With bowl eligibility on the line, BYU used its biggest offensive performance of the season to cruise to a 45-10 victory over New Mexico State Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Freshman Lopini Katoa had his biggest game of the year as the 6-foot-1, 210-pound running back had a game-high 19 carries for 155 yards to go with four rushing touchdowns.
Katoa’s four rushing TDs are the most by a single player since Jamaal Williams had five against Toledo in a 55-53 victory in 2016. Katoa also finished the night averaging 8.2 yards per carry.
With the win, the Cougars improve to 6-5 on the season and are now bowl eligible heading into its final regular season game against Utah (8-3) on Saturday.
Freshman quarterback Zach Wilson threw for 172 yards and running back Matt Hadley ran for 55 yards and two scores to lead BYU. Riley Burt saw significant playing time and finished the night with 10 carries for 61 yards.
As a team, BYU recorded a season-high 510 total yards of offense. The Cougars ran for 317 yards on the ground and threw for 193.
BYU’s defense showed up again as the Cougars recorded four sacks to match the season high which has been set against Hawaii, UMass and now New Mexico State.
Former BYU star linebacker Fred Warner, who is now with the San Francisco 49ers, was also in attendance as he cheered on his brother as well as all those playing their last game on Senior Night.
Here are some of the top reactions from BYU’s dominating victory over New Mexico State.
Welcome home, @fred_warner!!#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/TUctsmLhlo
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 18, 2018
@tannermangum Thank you so much for all the amazing moments you've given us over the last 4 seasons, and thank you for shining a light on mental health issues. You are a class act and the #CougarNation will miss you. #BYUFootball
— Chris Harris (@dosmetros2000) November 18, 2018
Thanks for some awesome games Tanner! #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/dlwjeZ7O67
— Nick (@tightlikeadish) November 18, 2018
Some of my fondest memories watching BYU football as a student we brought by @tannermangum
Thank you for everything Tanner!! I’ll always be a fan!! #GoCougs #BYUFootball #BYU— Brian A. Parker (@forza_bp) November 18, 2018
Great feeling here at the Stadium and the loud cheers he got when he came in. Dude gave it his all for #byufootball He'll be one of my favs coming out of BYU
— Jeremy?? (@BleedBlueJeremy) November 18, 2018
I swear nothing more beautiful has ever happened at LES than when Tanner Mangum walked out onto the field and the crowd started chanting his name? #BYU #MangumMiracles #BYUFootball #GoCougs #BYUvsNMS #LoyalStrongandTrue
— Byu_fan_Mel (@melreadandwrite) November 18, 2018
BYU wins! Go Cougars! We’re going bowl-ing ??? #BYUfootball
— Jesi Fiso (@jvfiso) November 18, 2018
If I was playing NCAA 2018 on XBox, I’d put Riley Burt in at QB and run the Hail Mary every play and have him take off for 30 yards every play.
— Bill Sullivan (@wwsullivan17) November 18, 2018
"WHY DOESN'T HE PLAY MORE?"
Every BYU fan, right now about Riley Burt.
— Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) November 18, 2018
Congrats to the seniors and BYU Football staff for a win at home to solidify bowl eligibility❕
Lots of work left and improvements needed with Utah and bowl game before us, without Kaufusi. #BYUfootball #BYUFB2018 #BYUFB2018Bowl #NMSvsBYU #NMSvsBYUmax— Maximus (@IRaiseMyFlag) November 18, 2018
Two words Bowl eligible #BYUFOOTBALL
— Glen ? (@ghanson25) November 18, 2018
Regardless of the roller coaster ride that has been the 2018 football season, getting back to bowl eligibility shows improvement over last season #BYUFootball
— Tyler Cornell (@TCORNELL70) November 18, 2018
@ESPN commentators when Tanner comes in. #BYUFOOTBALL #BYUvsNMSU pic.twitter.com/XSKebSVFmb
— Ostein (@Googs53) November 18, 2018
Just another Saturday night in Utah…#Utes win Pac-12 South#Jazz beat Celtics (again)#BYU becomes bowl eligible#UtahState survives Hail Mary (wins 10th straight game)#WeberState clinches Big Sky title and FCS berth#DSU wins 3 OT thriller
Am I missing anything? #Utah
— Justin Giles (@JustinGiles_) November 18, 2018
Hands are frozen into a Y!!! Still lovin' some cougar football!!! Go cougs!! #BYUFOOTBALL #imlovinitbyu #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/1U5kjhr7rK
— Chaden Hite (@ChadenHite) November 18, 2018
#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/7PrfRzBOD8
— Gecko Gekkota (@Geckogab) November 18, 2018
One last walk.
Thank you, Seniors.#GoCougs #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/sPs0AZodgs
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) November 18, 2018
