Cougars win 14-0 but fail to impress on offense
BYU football fans were expecting a fireworks show on Saturday night as the Cougars opened their 2023 season against Sam Houston at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Instead, they got a defensive slugfest that left many wondering if the hype and excitement surrounding the program’s move to the Big 12 was premature.
The Cougars managed to shut out the Bearkats 14-0, thanks to a stellar performance by their defense and special teams, but their offense was lackluster and inconsistent, producing only 257 total yards and two touchdowns. BYU punted nine times, committed eight penalties, and failed to convert a fake punt attempt that gave Sam Houston a chance to score in the fourth quarter.
BYU coach Kalani Sitake said he was happy with the win but not satisfied with the way his team played. He said he saw too many long faces in the locker room after the game and wanted his players to enjoy the victory.
“I think we need to celebrate wins more,” Sitake said. “I think we’re being too hard on ourselves. We won the game, we shut them out, we did some good things. We have a lot of things to improve on, but I don’t want our guys to be down.”
BYU offense fails to find rhythm and explosiveness
The Cougars entered the season with high expectations on offense, despite losing several key players from last year’s squad that averaged 43.5 points per game. BYU brought in experienced transfers from Power Five programs, such as wide receiver Puka Nacua from Washington, quarterback Jaren Hall from Utah State, running back Christopher Brooks from California, and offensive linemen Blake Freeland and Harris LaChance from Utah.
However, none of them were able to make a significant impact in their debut as Cougars. Nacua caught only three passes for 19 yards, Hall completed 15 of 25 passes for 131 yards and one touchdown, Brooks ran for 42 yards on 12 carries, and Freeland and LaChance struggled to protect Hall from Sam Houston’s pass rush.
The only bright spot on offense was freshman running back LJ Martin, who scored both of BYU’s touchdowns on runs of 15 and 9 yards. Martin finished with 72 yards on 13 carries and showed some speed and elusiveness that the Cougars lacked in their running game.
Sitake said he was confident that his offense would improve as the season goes on and that he had seen them perform better in practice and scrimmages.
“I know what this offense can do,” Sitake said. “I’ve seen them be explosive against our defense. I’ve seen them make plays. I think we just need to get into a rhythm and get some confidence.”
BYU defense and special teams shine in shutout
While the offense struggled, the defense and special teams carried the Cougars to victory with some clutch plays and timely stops. BYU held Sam Houston to 178 total yards and forced three turnovers, including two interceptions by cornerback Jakob Robinson.
Robinson picked off Sam Houston quarterback Ty Brock twice in the second half, including one in the end zone that prevented a potential touchdown. Robinson said he was just doing his job and trying to help his team win.
“I was just reading the quarterback’s eyes and making a play on the ball,” Robinson said. “I’m glad I was able to come up with those interceptions and give our offense some opportunities.”
The Cougars also got a boost from their punter Ryan Rehkow, who averaged 46.8 yards per punt and pinned the Bearkats inside their own 20-yard line six times. Rehkow said he was happy to contribute to the team’s win and praised his coverage unit for their effort.
“I think we did a great job as a punt team,” Rehkow said. “We had some great hang time and some great placement. Our gunners did a great job of getting down there and making tackles.”
The only blemish on special teams was a failed fake punt attempt in the fourth quarter, when Rehkow tried to run for a first down but was stopped short by Sam Houston’s defense. Sitake said he took full responsibility for that call and that he was trying to be aggressive and put the game away.
“I thought we had a good look for it,” Sitake said. “It didn’t work out. That’s on me. I’ll learn from it and move on.”
BYU looks ahead to Southern Utah in Week 2
The Cougars will try to improve their offensive performance next week when they host Southern Utah at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, September 9. The Thunderbirds are coming off a 38-14 loss to Utah State in their season opener.
Sitake said he expects his team to be ready for another challenge and that he hopes the fans will continue to support them.
“We’re grateful for our fans and the energy they bring,” Sitake said. “We need them to be loud and proud. We’re going to work hard this week and get better. We’re excited for the next game.”
