Provo, UT (Sports Network) - Riley Nelson threw three touchdown passes to help
the BYU Cougars become bowl eligible and pull off a 52-13 rout of the Idaho
Vandals at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Nelson went 19-of-31 for 236 yards under center for BYU (6-4), which became
bowl eligible for the eighth year in a row. Cody Hoffman was a dynamic target
for Nelson as he made nine receptions for 108 yards and three touchdowns, which
tied his career-high. Jamaal Williams rushed the ball 10 times for a game-high
104 yards and two scores. The Cougars' defensive unit made a big time impact by
forcing five total turnovers and scoring on a fumble return.
For Idaho (1-9), Logan Bushnell completed 19-of-35 attempts for 206 yards, one
touchdown, and two interceptions. Mike Scott turned three receptions into 65
yards and six points. The Vandals could not establish a productive running game
and managed only 2.7 yards per carry.
BYU took control early as it opened up the contest with 21 unanswered points.
Nelson completed a six-yard touchdown pass to Hoffman for the first points of
the contest at the 9:25 mark of the first frame. Williams produced a nine-yard
and a 10-yard touchdown run to give the Cougars a 21-0 edge.
The Vandals answered with 1:47 left in the first quarter as Bushnell found
Scott for a 33-yard scoring pass. The success was short lived as BYU's junior
linebacker Spencer Hadley returned a fumble two yards into the end zone in the
closing seconds of the first frame.
In the second quarter, Nelson completed two more touchdown passes to Hoffman.
Hoffman's second and third touchdown receptions of the game gave BYU a sizeable
42-7 lead at the intermission.
Idaho ended the second BYU 21-0 run as Trey Farquhar connected on a 39-yard
field goal at the 8:28 mark of the third stanza. Farquhar's field goal served
as the quarter's only points.
BYU added 10 more points in the final period as James Lark completed a two-yard
touchdown pass to Cody Raymond with 12 minutes remaining before Justin Sorensen
made a 31-yard field goal.
Farquhar connected on a 35-yard field goal as time expired for the contest's
final points.
BYU racked up 537 yards of total offense in the contest while Idaho managed
just 273 yards.
GAME NOTES:
The Sports Network