BYU operating again Lopini Katoa (4) runs the ball whereas stiff-arming East Carolina Pirates Julius Wooden (32) in a NCAA faculty soccer recreation Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Provo, Utah. The Pirates received 27-24. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
If any individual had advised the BYU Cougars earlier than their eventual 27-24 loss to East Carolina Friday evening in entrance of 55,525 followers at LaVell Edwards Stadium that they'd maintain the Pirates to 27 factors and put up 227 dashing yards themselves, they'd have thought they'd be those operating wildly across the discipline on the finish of the sport to rejoice a streak-snapping win.
However as has been the case all season, nothing comes straightforward for head coach Kalani Sitake’s seventh staff.
The Cougars bought their operating recreation going for the primary time because the Baylor recreation again on Sept. 10, however faltered in different areas and swallowed their fourth-straight loss. Not since 2017, when it dropped seven straight, has BYU suffered this many losses in a row.
“We bought ourselves out and I do know that we aren't going to fold. We're going to preserve working and you will see enhancements as a result of that's the character of this staff. No person imagined we'd be on this state of affairs this 12 months. However it's what it's and we gotta reply in addition to attainable.” — BYU operating again Lopini Katoa.
And it doesn’t get simpler. The Cougars (4-5) are at Boise State subsequent Saturday earlier than getting a much-needed bye week.
With main rusher Chris Brooks out with a hamstring harm, Lopini Katoa and Miles Davis stepped up admirably for the Cougars. Katoa had a season-high 116 yards and a landing on 20 carries, whereas Davis ran 11 occasions for 46 yards.
Quarterback Jaren Corridor picked up 60 on eight carries, however it was a future on third-and-3 negated by an iffy holding penalty on Kingsley Suamataia that BYU followers received’t quickly neglect.
“It hurts extra as a result of all the great efforts are (for naught),” Katoa mentioned. “It's bittersweet.”
The irony is that when the Cougars actually, really want a pair yards on the bottom, they couldn’t get them. Corridor was snuffed on a 4th-and-1 quarterback sneak, and Davis was held to no yards on 4th-and-2 from the ECU 12 when the Cougars in all probability ought to have settled for a discipline aim to take a 3-point lead early within the fourth quarter.
“It's robust. These are occasions the place us as operating backs, we wish to have delight, and wish to get the ball in these quick yardage conditions,” Katoa mentioned. “However we didn’t decide up (first downs) after we wanted to. So it's robust.”
One other time, on third-and-2 from their 17, the Cougars opted for a brief move to tight finish Masen Wake, however it fell incomplete on what could possibly be argued was an important possession of the season.
“Clearly, when it's within the second (it stings),” Katoa mentioned. “It is only one play at a time, and do your job, get it carried out. However all people is aware of we try to get again on observe; Yeah, it was an enormous second for us.”
Katoa mentioned the Cougars labored on their operating recreation in follow all week, and “undoubtedly needed to determine the run recreation and decide it up from the place it has been the previous few weeks.”
Heart Connor Pay changed Joe Tukuafu within the beginning lineup after shedding that spot a number of weeks in the past, and the Cougars appeared to get higher push than in a month, apart from the play by which Corridor was stuffed.
“It was simply good operating behind the large fellas. They performed nice. They labored onerous,” Katoa mentioned. “They've performs they need again like all of us do. However yeah, happy with the large fellas up entrance.”
Katoa mentioned he was on the staff in 2017 when the Cougars received simply 4 video games, however appears like it is a way more proficient bunch.
“It's bizarre. After I first bought right here, we skilled comparable adversity and it has kinda come full circle,” he mentioned “And it's bizarre, as a result of there's a lot expertise and potential. The potential of this staff is large. It's a bizarre feeling.
“There are lots of guys who had been right here after we had been in a hunch,” he continued. “We bought ourselves out and I do know that we aren't going to fold. We're going to preserve working and you will see enhancements as a result of that's the character of this staff. No person imagined we'd be on this state of affairs this 12 months. However it's what it's and we gotta reply in addition to attainable.”