Lopini Katoa Gives BYU Two Touchdown Lead With Long Run

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – BYU junior running back Lopini Katoa scored the Cougars’ second touchdown of the game with a long run into the end zone.

Katoa’s 39-yard touchdown gave BYU a 14-0 lead over Navy with 7:16 remaining in the first quarter.

In 2019, Katoa ran the ball 85 times for 358 yards and 4 touchdowns. For his career, the American Fork graduate ran in his 13th career rushing touchdown.

#BYU is running wild tonight in Annapolis.

Lopini Katoa with a 39-yard TD! #BYU dominating up front tonight.@BYUfootball 14 | @NavyFB 0#BYUvsNAVY | #GoCougs

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 8, 2020

The Cougars started their second drive at their own 48-yard line after forcing Navy to punt for the second consecutive possession. Katoa started the series with a 2-yard run followed by an 11-yard connection between quarterback Zach Wilson and wide receiver Dax Milne. Katoa ran in the touchdown on the next play.

Through the first two drives, Zach Wilson completed one of his three pass attempts for 11 yards. BYU had 100 rushing yards on 7 carries. Katoa had 49 yards and Allgeier added 48 yards after scoring BYU’s first touchdown of the game. Milne also ran the ball once for three yards.

3️⃣9️⃣ yard rush for the 2nd TD of the game!@LopiniKatoa has 49 yards on 3 rushes. pic.twitter.com/9tGFRIz9ab

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 8, 2020

Navy is known for running the triple option. BYU has contained the run through the first three offensive drives for the Midshipmen. On 11 rush attempts, Navy had just 30 yards and 2.7 yards per carry average. BYU averaged 14.3 yards per carry through two drives.