Wilson shines in the first start for BYU, and other reflections after a 49-23 win

PROVO – BYU ended a two-game losing streak on Saturday night with a 49-23 win over a top 6-to-1 Hawaii program the year before LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo.

But the Cougars (4-3) had never gone astray to win their 23rd victory in the series of rivalries dating back to 1930.

Here are three ideas as BYU enters the week above .500 on the arm of the real quarterback Zach Wilson, of the Redshirt Backyard, Lopini Katoa, of the wide receiver of the freshman, Gunner Romney, and versatile rear Aleva Hifo, among others.

Zach Wilson spectacular early career

Wilson threw for 194 yards and three touchdowns, then 16 yards and another goal on his first career start at Provo. A few months away from his prom, Wilson became the youngest quarterback in BYU's history, at age 19 and two months, just ahead of Jake Heaps (19 years and 3 months) and Drew Miller (19) and 8 months).

Miller, who ended his university career in Montana, was the first real quaterback beginning of BYU's football history.

Wilson becomes the seventh real freshman to start part of the BYU story, joining a list that previously included Miller, Heaps, John Beck, Taysom Hill, Tanner Mangum and Joe Critchlow.

So was Wilson nervous for his first start, what he discovered earlier in the week?

Not by the way he showed himself.

"Every day, you just have to be grateful for what you have," Wilson said. "I trust the coaches and I was grateful for the opportunity that they offered me. I've tried to make the most of it and, fortunately, my team mates have helped a lot. "

Wilson's first pass attempt was six yards on Talon Shumway, and he completed 5 of 6 passes for 48 yards in his first 12- to 87-yard run that ended in Lopini Katoa's 12-yard run. .

It was not perfect – he made a choice in the second quarter – and Wilson will be the first to admit that when you throw a snag, you should not throw it at the corner of the room in consecutive games to allow an easy interception in Rojesterman Farris II. But it's a good place to build.

But a quarterback is only as good as his receivers, and the BYU underdogs captured 16 passes for 194 yards.

"I think it's a good starting point," said senior Dylan Collie. "Are we perfect or where do we want to be? Absolutely not. But we are on the roll, and I think it's really good. "

BYU's defense came to play

With defensive back Corbin Kaufusi in the middle of the linebacker, the Cougars did not exceed 28 meters in Hawaii while quarterback Cole McDonald began to find the pace in the second quarter. Half, Couguars were incessant with blitzes, pressure and making the caller signaling doing different readings of what he saw through seven games in 2018.

"We came out with an advantage, a chip on our shoulder," said Kaufusi. "That's how you have to play in defense."

The pressure was not always perfect, especially as McDonald accelerated his release. But the Cougars have collected three sacks, a peak in the season, during the first half of play and have reached the QB four times.

McDonald finished with 248 yards and two touchdowns with an interception, but took four sacks and ran for only 22 yards at goal.

Kaufusi led BYU with eight tackles, including two sacks and played up to three positions in the first seven places for the Cougars. Isaiah Kaufusi added seven tackles, with a sack, and Sione Takitaki had six tackles.

"On 10? I would probably give him a 6.5, "Isaiah Kaufusi jokes about his cousin, who gave himself" probably a four. "" You can not judge the way this man plays; he is a stud farm. That's all I can say. He is just a stud. We use it in a lot of positions, he played three of them tonight and be able to focus on those positions and play as he did show the type of baseball player that he is. "

The series is safe

It was supposed to be the year.

Armed with a high pass attack and John Ursua, a former star athlete from Cedar High, the Rainbow Warriors were expected to break their nine-game losing streak at Provo and ultimately impose BYU its first real hit on the road in the series of rivalries that dates back to 1930, according to many experts and fans of schools opposite.

Someone forgot to tell the Couguars, though.

Ursua had only one shot in the first half and finished with 89 yards in 9 receptions, Hawaii's first foray on a natural turf surface that limited her prolific offensive personality.

The run was there, but there was more shooting and fewer throws, as BYU's defense limited the Bows to just 63 yards on the floor, including 17 yards in the first half.

"I think it 's history of a decade or more of victories at BYU and Hawaii ever winners," said the UH coach, Nick Rolovich. "I think the games of 1989, 90 or 92 gave a little redemption to UH fans and the UH program. I think it was very important.

"I think it has a lot to do with the successful recruitment of BYU on the North Coast and Hawaii, in general."

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Sean Walker