Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Micah Simon (13) runs in the open field after making a catch, setting up the game-tying field goal, as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News

By Dick Harmon

Receiver Micah Simon wears his pass efficiency badge as proudly as a combat pin and he’s not taking any guff over the fact that he’s only thrown two passes all season in the effort.

Simon, a senior, who has made a remarkable contribution off and on the field for the Cougars this season, represents the motivation of BYU in workouts for the SoFi Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu Dec. 24.

Do it for the seniors, is the mantra.

Simon has a 2019 pass efficiency rating of 504. He has a perfect 2-2 passes for 57 yards and one touchdown.

“I take pride in that. I don’t let anybody get away with disrespecting that,” he said.

Simon played quarterback at Bishop Dunne Catholic High School in Dallas and led his team to its first Texas Independent School championship in 24 years. He doesn’t care if he’s only thrown two passes this year, both on trick plays. He is 2 for danged 2 and a TD.

The senior has stepped up in 2019. He’s developed into a likable and respected leader for receiver coach Fesi Sitake and offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes. He’s set a work ethic example, become a comfortable team spokesman. He will also always have that stunning catch at Tennessee that set up a victory he’ll remember forever.

He also believes the Cougars have a lot of work to do to prepare for the bowl game. He is certain there is enough energy, pride and healthy bodies to get it done in Honolulu.

In the receiver room, he says he takes great pride in the hard work shown by fellow seniors Aleva Hifo and Talon Shumway. He likes how they have made plays, worked their tails off and been productive this season.

Simon’s 46 catches is five more than tight end Matt Bushman. Shumway has 40 and Hifo 37 in an offense that has spread the ball around despite losing key running backs Ty’Son Williams, Sione Finau and Emmanuel Esukpa to injuries.

“I love the job they’ve done and I really love what Fesi Sitake has brought to our offense.  Having been a coordinator, he really has a great understanding of how it all comes together. He’s been a good teacher and kept us together all season long.”

Shumway had a career-high six catches at San Diego State with 83 yards. That put him over 500 receiving yards this season (539). He became the third BYU receiver with more than 500 this year, along with Simon and Bushman. It is the first time since 2015 the Cougars have had three players with at least 500 yards receiving.

The 2019 offense has outperformed 2018. Even with a dismal, non-touchdown loss at San Diego, the team produced more than 400 yards in that disappointing loss. If you take the numbers this year before adding what will be produced in the bowl game, there is progress, at least statistically, by this seven-win team.

Scoring crept up from 27.2 to 28 points a game. The offense gained 5,264 in 12 games compared to 4,744 in 13 games by the 2018 team that finished in the bowl game in Boise.

All of these numbers will be added upon after the SoFi Hawaii Bowl.

In 2018, the Cougars gained 2,753 yards passing; 2019 has that topped by 674 yards with 3,427 and is 154 yards rushing behind last year’s effort (1,991 to 1,837). This team averages 6.2 yards per play to last year’s 5.5 and there is a significant difference in total offense per game, 438.7 this year compared with 364.9 a year ago with an easier schedule.

It is debatable as to whether this team overachieved or underachieved. Or was average or above average. It did have a legitimate chance at 10 wins when many experts predicted seven.

Few, if any, projected wins at Tennessee and ranked teams Southern Cal and Boise State.  Many thought Utah State would be in BYU’s loss column because of recent trends with Aggie trajectory and returning QB Jordan Love who faced BYU backups Jaren Hall and Baylor Romney.

On the other hand, head-scratching losses to Toledo and South Florida after holding leads in those road games and a disappointing season finale loss at San Diego State showed the program’s biggest challenge is consistency.

“We have some losses we aren’t happy about and there are things we should have done that we didn’t. But we have had some great wins and have made progress as a team. We’re looking forward to preparing and playing in this bowl game and it means a lot to the seniors to go out with a win and get younger players needed experience,” said Simon.

Bowl prep continues this week in Provo. It does so with a lot left to prove.