Seniors made precious memories in BYU’s home football finale, while promising newcomers finally got their chance to shine

PROVO — Senior starters such as Dayan Ghanwoloku, Austin Kafentzis, Austin Lee, Talon Shumway and Micah Simon didn’t disappoint in their final home game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday. All of those starters and several other final-year players contributed memorable plays in BYU’s 42-10 win over Idaho State in front of 57,379 appreciative fans.

It truly was Senior Day, just as head coach Kalani Sitake promised it would be.

“Just thankful for our players,” Sitake said after a raucous locker room celebration in which athletic director Tom Holmoe hugged the fourth-year while wearing a T-shirt that suggested Sitake deserves a contract extension. “They played hard and gave the seniors a win in their last game at home.”

The Hawaii Bowl-bound Cougars (6-4) now turn their attention to what should be another cupcake on their November schedule, 1-10 UMass. Having won four straight games for the first time since finishing 2016 with five straight wins, BYU is a whopping 42-point favorite over the Minutemen on Saturday at 10 a.m. MST at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium in Amherst.

It would not be a surprise to see as many BYU fans as UMass fans at the 17,000-seat stadium in central Massachusetts, given the opposite directions in which the teams are headed.

“Thank you to all the fans that were there to support us (against Idaho State),” Sitake said. “I thought they were loud and made a lot of noise and had a lot of energy. Just really thankful for the position we are in right now. We got a little bit of a streak going, and so looking forward to getting number seven next week on the road. So, we are ready to roll.”

“Thank you to all the fans that were there to support us (against Idaho State). I thought they were loud and made a lot of noise and had a lot of energy. Just really thankful for the position we are in right now. We got a little bit of a streak going, and so looking forward to getting number seven next week on the road. So, we are ready to roll.” — BYU head coach Kalani Sitake

As BYU built its 28-3 halftime lead to 42-3 in the third quarter, it became Newcomer Day as well. Freshmen such as tight end Carter Wheat, running back Jackson McChesney, receiver Keanu Hill and linebacker Ben Bywater either played their most significant minutes in a Cougar uniform or made their BYU debuts, while players who were injured at the start of the season — most notably defensive backs Chris Wilcox and Troy Warner — got to play for the first time in 2019 as well.

Coaches held the players out until now so they can play four games and not lose their redshirt seasons. After the UMass game, the Cougars travel to San Diego to take on old conference rival San Diego State on Nov. 30 and then finish up against an opponent from either the Mountain West or the American Athletic Conference in the SoFi Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24 at 6 p.m. MST.

“A lot of those young guys played and made some plays,” Sitake said. “I was impressed with Keanu Hill and the things that he can do. There are a lot of other guys that got really significant reps that will allow them to grow up a lot faster.”

Hill, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound speedster from Bedford, Texas, caught three passes for 40 yards and seemingly scored the first touchdown of his career. However, officials ruled him down at the 1-yard line, and the Cougars subsequently took a knee to run out the close in the final two minutes, a sportsmanlike gesture that was appreciated by ISU coach Rob Phencicie.

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“The first thing I want to do is thank Kalani Sitake for the class operation he runs,” Phencicie said. “What he did at the end of the game may not be a popular decision among fans, but he gets it.”

Wheat, the son of former BYU offensive lineman Warren Wheat, had one reception for 8 yards in his first action of the season. With starting RB Lopini Katoa resting due to injury, the 6-foot, 205-pound McChesney became starter Sione Finau’s primary backup and had 10 carries for 46 yards. One long run was called back by a holding penalty.

“Sione and Jackson McChesney did a good job with the carries that they had and the opportunities to be out in space. I thought Jackson showed some really good things,” Sitake said. “And that’s what we’ve always seen Sione do. It was really cool to get him more carries and more opportunities to make plays because he’s really good and tough.”

Lee, the senior, led BYU in tackles with five, in addition to notching the first pick-six of his career. Bywater, the freshman from Olympus High in Salt Lake City, tied for fourth on the team with three tackles in his Cougar debut.

Wilcox, out since the middle of last season with a knee injury, deflected the pass that Lee returned for the touchdown.

“I would never thank myself,” Lee said of his interception. “I thank my Heavenly Father and Chris Wilcox. Chris Wilcox is the one that made that happen. … That ball just floated into my hands perfectly and guys made some key blocks to make it happen. It was a great memory to have, for sure.”

For seniors and newcomers alike.

Cougars on the air

BYU (6-4) at Massachusetts (1-10)

At Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, Mass.

Saturday, 10 a.m. MST

TV: FloSports

Radio: 1160 AM, 102.7 FM