Brigham Young 50, South Florida 21
(AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Associated Press
TAMPA, Fla. - BYU had to wait out a 2 1/2-hour weather delay to get its season started, then took just 11 seconds to score its first touchdown.
The No. 25 Cougars scored 38 straight points in the first half and cruised to a 50-21 victory over South Florida.
Wide receiver Puka Nucua scored on a 75-yard inside run on the first play from scrimmage of the game and added a second rushing touchdown. Christopher Brooks rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown as BYU dominated the line of scrimmage and ran the ball for 314 yards.
Jaren Hall was efficient, completing 25 of 32 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. He completed passes to 12 receivers.
South Florida was sluggish out the gate. Gerry Bohanon, a highly touted transfer from Baylor, had an interception returned for a touchdown by Max Tooley in the first quarter.
Wide receiver Xavier Weaver had five catches for 113 yards from the Bulls and Jimmy Horn scored on an 89-yard kickoff return to open the second half.
THE TAKEAWAY
BYU: The Cougars have loaded up their schedule with ranked opponents in hopes of getting some consideration for a New Year's Six bowl six. It was important to get off to an impressive start Saturday and BYU came out the gate strong, taking a 28-0 lead in the first 11 minutes.
USF: Bulls coach Jeff Scott is 3-19 at USF. This year USF was expected to at least be in contention for a bowl going into the final stretch of the season. But with a tough slate of games in September and October, it's unlikely that will be the case.
| Scoring Summary |
| First Quarter |
BYU | USF |
| BYU |
TD |
14:49 |
Puka Nacua 75 yard TD run (Jake Oldroyd Extra Point) |
7 |
0 |
| BYU |
TD |
8:44 |
Puka Nacua 5 yard TD run (Jake Oldroyd Extra Point) |
14 |
0 |
| BYU |
TD |
7:58 |
Max Tooley 33 yard interception return for TD (Jake Oldroyd Extra Point) |
21 |
0 |
| BYU |
TD |
4:00 |
Keanu Hill 21 yard TD pass from Jaren Hall (Jake Oldroyd Extra Point) |
28 |
0 |
| Second Quarter |
BYU | USF |
| BYU |
TD |
7:19 |
Dallin Holker 13 yard TD pass from Jaren Hall (Jake Oldroyd Extra Point) |
35 |
0 |
| BYU |
FG |
2:11 |
Jake Oldroyd 39 yard field goal |
38 |
0 |
| USF |
TD |
0:14 |
Jaren Mangham 1 yard TD run (Spencer Shrader Extra Point) |
38 |
7 |
| Third Quarter |
BYU | USF |
| USF |
TD |
14:44 |
Jimmy Horn Jr. 90 yard kick return for TD (Spencer Shrader Extra Point) |
38 |
14 |
| BYU |
SF |
7:39 |
Team safety |
40 |
14 |
| BYU |
TD |
5:32 |
Christopher Brooks 52 yard TD run (Jake Oldroyd Extra Point) |
47 |
14 |
| USF |
TD |
2:23 |
Brian Battie 9 yard TD run (Spencer Shrader Extra Point) |
47 |
21 |
| Fourth Quarter |
BYU | USF |
| BYU |
FG |
10:29 |
Jake Oldroyd 37 yard field goal |
50 |
21 |
| Team Stats |
| |
BYU |
South Florida |
| First downs |
28 |
13 |
| Rushing |
13 |
6 |
| Passing |
15 |
6 |
| Penalty |
0 |
1 |
| 3rd Down Efficiency |
7-13, 54% |
3-12, 25% |
| 4th down efficiency |
2-2, 100% |
2-4, 50% |
| Rushes-Yards |
37-312 |
26-121 |
| Passing Yards |
261 |
172 |
| Return Yards |
59 |
252 |
| Completions-Attempts-Int |
25-32-1 |
17-30-1 |
| Sacks-Yards Lost |
1-1 |
1-0 |
| Punts |
2 |
4 |
| Fumbles Lost |
1-0 |
1-0 |
| Penalties - Yards |
4-35 |
3-25 |
| BYU Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| J. Hall |
25 |
32 |
261 |
2 |
1 |
| South Florida Passing |
| Player |
Cmp |
Att |
Yds |
TDs |
Int |
| G. Bohanon |
17 |
30 |
172 |
0 |
1 |
| BYU Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| M. Tooley |
1 |
33 |
| South Florida Interceptions |
| Player |
Int |
Yards |
| M. LaPointe |
1 |
12 |
| BYU Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| R. Rehkow |
2 |
72 |
36.0 |
| South Florida Punting |
| Player |
Punts |
Yards |
Avg |
| A. Stokes |
4 |
164 |
41.0 |
| BYU Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| T. Gunther |
1 |
7 |
7.0 |
| South Florida Punt Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| BYU Kick Returns |
| Player |
Ret |
Yards |
Average |
| T. Gunther |
1 |
19 |
19.0 |
| BYU Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
| South Florida Missed FG |
| Player |
Length |
