Three Observations From BYU’s Loss On The Teal Turf
Dec 5, 2020, 9:22 PM
BYU takes the field against Costal Carolina (Courtesy of BYU Photo
PROVO, Utah – The BYU Cougars chance at a special season came to an end in Conway, South Carolina on the teal turf.
The Chanticleers tackled BYU wide receiver Dax Milne at the one yard line preventing Zach Wilson and the BYU offensive from engineering a game-winning touchdown drive.
Although the outcome closes the door on a NY6 bowl game invitation, Kalani Sitake and the BYU Cougars deserve credit for playing the game on short notice.
Final. pic.twitter.com/yKtklkTca3
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 6, 2020
Miscues, penalties, and missed opportunities will haunt the Cougars for a while. They had several chances to alter the outcome of this game, but they came up one yard short.
Here are my three observations from a heartbreaker against Coastal Carolina.
1. BYU rush defense struggled
I made a bold prediction on Cougar Sports Saturday that the BYU defense would hold Coastal Carolina below 150 rushing yards. Well, you win some, and you lose some.
The Chanticleers ran all over BYU in this game. I think it was the main reason they upset the Cougars.
Coastal Carolina rushed for 281 yards while possessing the football for nearly 38 minutes.
Give credit to the BYU defense for getting the ball back one final time, but the offense could have benefited from another possession or two.
Coastal's ground attack can't be stopped. They've racked up 151 yards rushing.#BYU was allowing 88.1 per game coming into this matchup.#BYUvsCCU #BYUFootball @kslsports
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 5, 2020
The Chanticleers possessed the ball for over 11 minutes in first quarter. It felt like the defense needed an adjustment after the 17 play 94 yard drive scoring drive, but the Cougars weren’t able to solve the spread offense.
2. Halftime brawl
I don’t normally condone a mid-field brawl, but good on Isaiah Kaufusi and BYU for protecting their quarterback after a cheap shot.
Zach Wilson threw an interception to end the half and was immediately wrestled down to the teal turf by Chanticleer defender Teddy Gallagher.
He was joined shortly by defensive end Jeffrey Gunter who repeatedly drove Wilson into the ground.
Coastal taking cheap shots on #BYU QB Zach Wilson.#BYUvsCCU #BYUFootball @kslsports pic.twitter.com/AWC77EOUmp
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) December 6, 2020
A defender is allowed to block the quarterback on an interception return, but that was not a football block.
There’s no need for that stuff in the game of football. We hear how it’s important to protect the players, well that type of play needs to be eliminated if players health and safety is truly “important.”
I’m fired up after that uncalled for assault on Zach Wilson.
There’s just no need for that in football. PROTECT THE PLAYERS. MY GOODNESS. #BYU
— Matthew Baiamonte (@baiamontematt) December 6, 2020
Quarterbacks are nearly untouchable in the pocket, but a defender can repeatedly throw a quarterback into the turf 60 yards away from the play. That doesn’t make sense to me.
The rules committee needs to address this situation in the off-season and eliminate it from happening again.
3. Dax Milne tip-toeing down the sideline
Milne scored the only touchdown in the air on a nifty play where he caught a pass on a simple out route and took it to the house.
He finished the game with six receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown. That’s his fifth game with 100 or more receiving yards this season.
DAX MILNE TIP-TOE
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 6, 2020
Gunner Romney, Neil Pau’u, and Dax Milne have become quite the trio for the Cougar passing game.
Milne in particular has been outstanding this season. He’s putting himself in position to have a shot at the NFL after next season.
With all guys returning next year, the BYU offense will be loaded against a difficult schedule.
Wide Receiver Coach Fesi Sitake has done a phenomenal job with this group. It wasn’t easy replacing Micah Simon, Talon Shumway, and Aleva Hivo, but this new trio hasn’t missed a beat.
You can hear Matt Baiamonte every Saturday on KSL Newsradio for Cougar Sports Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. or you can find him on Twitter here.
