After heartbreaking losses the past two weeks, BYU responded with a 35-16 blowout victory over UMass Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.
The victory was the fifth of the season for the Cougars who inched closer to bowl eligibility. With two games left in the regular season (New Mexico State and Utah), the Cougars are just one victory away from going bowling after missing out last year.
Freshman quarterback Zach Wilson threw for 167 yards and two touchdowns and added 53 yards rushing to lead the Cougars to victory. Wide receivers Talon Shumway and Aleva Hifo each had two touchdowns and running back Matt Hadley had a game-high 69 yards rushing to go with one touchdown on the ground.
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BYU’s defense held UMass to just 199 yards of total offense with Isaiah Kaufusi and Sione Takitaki each making a team-high 14 tackles in the win.
Here’s how Cougar fans reacted after the win:
When somebody tells you #BYU should go back to the Mountain West ….. pic.twitter.com/XwvC5YO4lw
— Sean Walker (@ActuallyDSW) November 10, 2018
This is a football paradise @GilletteStadium @KVN_03 where you at?#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/jSJfRw1sXp
— BYU Cougars (@BYUCougars) November 10, 2018
Very happy about the win today. Next step is consistency for this team. I want Kalani to succeed and in order to do that he needs to get his team to show up ready to play. Besides year 1, we haven’t seen this yet. I hope we can see consistency next week. #BYUFootball
— Tyler Anderson (@tanderson002) November 10, 2018
We do realize BYU is 2 freshman mistakes away from being 7-3 right? Rough game against NIU culminates in a bad interception. Good game at Boise ends with a mental lapse. I get it, a 'W' is a 'W', and an L is not, but this team is closer than you think. And young. #BYUfootball
— Mitch Jergensen (@MJergy) November 10, 2018
It is painfully obvious that Riley Burt is the most gifted running back on the team. It makes no sense, get him on the field and give him the ball. #byufootball
— mitch (@MitchP_87) November 10, 2018
These announcers whenever a Polynesian makes a play and they have to try and pronounce his name #BYUFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/rsCcoFSXVX
— Bill Sullivan (@wwsullivan17) November 10, 2018
#BYUFOOTBALL at UMass. BYU crowd size dwarfs UMass crowd. Met BYU fans from Dallas, NY, Utah and DC. This fan base travels.
— Troy (@Troy4mtjd) November 10, 2018
Only thing less prepared and more underperforming than UMass is this Eleven Sports broadcast.
— Hans Olsen (@975Hans) November 10, 2018
How did we ever beat Wisconsin with this OL? #BYUvsUMass
— Tyler Saxey (@TSaxey) November 10, 2018
The 2018 #BYUfootball team has so much in common with the 2017 Utah State team.
Take your lumps, and grow from the pain. Something truly SPECIAL is right around that corner!
— Jim Bray (@JimBray18) November 10, 2018
Once upon a time, UMASS led #BYU 10-0… then the Cougars scored 35 unanswered.
Blowout in Boston (Foxborough) is on.
Notice the BYU crowd on the left… UMASS scattered on the right.#BYUSN pic.twitter.com/DQSFOjDGIm
— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) November 10, 2018
BYU offense:
Second game this season rushing for 200+ (221)
154 rushing yards came in second half
Did not give up a sack for the third time this season
9 different rushers/9 different receivers#BYUFootball— BYU Game Notes (@BYUGameNotes) November 10, 2018
Riley Burt is BYU's best running back #BYU #BYUFOOTBALL
— J.D. McKell (@TrueBlueEyeDoc) November 10, 2018
I'm a fan of the adjustments made at halftime. Well done Coaches. Keep up the good work. #BYUFOOTBALL
— Self-Inflicted Pride Wounds (@matticus1619) November 10, 2018
BYU 5-0 when rushing for more than 100 yards. 0-5 when they fail to do so. #BYUFOOTBALL #BYU https://t.co/Izb7FRpRPw
— Hunter Miller (@HunterHMiller_) November 10, 2018
