BYU beats Hawaii 49-23 in first quarterback Zach Wilson

Provo • In the face of offensive challenges, BYU turned to Zach Wilson on Saturday night, hoping to regain the spark of the quarterback busy preparing Draper's Corner Canyon High to prepare for last season's playoffs.

Helped by teammates ready to play who seemed to play better with Wilson in training, the seventh freshman to start the quarterback for BYU staged an unprecedented offensive attack on Provo since 2016.

Replacing the senior Tanner Mangum in the starting lineup for the first time this season, Wilson handled the game well, played without error and contributed to the quick attack with a nice 23-yard pass in the box. goals. The Cougars returned to the winning streak of consecutive defeats against Washington and Utah State with a 49-23 victory over Hawaii in front of an announced crowd of 52,354 spectators at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The Cougars have improved to 4-3 while scoring the most points since their 52nd win over UMass two years ago, while Hawaii fell to 6-2 and still has not won at Provo, falling to 0-10 here.

Wilson was helped by something that Mangum did not appreciate during the Cougars' losing streak: a hasty attack. BYU accumulated more than 250 yards and the first-year player shot for 194 yards and three touchdowns, with an interception.

"He is confident in his ability to pitch, but he can also direct it," BYU coach Kalani Sitake told BYU's radio network before the match. "We'll see what he can do, but it's a good time for him to take over and give us a spark."

Seemingly boosted by the mid-season change and the rare sitting of a senior quarterback, BYU has achieved one of the best halves of the season by taking a 28-3 lead.

Wilson could have made a better start. He led the Cougars in touchdown passes on their first two possessions, and his quarterback rating was total. It was the first time since the San Jose State match in 2017 that the Cougars scored consecutive goals.

The 14 points doubled their first quarter production for the entire season, and the first touchdown was the first time they scored for their first possession in 2018.

Lopini Katoa ran 12 yards for the first touchdown after Sitake played the 4 and 1, and Wilson signed his first career win over a third-and-15 situation, knocking UH defender around the 15-yard box.

But just as BYU supporters were about to proclaim that the 19-year-old should have played all season, he made a rookie mistake. Two, actually.

Hawaiian linebacker Solomon Matautia escaped a certain interception when Wilson triggered a receiver. Rojesterman Farris, of UH, hit the nail.

Wilson has recovered well. On the next possession, he shot Talon Shumway for 16 yards and the Cougars did the rest of the field work. Former lineman Matt Hadley's first touchdown scored 21 yards and gave the Cougars a 21-0 lead with 7:24 left in the second quarter.

Hawaiian quarterback Cole McDonald, the country's second-leading smuggler, finally found a rhythm in the middle of the second quarter. His 42-yard pass to Cedric Byrd propelled the Warriors into BYU territory. However, BYU's defense forced three consecutive fouls on his 15, and UH selected a 33-yard placement by Ryan Meskell.

McDonald's still got his yards – he was 21 out of 35 for 247 yards and two touchdowns seven minutes from the end – but the essential came after halftime.

The first interception of Austin Lee, who earned him 36 yards for Hawaii 13, marks the fourth BYU touchdown in the first half. Dallin Holker signed a 13-yard pass with Wilson, TD's first career takeover of Holker and Wilson's first TD career.

The 28 points were the highest in the first half against a FBS opponent in the last four years of Sitake.

Riley Burt ran 4 yards for a touchdown and Wilson threw Aleva Hifo and Gunner Romney 24 and 26 yards in the second half.