BYU at Ole Miss Postgame Notes

Postgame notes from BYU's 14-13 win over Ole Miss

DOWN BUT NOT OUT
Down 13-0 in the fourth quarter, BYU scored 14 unanswered points to defeat Ole Miss. It was the first time the Cougars have come back after being down by 13 points or more since claiming a 35-34 win at Utah State in 2002 following a 34-point deficit. The USU game was also the last time BYU came back from at least 13 points down going into the fourth quarter.

DEJA VU
The last time BYU opened a season away from home the Cougars defeated No. 3 Oklahoma, 14-13 – the same score by which BYU defeated Ole Miss.

A SCORING DEFENSE
Sophomore linebacker Kyle Van Noy caused an Ole Miss fumble, then picked it up and scored on a three-yard touchdown run to give BYU a 14-13 lead. It was the second fumble return for a touchdown by the sophomore who scored the BYU defense’s last points on a 44-yarder last season at Colorado State.

APO GETS ON THE BOARD
After sitting almost the entire season last year after suffering a dislocated finger in BYU’s season opener against Washington, redshirt freshman wide receiver Ross Apo caught his first passes of his Cougar career, including his a 19-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. Apo’s first catch came on the final play of the second quarter for five yards. The freshman finished with four receptions for 46 yards on the day.

FIRST QUARTER SHUTOUTS
Tonight BYU shutout Ole Miss in the first quarter, giving the Cougars six first-quarter shutouts in their last seven games dating back to last season. UTEP scored three points in the first 15 minutes of last year’s bowl game.

BYU was also shut out in the first quarter, ending a streak of 22-straight quarters with at least one score. The Cougars had not been shut out since last season’s game against TCU.

NO RUNNING START
BYU has held its last nine opponents to 30 yards rushing or less in the first quarter. Despite Ole Miss running just one pass play, the Cougars held the Rebels to only 25 rushing yards in the first quarter.  

OUT OF THE END ZONE
The 3-0 score going into halftime was the lowest combined score in a first half in a BYU game since BYU and Utah were 3-0 at halftime in 2003. The game in 2003 is also the last time BYU was shut out through three quarters as it was today against Ole Miss.

COMING FROM ALL OVER
BYU had 10 or more receivers with at least one reception for the second-straight game. Ten players caught a pass for the Cougars after 11 players did so in the New Mexico Bowl.

RUNNING OUT THE FLAG
BYU was led out of the tunnel today by senior running back JJ Di Luigi carrying the team flag and senior wide receiver Matt Marshall with the special teams flag. The special teams flag, highlighted by an old school BYU logo adopted by the special teams, is a new addition this season. Former BYU Consensus All-American tight end Dennis Pitta, now with the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, carried the alumni flag.

CLICK HERE for the game recap.