FLAG BEARER
BYU has a tradition of selecting a player before each game to run the team flag onto the field. In 2008, the team implemented a new tradition—an alumni flag. The team selects a former Cougar to carry out the alumni flag, along with the chosen current player who runs out with the current team flag. Both flags are white with a blue “Y” logo. The flag is signed by current team members, while the alumni flag is signed by former BYU players. Their signatures reflect their commitment to uphold the tradition, spirit and honor of the BYU football program and to be a flag bearer of the University. Carrying the team flag was junior linebacker Matt Bauman, with former Cougar Chris Hoke carrying the alumni flag.
COIN TOSS
BYU won the opening coin toss for the fifth time this season as the game against New Mexico got underway. The Cougars elected to defer. BYU is now 5-0 when winning the opening coin toss.
COMPETING AS A RANKED TEAM
After today’s win against New Mexico, the Cougars are 144-41 when nationally ranked in the Top 25. Dating back to 2006, BYU has won 13 consecutive games while being nationally ranked.
TAKE YOUR PICK
Defensive back David Tafuna’s interception against New Mexico marked the fourth-straight game the Cougars have recorded a pick. BYU has totaled six interceptions in the first six games of the season.
HE WHO SCORES FIRST...
UNM’s 27-yard field goal with 11:40 remaining in the second quarter marked the first time this season BYU has not been the first to score. The last time a BYU opponent was the first to score was at the 2007 Las Vegas Bowl when UCLA lead 3-0 after a 22-yard field goal. The Cougars went on to win the game 17-16.
TRAILING COUGARS
With UNM up 3-0 following its field goal in the second quarter, the Cougars trailed for the first time since finding themselves down 14-21 in the third quarter against the Washington Huskies on Sept. 6.
BY GEORGE, I THINK HE’S GOT IT!
After averaging only 16.2 yards per game, and one touchdown with seven receptions on the season, tight end Andrew George came out strong against the Lobos. The junior caught BYU’s first touchdown reception of the day with 6:34 remaining in the second quarter, giving the Cougars the 7-3 lead. George caught his second touchdown reception of the day later in the third quarter on an 11-yard pass from Max Hall. By the end of the game, George racked up 22 yards on three catches.
WELCOME BACK REED
Today marked senior wide receiver Michael Reed’s first game back after missing the past two games due to injury. Reed caught the first pass on BYU’s first possession—a 16-yard reception from quarterback Max Hall. Reed ended the day with 23 yards on three receptions.
FUMBLE RECOVERIES
Junior defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen picked up his first fumble recovery this season in the second quarter today. The recovery marked Jorgensen’s first since 2006 when as a freshman he recorded two. BYU has recovered 12 fumbles throughout the first half of the season, tripling in that category since last year. The Cougars recovered only four fumbles the entire 2007 season.
SCORING HALL PASSES
Quarterback Max Hall’s touchdown pass to junior tight end Andrew George with 6:34 in the second quarter marked the eigth consecutive game Hall has recorded a touchdown pass, dating back to Dec. 1, 2007 at San Diego State. In fact, Hall has thrown a touchdown pass in 18-of-19 career games.
COLLIE HITS CENTURY MARK
Junior Austin Collie broke the 100-yard receiving mark for the fourth straight game with a career-high 155 yards on 9 catches against the Lobos. The last time Collie accomplished this feat was over a four games in 2007 (Nov. 3-Nov. 24). He has caught a touchdown in BYU's last five games.
CLIMBING UP THE BYU RECORD CHARTS
With his 155 yards receiving against the Lobos, Collie now has 2,390 career receiving yards, surpassing Chris Smith as No. 7 on BYU’s all-time record list. The junior needs only 40 more yards to pass Mark Bellini (2,429 yards) and claim the No. 6 spot.
With his touchdown against the Lobos, Collie now has 23 career touchdowns, needing only three more to make it into BYU’s top 10. Pete Van Valkenberg and Eric Lane currently hold the No. 10 spot with 26 career touchdowns.
Collie now has 10 career 100-yard receiving games, which is tied for third all-time at BYU with Phil Odle and Margin Hooks.
GOING FOR IT
BYU attempted its second fourth-down conversion attempt of the season on fourth-and-one on New Mexico’s 20-yard line during the second quarter. The Cougars were successful, with Harvey Unga running for a three-yard gain. Coincidentally, Unga converted on the first fourth-down attempt by BYU with a four-yard rush against Utah State.
PAPER OR PLASTIC
With less than one minute remaining in the game against New Mexico, junior linebacker Colebly Clawson recorded back-to-back sacks on Lobo quarterback Tate Smith. The sacks marked the third and fourth of Clawson’s career and combined for a loss of 22 yards. Junior defensive lineman Ian Dulan also recorded a sack against Smith earlier in the fourth quarter. Junior defensive lineman Jan Jorgensen is currently half a sack behind the MWC career record of 20.5, shared by New Mexico’s Michael Tuohy, TCU’s Chase Ortiz and former Cougar Brady Poppinga.
QUARTER REPORT
The Cougars held the Lobos scoreless in three quarters today. All totaled, BYU has recorded 16 shutout quarters thru the first six games of the season, including two shutouts wins over UCLA and Wyoming. BYU has outscored or tied its opponent in every quarter except two.
Today’s scoreless first quarter marked the first time this season BYU has been held scoreless, dating back to the 2007 Utah game.
FIRST HALF DOMINANCE
The Cougars held a 7-3 lead at halftime against New Mexico, marking the 16th time in the past 17 games BYU has held the lead at intermission. The Cougars have held their opponent to seven or fewer points in the opening half 12 times in 17 games. During those 17 games BYU is 16-1.
DON’T LOOK BACK
In the Bronco Mendenhall era, BYU is 32-4 when leading at halftime and 31-1 when taking a lead into the fourth quarter.
CONSECUTIVE STARTS
The New Mexico game marked senior offensive lineman Dallas Reynolds’ 44th straight career start. During that streak, Reynolds has started at every position on the offensive line, including tackle, guard and center. Reynolds’ younger brother Matt started at left tackle in the 2008 season opener. His father, Lance, is the associate head coach for the Cougars. Reynolds is currently tied at seond for the most consecutive starts by an active Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A) player. Reynolds has started in every game of his BYU career, beginning with the Cougars’ 20-3 loss to Boston College on Sep. 3, 2005.
COUGARS CONTINUE TO WIN
With its 21-3 win over New Mexico, BYU currently owns the longest active winning streak among FBS (Division I-A) teams, having won 16 consecutive games. The Cougars have put together their longest win streak since winning 25 straight games over the 1983-85 seasons. BYU’s 6-0 record this season marks its best start since the 2001 season.
EDWARDS’ STADIUM STREAK NOW SPANS THREE SEASONS
With BYU’s 21-3 win today, the Cougars have not lost in Edwards Stadium since November 19, 2005. BYU has won 16 straight home games, dating back to September 9, 2006. The last time the Cougars won 16 consecutive home games was 16 seasons ago when the team won 17 in a row from Oct. 7, 1989 to Nov. 23, 1991. Over that span, the Cougars have beaten their opponents by an average of 28.8 points per game and have allowed just 9.7 points per game. The Cougars have allowed seven points or less in nine of the last 16 home games.
“FAN”TASTIC FANS
The 64,105 fans in attendance for the Cougars’ 21-3 win over New Mexico marked the tenth consecutive sell-out at Edwards Stadium. The current streak marks the longest streak of consecutive sellouts since the 1991-92 seasons. Over 256,000 (256,425) fans have attended the first four home games at Edwards Stadium this season, averaging 64,106 fans per game. The last time the stadium was not sold out was against New Mexico on Nov. 18, 2006 when 63,814 fans were in attendance—231 short of a sellout.