Zach Wilson returns, seniors shine as BYU clinches bowl eligibility with 42-10 stomping of Idaho State; Cougars accept Hawaii Bowl invitation

PROVO — Sophomore quarterback Zach Wilson returned to the field after a four-game absence and numerous seniors shined on Senior Day as BYU clinched bowl eligibility on a sunny Saturday afternoon at LaVell Edwards Stadium. 

Senior safety Austin Lee gave the Cougars their first score on a pick six — his first career touchdown — while senior Talon Shumway hauled in a pair of TD receptions and senior Micah Simon rushed for a touchdown in BYU’s 42-10 win over FCS opponent Idaho State. 

After the final home game of the season ended, athletic director Tom Holmoe officially accepted an invitation to the Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve in Honolulu.

Mele Kalikimaka, Cougars.

“The guys are really excited about it and to get the chance to extend the season by another game,” coach Kalani Sitake said about the bowl invitation.

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“We get to go to Hawaii instead of Idaho this year,” said Wilson, referring to last year’s appearance in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. 

In Wilson’s first start since Sept. 28 at Toledo, where he suffered a thumb injury, he completed 19 of 31 passes for 187 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He was replaced early in the fourth quarter by Joe Critchlow, who completed 5 of 5 passes for 58 yards.

“He’s been gone for a long time and we were trying to get him in the swing of things and shake off the rust.” — BYU coach Kalani Sitake, on quarterback Zach Wilson

“He’s been gone for a long time and we were trying to get him in the swing of things and shake off the rust,” Sitake said of Wilson.   

Meanwhile, BYU’s mammoth 6-foot-4, 321-pound junior defensive lineman Khyiris Tonga, who likely was playing in his final home game as he’s publicly stated that he’s declaring for the NFL after the season, scored his first career touchdown on a 3-yard run in the third quarter. 

That TD was set up by senior Dayan Ghanwoloku’s interception. 

Other highlights included freshman Sione Finau’s 102 rushing yards on 16 carries; freshman running back Jackson McChesney’s 46 yards on 10 attempts; and freshman wide receiver Keanu Hill’s three receptions for 40 yards. 

“A lot of young guys came in and made some plays,” Sitake said. 

With the win, the Cougars improved to 6-4 and extended their winning streak to four games, while the Bengals dropped to 3-8. 

BYU’s offense sputtered early on, gaining a total of 17 yards on its first two possessions that ended in punts. 

On Idaho State’s second series, Lee picked off Bengal quarterback Matt Struck off a tipped pass by Chris Wilcox, who was playing in his first game of the season, and ran 26 yards for a touchdown.

“Chris Wilcox is the one that made that play happen,” Lee said.

“He’s been wanting that for a long time,” Sitake said of Lee’s first career TD.

Through three offensive drives, the Cougars had 42 yards of total offense. An impressive one-handed catch by Simon on a deep pass was negated by a holding call.

BYU was penalized seven times in the first half. 

“Man, it was rough at times,” Wilson said. 

In the second quarter, the Cougar offense found some rhythm. Simon scored a 12-yard touchdown on a jet sweep early in the period to give BYU a 14-0 lead.

Idaho State got on the board when Kevin Ryan’s 27-yard field goal hit the left upright and bounced through the goal posts to make it 14-3. 

The Cougars extended their lead to 21-3 on a 16-yard run by Finau before BYU recorded a blocked punt when Kyle Griffitts forced an ISU blocker into the path of the kick, which hit the blocker in the back of the helmet. 

A few plays later, Wilson threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Shumway, who leaped high in the air to snatch the ball as BYU seized a 28-3 advantage.

The Cougars had another opportunity to score late in the second quarter, but Jake Oldroyd’s 38-yard field goal attempt was no good. 

Idaho State’s lone touchdown came on Malakai Rango’s 54-yard run midway through the third quarter. 

BYU visits UMass next Saturday.

EXTRA POINTS: Former BYU star Jamaal Williams, the school’s all-time leading rusher and current member of the Green Bay Packers, attended Saturday’s game and ran out the alumni flag. ... The Cougars are now 14-0 all-time against FCS opponents. … Announced attendance was 57,379.