Hatch (Yawk) – Slava Ukraini (@JacobCHatch) November 19, 2022

TD run for Jaren Hall! pic.twitter.com/sMBNzE0ICJ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

Jaren Hall just surpasses 400 passing yards for the first time in his career.

Nice to see him put up BIG numbers in possibly his last game at LES. #BYU #BYUFootball

— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 19, 2022

Jaren Hall has set a career-high for passing yards in a game, 424 yards.

Impressive outing from Hall in what could be his last home game as a #BYU player.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

End of the 3rd Quarter@BYUfootball – 35@UtahTechFB – 20 pic.twitter.com/1qFOmuxZjq

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

BYU closes it out in the fourth quarter

Two words: Bowl Eligible!

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 19, 2022

Isaac Rex touchdown … drink 🥤 pic.twitter.com/Dw8ETSWZ5F

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 19, 2022

The narrative that Jaren Hall isn't going to the NFL is ridiculous. He has NOTHING to gain by returning one more year. He will be 25 years old by the time the draft comes around. He has enough on tape and enough interest to go now.#BYUFootball l @KSLSports

— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_KSL) November 20, 2022

Nice speed from BYU WR Terence Fall on a jet sweep. He's made progress this season. #BYU has a lot of quality options at receiver moving into the Big 12.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2022

Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch and his BYU/Utah Tech coverage on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.

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