BYU Rolls In Second Half To Pull Away From Georgia Southern
Nov 20, 2021, 5:09 PM | Updated: 5:09 pm
STATESBORO, GA - NOVEMBER 20: Jaren Hall #3 of the Brigham Young Cougars rushes for yards during the first quarter at Allen E. Paulson Stadium on November 20, 2021 in Statesboro, Georgia. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – The outcome for BYU football against Georgia Southern was what everyone expected. However, it wasn’t as easy as many had forecasted.
No. 14 BYU defeated Georgia Southern 34-17 in the Cougars’ first-ever trip to Allen E. Paulson Stadium in Statesboro, Georgia.
Coming off a bye week, Kalani Sitake said Georgia Southern had some similarities to Coastal Carolina because of their triple-option attack.
Like Coastal a year ago, the GS triple-option gave BYU some fits in the first half. The nationally-ranked Cougars, who are looking to find a way into a New Year’s Six bowl, found themselves down 17-14 in the second quarter.
This resilient BYU football squad didn’t get shell shocked by the deficit, instead, they bounced back from the adversity and took over the game.
Quarterback Jaren Hall passed for 312 yards and two touchdowns and running back Tyler Allgeier carried the rock 25 times for 136 yards and a TD to lead BYU to victory.
BYU football outgained Ga. Southern 510 to 268 in the victory. The Cougars improve to 9-2 on the season.
BYU Football Pregame
For the second time this season, @BYUFootball has lost one of their defensive captains for the season due to an injury.#BYU #GoCougs https://t.co/4PaGYFJSie
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Kalani Sitake in radio pregame on the injury to season-ending surgery for #BYU LB Payton Wilgar:
“He had surgery on his shoulder and in order to get him back in the right amount of time, the decision had to be made whether to do it now or later.”#BYUFootball @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
First Quarter notes
With Payton Wilgar out for the remainder of the season, #BYU comes out in a 4-2-5. The two linebackers are Ben Bywater and Max Tooley.#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Solid end to the drive after the #BYU defense to force a FG.
It wasn’t pretty early, but they clamped down later in the possession.
7 minute drive, however, is not great.
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 20, 2021
Georgia Southern runs off 7:46 of game clock on the opening drive.
13 plays, 54 yards, ends in a field goal.#BYU down early to the Eagles.#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Great start for Samson Nacua, who is in an elevated role with the injury to Neil Pau’u.#BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Lopini Katoa gets @BYUfootball on the board. Touchdown!#BYU #GoCougs #BYUvsGS pic.twitter.com/qIVm9GPNbq
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Aaron Roderick not holding back on that first series. #BYU was aggressive with tempo, got the ball to the playmakers.
If GS can’t stop #BYU on the ground with an 8-man box, they are in for a long day against the Cougs offense.#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Cosmo hanging out with @BlooperBraves in Statesboro. #BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS pic.twitter.com/vXMIiEinfd
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Pepe Tanuvasa was everywhere on that three out stop by the #BYU defense.
It feels like he’s found a permanent home this season as an edge rusher. #BYUFootball @kslsports
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 20, 2021
Brayden Keim getting the start in replace of an injured Campbell Barrington today. Doing a nice job in his first career start at right tackle.#BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
.@Lopini4 with the spin 🌪 and score 🤙#BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #BYUvsGShttps://t.co/4cKkqiLzzD
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Gunner Romney’s ability to recover from injuries is honestly remarkable. Two injuries this year that looked serious, bounced back from both. #BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
#BYU offense is starting to take off in Georgia.@BYUfootball – 7@GSAthletics_FB – 3
End of 1st #BYUFootball #GoCougs #BYUvsGS
📷: @BYUPhoto pic.twitter.com/IzmilyqTPY
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Chase Roberts sighting on the sideline!
Would love to se him get some run today.
Highly recruited guy who will likely factor into the WR group next season. #BYU #BYUFootball
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 20, 2021
Second Quarter
Puka Nacua in for the score! @AsapPuka #BYU 14, Ga. Southern 3#BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/87XVVTXF75
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
#BYU RB @tylerallgeier17 passed Luke Staley to move into 8th all-time in career rushing yards in @BYUfootball history. #GoCougs
📷: @BYUPhoto pic.twitter.com/3X6GuQbPCL
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
.@J_tom24 ➡️ @AsapPuka 6️⃣#BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #BYUvsGShttps://t.co/dfgSC7ygYF
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Georgia Southern recovers an onside kick. The Eagles are playing with nothing to lose. #BYU special teams unit with a big blunder in the second quarter. #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Bleh 🤮. #BYUFootball snoozing a little on defense and special teams. Offense is rolling but after a bye week, everyone else looks sloppy as hell.
— Alex Kirry (@AlexKirryKSL) November 20, 2021
Jaren Hall took a hard hit on the 4th down incomplete pass. Will he return?
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
What a joke. That was not targeting.
That rule is pathetic. #BYU @kslsports
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 20, 2021
Letter of the law. Targeting.
Brutal law.
Wish Tooley would've slipped his head to the side.
Long trip for nothing. pic.twitter.com/BYrhMrrtBO— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) November 20, 2021
Wow. Max Tooley is now ejected for targeting.#BYU was already without Keenan Pili and Payton Wilgar, now Tooley is out for the remainder of this game.#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Morgan Pyper replaces Max Tooley at linebacker. #BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
This broadcast tandem on the call for ESPN+Plus giving me flash backs to the UMass game on their public access cable.
— Alex Kirry (@AlexKirryKSL) November 20, 2021
Georgia Southern with an 11-yard TD run.
No. 14 #BYU trails Georgia Southern 17-14 with 6:25 remaining in the 2nd quarter.#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Even the Ga Southern rotc is caught off guard by this game. They can’t get that Cannon loaded fast enough after a couple of quick scores from GSU. #BYUFootball
— Alex Kirry (@AlexKirryKSL) November 20, 2021
Jaren Hall first throw after taking a hard hit, a 47-yard bomb to Gunner Romney. #BYU #BYUvsGS #BYUFootball @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Puka Nacua going down with an injury is brutal for #BYU. He's been a star in Aaron Roderick's offense.#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
This BYU v Georgia Southern game is a sloppy mess. It's on par with this ESPN+ broadcast.
Terrible look on the onside kick (correct call by officials)
Multiple false starts.
Targeting ejection.
Dropped passes
And giving up run gaps like this?!?
BYU needs a half-time reset. pic.twitter.com/mYH4iiKtTw— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) November 20, 2021
Pair of false starts stalled #BYU's drive that started with a 44-yard grab from Jaren Hall to Keanu Hill. #BYU settles for another Jake Oldroyd field goal.
Masen Wake appeared to express frustration to officials after the false start calls. Was pointing towards GS defense.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
.@tylerallgeier17 continues to climb the ranks of BYU's greatest running backs 🏈🏃♂️#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS https://t.co/24cuNg4s4K
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Kalani Sitake said to @mitchell_juergs on #BYU Sports Network (@kslnewsradio) that the Ga. Southern defense is saying, "Set, go!" Causing the #BYU false start penalties.#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
BYU didn't convert a single third down in the first half against Georgia Southern (0-4). #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Dallen Graff (@lilthoint) November 20, 2021
People asking about the Keanu Hill hit. Looks to me like the Georgia Southern defender hit with his hands 1st. Hard to totally tell though.
What do you think?
Looks clean to me. pic.twitter.com/cNHRazzRQ3— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) November 20, 2021
Closer than anyone expected.#BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/ne7gHbbdw3
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Third Quarter
Wow. Puka Nacua is back on the field.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Great to see Puka Nacua back in the game.
Wasn't sure we'd see him again after the injury in the 2nd Q. #BYUFootball @kslsports
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 20, 2021
BYU is missing their starting LBs.
Badly.
Very Badly.
Just looking back at 1st half.
BYU relies so heavily on their LBs to take on blocks, slam down gaps and make tackles. Missing key starters is no excuse, but is a big reason for BYU's lack of defense in that 1st half.— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) November 20, 2021
TD #1️⃣8️⃣ this season for @tylerallgeier17. 🤙 #BYU #BYUFootball #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/VeawJ23Zpi
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Great offensive series for #BYU. The stars stepped up to set the tone for the second half in Jaren Hall, Tyler Allgeier, Puka Nacua, and Gunner Romney.#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Touchdown Tyler activated 😤 #BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #BYUvsGS @tylerallgeier17https://t.co/X1MaBffz9j
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Jaren Hall and the #BYU offense have been airing it out today.
I love it! Take advantage of the WR matchups.
Hall is well on his way to another 300 yard passing game. #BYUFootball @kslsports
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 20, 2021
Ryan Rehkow sure takes advantage of his limited opportunities 😂
— Dallen Graff (@lilthoint) November 20, 2021
Elite punt from Ryan Rehkow. GS will start from their own 7 yard line.
Flips the field with a 63-yard punt.#BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Nick tackle from Ben Bywater. He's the leader of the linebacker room without Pili and Wilgar. #BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Jakob Robinson picks off GS RB Amare Jones. Stops the Eagles drive that was in #BYU territory.#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
INT vibes@jakobrobinson87 x #GoCougs #BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
📷: @BYUPhoto pic.twitter.com/hn2kqHhLlZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Through three quarters in Statesboro…@BYUfootball – 27@GSAthletics_FB – 17#BYU #GoCougs #BYUvsGS
📷: @BYUphoto pic.twitter.com/5Qi1Fhp9Z8
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Fourth Quarter
JAKOB ROBINSON WOW
— Dallen Graff (@lilthoint) November 20, 2021
Jakob Robinson with his second interception of the day. What a grab. Showing off that athleticism. #BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
GS linebacker Michael Edwards III with a shove at #BYU WR Samson Nacua.
Samson's younger brother Puka saw it and took exception to Edwards' actions, shoving him back. #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
TD No. 2 for Puka Nacua. Elite talent.#BYU #BYUFootball #BYUvsGS
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Thank you head official for wiping off the unsportsmanlike penalty after the sweet TD grab from Puka Nacua.
Let these kids enjoy the moment. It's okay for some emotion to be shown. #BYU #BYUFootball
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 20, 2021
PUKA TD x2!!! #BYU #GoCougs #BYUvsGS pic.twitter.com/3rywFVg0mY
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
.@jakobrobinson87 = Ballhawk 🔵🤙🏈#BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #BYUvsGS https://t.co/vd1J6dmgXZ
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
Big offensive numbers for #BYU today.
– Jaren Hall: 300+ pass
– Tyler Allgeier: 100+ rush
– Team: 500+ yards#BYUFootball #BYUvsGS— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 20, 2021
Kalani Sitake is a class act…but #BYU needs to score a touchdown here.
41-17 looks much better than 34-17.
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 20, 2021
Keeps. Making. Big. Plays. 🤙#BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #BYUvsGS @AsapPukahttps://t.co/rxd5aM4LTU
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 20, 2021
This is mind boggling to me that #BYU is kneeling the ball while GSU has 3 timeouts left.
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) November 21, 2021
With Ga. Southern getting called for unsportsmanlike penalty, this feels like one of those moments where Kalani and #BYU should look to add another TD. But they plan to kneel it down.
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) November 21, 2021
With the win, the Cougars improved their record to 9-2 this season.
BYU’s next game will be its regular-season finale on the road against the USC Trojans. The Cougars and Trojans will play on Saturday, November 27 at 8:30 p.m. (MDT) on ESPN and KSL NewsRadio (102.7 and 1160 AM).
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 him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
