No. 22 BYU Steamrolls Through LA Tech As Cougars Find Their Groove

PROVO, Utah – The debate every week during the 2020 college football season has been, how good is this BYU team?

Whatever your talking point, BYU is just crushing their opposition each week. Friday night was no different as No. 22 BYU welcomed in Louisiana Tech from Conference-USA for the first time in program history. Like the games against Navy and Troy, BYU steamrolled to a blowout win showing once again how dominant this team is amidst the global pandemic.

BYU defeated LA Tech by a score of 45-14 in front of another empty LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The scoring for BYU got started with Zach Wilson scampering in for a nine-yard touchdown run and it felt like the rout could be on right there. But LA Tech, unlike Navy or Troy, was able to fight back early on. Wide receiver Smoke Harris converted a quick pass from quarterback Luke Anthony for a 66-yard touchdown to tie things up. But that positive momentum for the Bulldogs would not last long.

Final. #BYU is 3-0 for the first time since 2014.#LTvsBYU #GoCougs #BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/jtz16nVYQM

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 3, 2020

Into the second quarter is when BYU broke things open with Wilson throwing his first touchdown pass of the night to redshirt freshman Carter Wheat.

.@zachkapono ➡️ @CarterWheat to put the Cougs back in front.#BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #LTvsBYU https://t.co/OxRrEURxgQ

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 3, 2020

BYU’s offense continue to hum along despite not having star center James Empey who was out with an undisclosed injury. Empey had a boot on his right foot during pregame warmups. In replace of him was former East High standout Joe Tukuafu. BYU continued to win in the trenches resulting in a big second quarter.

As reported earlier on BYU Sports Network (heard on @kslnewsradio), center James Empey is out tonight. Wearing a boot on his right foot. Joe Tukuafu, who moved from OT to Center this year will get the start.#BYUFootball @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 3, 2020

The Cougars found the endzone two more times in the second quarter with Tyler Allgeier scoring on a one-yard TD and then Gunner Romney hauling in a 22-yard reception near the end of the first half to cap off a flawless two-minute drill from the BYU offense.

Zach Wilson in the first half = 🔥#BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #LTvsBYUhttps://t.co/MY3qB91mPa

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 3, 2020

Into the second half, it was much of the same. BYU has had a lot of success this season with stepping on the gas to open the second half. They put the game out of reach from the Techsters of Ruston with a Zach Wilson 1-yard TD to make the game 35-7 and BYU coasted from there.

"Nobody’s playing better than this guy right now. Maybe somebody is playing as well, but I don’t think anybody is playing better than Wilson.” – ESPN’s Dave Flemming on @BYUfootball QB Zach Wilson 🤙#BYU #GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL #LTvsBYU https://t.co/yFh0GYaDw4

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) October 3, 2020

Wilson capped off BYU’s scoring with his third rushing touchdown of the night with 13:25 remaining in the fourth quarter, ending his impressive performance that saw him pass for 325 yards on 24-of-26 attempts. Good for his third straight QB rating of over 200. This time he ended the night with a QBR at 222.7.

Human highlight reel 🎞 pic.twitter.com/ZEVtDEGXrM

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) October 3, 2020

BYU now moves to 3-0 and will host UTSA next Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium.