BYU Cougars quarterback Jaren Corridor (3) scores a landing on a keeper throughout the recreation towards the Utah Tech Trailblazers at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. Spenser Heaps, Deseret Information
STANFORD, California — Suffice it to say Saturday night time’s BYU-at-Stanford matchup received’t be the most-attended or most-watched school soccer recreation within the nation this weekend.
Heck, it is likely to be one of many least-watched and attended BYU video games this season, rivaling the introduced attendance complete of 24,012 who took in Liberty’s 41-14 victory over the Cougars in Lynchburg, Virginia. And there'll most likely be extra BYU followers at Stanford Stadium than Cardinal followers, given how Stanford’s season goes.
“I believe it's simply our delight as opponents. We love the game. We love what we do, and we like to win. And we delight ourselves on being glorious. So that's what we're striving for. We hope that Stanford brings its ‘A’ recreation as a result of we wish to carry our ‘A’ recreation as nicely.” — BYU linebacker Pepe Tanuvasa
One other issue that can possible preserve attendance low: Kickoff for Stanford’s Senior Night time, and the primary Cougars-Cardinal soccer recreation since 2004, is at 9 p.m. MST. It is going to be televised by Fox Sports activities 1 and go head-to-head with the Apple Cup — Washington at Washington State — for viewership.
Nevertheless, don’t be fooled.
Gamers and coaches on each side have been insisting all week that this recreation means one thing, regardless that the Cougars (6-5) have already clinched bowl eligibility and the Cardinal (3-8) are simply taking part in out the string and making an attempt to keep away from a second straight 3-9 marketing campaign.
“The main focus that I've proper now, the main target of our workers and student-athletes, by means of this vacation week, is to organize our group to ship our seniors out with a victory,” Stanford coach David Shaw mentioned Tuesday.
Added Stanford freshman defensive again Scotty Edwards, who prepped at Salt Lake Metropolis’s Olympus Excessive earlier than a church mission to South Africa: “It's a huge recreation for us. Clearly it has been a tricky season for our program, however our seniors have given a lot to this program, we simply need to ship them off on Senior Night time with a superb style of their mouths.”
Edwards and three different teammates with Utah ties — senior linebackers Levani Damuni (Windfall) and Spencer Jorgensen (Provo) and quarterback Tanner McKee (mother and father graduated from BYU) — have hung out this week prepping teammates about BYU and the way necessary video games towards Pac-12 and Energy 5 groups are to the Cougars.
“It's equally necessary to us,” Edwards informed the Deseret Information Wednesday.
What about BYU? What drives and motivates the Cougars to complete their closing regular-season recreation as an impartial earlier than they head off to the Huge 12?
Junior linebacker Keenan Pili, who walked final week on Senior Day at LaVell Edwards Stadium after the 52-26 win over Utah Tech, however nonetheless hasn’t determined but whether or not he'll flip professional or return in 2023, mentioned all of it comes all the way down to delight and relishing each recreation as whether it is their final.
“I've mentioned it earlier than: I've a tough time considering that the blokes wouldn’t be motivated,” Pili mentioned. “We've got a lot to show nonetheless. We've got had a tricky season, and issues occurred that we didn’t need to occur, like that (four-game) shedding streak. That is one other likelihood to complete the season robust.”
Though hundreds of BYU followers who reside within the Bay Space are anticipated to attend, the Cougars say they want a quick begin — not like final week — as seven-point favorites to get the Cardinal fascinated about the offseason. A dry, breezy, chilly night time is anticipated, with temperature at kickoff round 52 levels.
“I believe it's simply our delight as opponents (that motivates BYU),” mentioned linebacker Pepe Tanuvasa. “We love the game. We love what we do, and we like to win. And we delight ourselves on being glorious. So that's what we're striving for. We hope that Stanford brings its ‘A’ recreation as a result of we wish to carry our ‘A’ recreation as nicely.”
BYU offensive lineman Joe Tukuafu, who is certainly transferring on, mentioned the Cougars’ “respect for the sport” has pushed them this week to solid off distractions similar to Thanksgiving with household and bowl recreation discuss and deal with the duty at hand.
“We're simply taking it like an enormous recreation, respecting it sufficient to respect our opponent to look at the movie and apply what is required,” Tukuafu mentioned. “… It is going to be good to get Thanksgiving on this week and to get out to Palo Alto and play Stanford.”
BYU is comparatively wholesome on offense — RBs Chris Brooks and Miles Davis returned final week — and may have the ability to transfer the ball on Stanford, which is giving up 432.5 yards and 31.9 factors per recreation. The Cougars have received seven straight November video games, and are averaging 603.5 yards per recreation in two video games this month, wins over Boise State and Utah Tech.
However offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick is cautious, having confronted Stanford defensive coordinator Lance Anderson a number of occasions when Roderick was on Utah’s workers.
“They're a Pac-12 program that's actually well-coached. It seems to be like they're slightly beat up proper now, however I've coached towards these guys a very long time. I do know they are going to be able to play,” Roderick mentioned. “Regardless of what their document is or what their roster is, we must go play nicely to have an opportunity to win.”
With former BYU recruiting goal McKee on the controls, the Cardinal is averaging 20.9 factors and 360.7 yards of offense per recreation, modest totals. They’ve gone towards some actually good defenses, although, in posting a 1-8 convention mark.
“We've got received to have the ability to get that proper mix of protection and go rush,” BYU safeties coach Ed Lamb mentioned on his Coordinators’ Nook program. “They don't seem to be a one-dimensional group. We've got received to cease Tanner, we've got received to cease their receivers. Their offensive line is bodily and opens up holes.
“They is likely to be struggling within the win-loss (class), however make no mistake, this can be a good group that has a win over Notre Dame. Our gamers know all about how good Notre Dame is. It is going to be a superb problem for us.”
One of many storylines in per week that hasn’t had many is the return to Stanford of BYU graduate-transfer fullback Houston Heimuli, a former Cardinal group captain. Heimuli has largely been relegated to particular groups in Provo, however a man can dream, can’t he?
“Oh yeah, only a landing can be nice,” Heimuli mentioned of his “dream situation” for Saturday’s recreation. “And even main a landing. I might be advantageous with both. Simply taking part in in that stadium once more and contributing is what I need to do.”
Even when not lots of of us are watching.
Cougars on the air
BYU (6-5) at Stanford (3-8)
Saturday, 9 p.m. MT
Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California
TV: Fox Sports activities 1
Radio: KSL Newsradio 102.7 FM/1160 AM