Week 4 – #15 BYU (3-0) @ WVU (2-0) – Sat, Sept 24, 2016 – FedEx Field – Landover, MD – 4:00pm EST – ESPN2/ABC mirror

BYU is flying high and was the biggest mover in the AP poll this week, jumping 7 spots! WVU eeked a sloppy W in an opener against Mizzou, then throttled Youngstown State by 77 points. They have a bye to prepare for BYU and this kickoff is somewhat “early”, though not as bad as 2015 UM game.

While WVU graduated 20 players from last years team and their best playmaker on each side of the ball (RB Smallwood, and CB Worley) went to NFL, they’ve got their QB back who was MVP of bowl game against ASU (500+ yards) and has already thrown for 752 yards this season in 2 games!

BYU’s touted defensive backfield is tested early and often. While they get beat a time or two they are holding their own against one of the most potent offenses in the country. BYU is down 14-10 at half and Taysom gets rocked hard on a sack early in the 3rd. The entire cougar nation gasps as he sits out a few drives. There really is no drop off as Tanner gets his first real early game action all year and does well, completing 4/5 passes and leading BYU to two easy FG attempts, both of which miss!

Ty’s strategy is to then slow the game down and just pound it down their throats in the 2nd half…boy does it work. With Taysom checking back in, allegedly ok, Jamaal, Burt and Canada, BYU amasses 247 rushing yards in the 2nd half alone! Taysom is a perfect 8/8 passing for 148 yards and 2 TD’s in the second half, but the running attack is something else to behold. The OL doesn’t seem as gassed as in years past with the “GFGH” system and still has energy in 4th to wear people down physically.

WVU only has time to score two more times the entire game. After BYU fails to close the gap with the missed FG right after Taysom got “injured”, WVU had a big return on the kickoff, added a TD, then went nearly 10 minutes of game time before their offense ran a play! Taysom orchestrated a 22-play drive that took 9:49 seconds and culminated on a short TD run by Canada. (This included two 4th and short conversions as Kalani obviously doesn’t trust the kicking game)

A dropped pass and a timely pass break up by Nacua resulted in a quick 3 and out by WVU and another LONG drive by Taysom highlighted by him calling his own number from 2 yards out. 24-21 BYU leads.

WVU’s Howard leads them on a potentially game-tying TD drive with only 2 minutes left but Fred Warner tips the pass on a roll out and secures the BYU win…24-21!

Players of the Game – RB crew (JSwag, Burt, Canada) – 44 carries, 345 yards, 3 TD’s