BYU working again Chris Brooks (2) runs in for a landing throughout BYU’s season opener towards USF on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. Robert W. Grover, for the Deseret Information
BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick toyed with South Florida’s protection throughout a lot of the Cougars’ 50-21 win in Tampa on Saturday.
He had the luxurious of measurement, expertise, weaponry and quarterback Jaren Corridor. He may afford to maintain it vanilla, simply deploy his smash-nose zone run recreation with an occasional flip go to a deep secure of receivers.
Roderick lived a play caller’s dream of creating the run after which embarrassing the Bulls’ protection with the go. Corridor discovered tight finish Dallin Holker and receiver Keanu Hill for touchdowns. He accomplished passes to 12 totally different receivers because the Cougars amassed 575 whole yards to the Bulls’ 293.
Three BYU working backs gained greater than 50 yards.
BYU led 38-0 after which tried laborious to maintain .
It was cat nip.
Very good blocking right here by the BYU offensive line.
— Benjamin Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) September 4, 2022
Christopher Brooks takes it to the home for a 52 yard landing.
Clark on the combo
Blake gobbling up the second stage
Masen again aspect minimize
Chris hits it like bullet pic.twitter.com/yh7ILTf0D2
However BYU must be higher in all phases subsequent Saturday when defending Massive 12 champion Baylor involves Provo.
BYU’s protection gave up simply 14 factors. The Cougar cover-return workforce gave up the opposite TD on a kick return by Jimmy Horn Jr.
Particular groups breakdowns, missed assignments on a number of USF third-and-long performs, and an occasional lack of focus will all be on the whiteboard Monday when the 1-0 and No. 25 Cougars get to respective place rooms.
Head coach Kalani Sitake will certainly take pleasure in his season opener, however he’ll additionally deploy his “love and be taught” philosophy to enhance the following few days.
Puka Nacua scored a pair of dashing touchdowns on jet sweeps and Max Tooley registered a choose six to rocket the Cougars to a blowout 28-0 lead within the first quarter.
It was as candy a begin as Sitake may have requested for after a two-hour storm delay. At the moment, the Cougars have been somber and reflective because the Bulls held a rock live performance of their locker room.
The somber workforce set the tone early, and it was sufficient.
BYU’s offensive line dominated USF for half the sport, and that was sufficient for Cal switch Chris Brooks to search out his rhythm.
Within the second half, after Lopini Katoa softened up the USF defensive entrance, Brooks ripped off a 50-yard landing, trying each bit the man who is anticipated to select up the slack for the departed Tyler Allgeier.
That line play set the tone of the sport early when Blake Freeland, Masen Wake and Brooks created an ideal crease for Nacua to take the primary play of the sport to the home. It was a 76-yard racehorse dash to pay dust to start out the sport.
On BYU’s subsequent possession, Nacua ran the jet sweep to the opposite aspect, the place Wake and tight finish Holker led a blocking wall for one more TD run.
Sitake received Brooks and freshmen receivers Kody Epps, Terence Fall and Chase Roberts their first touches. They handed the look take a look at.
He received tight finish Isaac Rex on the sphere from final yr’s season-ending damage. The massive factor now could be how will Rex really feel Sunday and Monday after enjoying lots of downs?
Then there’s Nacua.
He’s BYU’s Cadillac go-to star.
The Washington switch placed on an electrical present within the first quarter earlier than leaving the sport with an ankle sprain.
With the opposite starter Gunner Romney unable to start out, the damage to Nacua now looms massive because the Cougars head dwelling. Preliminary experiences say trainers have been being cautious with Nacua, placing him in a protecting boot and sending him to the bench on this contest that was over early.
The standing of those guys is a precedence checked field merchandise for this workforce heading into the house recreation towards No. 10-ranked Baylor.
BYU was alleged to look polished with a nation-leading variety of returning starters on the sphere. Corridor got here out firing and appeared each bit the assured veteran, finishing 25 of 32 passes for 261 yards and a pair of TDs. His first choose of the season got here on a compelled go into the tip zone to Hill when he had Roberts open close to the sideline ultimately zone.
This was a stable opener street win for BYU with an odd kickoff delay. Predicted and delivered was this victory.
Now the laborious stuff comes with Baylor and a visit to a hurting Oregon workforce that was ranked No. 11 earlier than dropping to Georgia on Saturday.
They’re within the weeds now.