Aug 31, 2015
9:18:19am
9:18:19am
week 3 - @ UCLA
Week 3 - #19 BYU (2-0) @ #8 UCLA (2-0) - Sat Sept 19, 2015 - 10:15 p.m EST – FoxSports1
ESPN is sad they miss out on this GameDay-worthy matchup featuring the Cougs, who are gaining lots of national respect as people are beginning to remember Taysom Hill and the 2014 BYU Cougars before he went down and the Bruins, who look as dominant on defense early as anyone in the nation. 2 big-time wins by BYU also helps the cause and everyone is drooling over Taysom’s gaudy stats. UCLA meanwhile has looked sharp defensively but only had to play UVA at home and UNLV on the road. They won both games convincingly and still sit in the top-10, with a huge P12 south showdown @ UofA next week. The Bruins prove to be talented but also distracted, for more than one reason.
Taysom has thrown the ball over 100 times the first two weeks and is obviously making a concerted effort to use his legs less and slide more. BYU will need to rely on his perfectly sculpted legs though in this one as the BYU WR’s struggle to get open against tough, man coverage and Brown/Carter/Hine just aren’t JSwag.
One of the few passing plays to go big is an early screen pass to Jeurgens who goes the distance and put BYU up 7-0 early in the second quarter. Coach Jim Mora opted to start the season with true freshman Josh Rosen (#1 QB and #2 overall prospect by Rivals) instead of steady veteran, Jerry Neuheisal. Rumor has it, this has created a bit of turmoil in the locker room. Rosen has backed it up by winning the first two games, but hasn’t been super impressive in either win, and he looks rattled by Bronco’s complex defensive packages and constant pressure. He throws 2 picks and UCLA fumbles another ball during their only decent drive to give BYU another great shot to score. Algie, who has now fumbled in every game so far, coughs up another one on the ensuing drive.
This is an ugly, turnover-filled battle, that might just be decided by special teams…which is a scary thought given BYU’s kicking situation.
Taysom manufactures something out of nothing and rushes 6 times on a long, 12 play drive, to build a 14-0 lead going into the half. Mora comes out of half time saying he’ll give Rosen one more shot in the 3rd and go to Neuheisal immediately if needed. Mora shouldn’t have waited. Kaufusi tips a pass at the line and speedster Micah Hanneman picks it off and runs 48 yards to the endzone to give BYU a commanding 21-0 lead. Rosen storms off the field and chucks his helmet on the ground, getting an earful from his head coach.
Can Neuheisal save the day? BYU has a history of looking bad against back-up QB’s…this game proves no different. UCLA rallies around the savvy veteran and goes on two straight scoring drives and narrows the gap 21-14 heading into the 4th. Bronco decides to go for it on 4th down and 4 from UCLA’s 35 yard line b/c Bronco doesn’t trust Sampson from beyond 40 out and Hine gets stuffed in the backfield for a loss. Neuheisal leads UCLA on another scoring drive but BYU at least forces them into a field goal. Taysom throws his second pick of the game and Neuheisal appears to be the hero as he leads the Bruins on another TD drive with 3 minutes left, to give UCLA their first lead of the game, 24-21.
Taysom cements his early season hesiman run by willing his team to victory. But this doesn’t come without some trickeration. On the opening sequence after the UCLA kickoff BYU gets stuck in a 4th and 8 situation thanks to a holding penalty and appears to be punting (obviously) from their own 33. However, “Johnny Rugby” as he’s been dubbed, makes his first big impression on the season as he tucks the ball on his roll out and absolutely plows over the only UCLA defender between him and the first down. He gains 22 yards and gets forced out of bounds. He nearly starts a melee as he starts barking in his Australian accent to the UCLA players on the sideline. Taysom later scrambles on 3rd and long and runs over the UCLA safety to get the first down. Hill uses his feet again and finds Mathews streaking down the sideline with time running down. The ruling on the field was a catch, and after 4 minutes of review, it stands, much to the chagrin of Bruin fans. 5 plays later, Taysom hits Terren Houk for a TD across the middle and BYU survives, 28-24.
Player of the Game – Taysom Hill – 20/39 189 yds, 2 TD’s, 2 INT’s, 21 rushes, 159 yds, 2 TD’s
ESPN is sad they miss out on this GameDay-worthy matchup featuring the Cougs, who are gaining lots of national respect as people are beginning to remember Taysom Hill and the 2014 BYU Cougars before he went down and the Bruins, who look as dominant on defense early as anyone in the nation. 2 big-time wins by BYU also helps the cause and everyone is drooling over Taysom’s gaudy stats. UCLA meanwhile has looked sharp defensively but only had to play UVA at home and UNLV on the road. They won both games convincingly and still sit in the top-10, with a huge P12 south showdown @ UofA next week. The Bruins prove to be talented but also distracted, for more than one reason.
Taysom has thrown the ball over 100 times the first two weeks and is obviously making a concerted effort to use his legs less and slide more. BYU will need to rely on his perfectly sculpted legs though in this one as the BYU WR’s struggle to get open against tough, man coverage and Brown/Carter/Hine just aren’t JSwag.
One of the few passing plays to go big is an early screen pass to Jeurgens who goes the distance and put BYU up 7-0 early in the second quarter. Coach Jim Mora opted to start the season with true freshman Josh Rosen (#1 QB and #2 overall prospect by Rivals) instead of steady veteran, Jerry Neuheisal. Rumor has it, this has created a bit of turmoil in the locker room. Rosen has backed it up by winning the first two games, but hasn’t been super impressive in either win, and he looks rattled by Bronco’s complex defensive packages and constant pressure. He throws 2 picks and UCLA fumbles another ball during their only decent drive to give BYU another great shot to score. Algie, who has now fumbled in every game so far, coughs up another one on the ensuing drive.
This is an ugly, turnover-filled battle, that might just be decided by special teams…which is a scary thought given BYU’s kicking situation.
Taysom manufactures something out of nothing and rushes 6 times on a long, 12 play drive, to build a 14-0 lead going into the half. Mora comes out of half time saying he’ll give Rosen one more shot in the 3rd and go to Neuheisal immediately if needed. Mora shouldn’t have waited. Kaufusi tips a pass at the line and speedster Micah Hanneman picks it off and runs 48 yards to the endzone to give BYU a commanding 21-0 lead. Rosen storms off the field and chucks his helmet on the ground, getting an earful from his head coach.
Can Neuheisal save the day? BYU has a history of looking bad against back-up QB’s…this game proves no different. UCLA rallies around the savvy veteran and goes on two straight scoring drives and narrows the gap 21-14 heading into the 4th. Bronco decides to go for it on 4th down and 4 from UCLA’s 35 yard line b/c Bronco doesn’t trust Sampson from beyond 40 out and Hine gets stuffed in the backfield for a loss. Neuheisal leads UCLA on another scoring drive but BYU at least forces them into a field goal. Taysom throws his second pick of the game and Neuheisal appears to be the hero as he leads the Bruins on another TD drive with 3 minutes left, to give UCLA their first lead of the game, 24-21.
Taysom cements his early season hesiman run by willing his team to victory. But this doesn’t come without some trickeration. On the opening sequence after the UCLA kickoff BYU gets stuck in a 4th and 8 situation thanks to a holding penalty and appears to be punting (obviously) from their own 33. However, “Johnny Rugby” as he’s been dubbed, makes his first big impression on the season as he tucks the ball on his roll out and absolutely plows over the only UCLA defender between him and the first down. He gains 22 yards and gets forced out of bounds. He nearly starts a melee as he starts barking in his Australian accent to the UCLA players on the sideline. Taysom later scrambles on 3rd and long and runs over the UCLA safety to get the first down. Hill uses his feet again and finds Mathews streaking down the sideline with time running down. The ruling on the field was a catch, and after 4 minutes of review, it stands, much to the chagrin of Bruin fans. 5 plays later, Taysom hits Terren Houk for a TD across the middle and BYU survives, 28-24.
Player of the Game – Taysom Hill – 20/39 189 yds, 2 TD’s, 2 INT’s, 21 rushes, 159 yds, 2 TD’s
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