Postgame Notes

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TULSA, Okla., (Sept. 15, 2007 -- BYU sophomore quarterback Max Hall threw a career-high 537 yards and four touchdowns, but Tulsa racked up 595 yards of total offense of its own on its way to a 55-47 defeat of the Cougars.

BYU committed 14 penalties and four turnovers in its second loss in as many games. Freshman running back Harvey Unga rushed 21 times for 100 yards, while Austin Collie, Michael Reed and Dennis Pitta each had over 100 receiving yards. Hall completed 34 of his 57 pass attempts.

"I am proud of our offense and the way they competed tonight," Mendenhall said. "I take full responsibility as the coach to get our players ready and focused to play each week.

"As a defense, did not execute the way we needed to. Tulsa ran some trick plays and had some quirks in their offensive scheme that we weren't completely ready for. I take full responsibility for that."

Hall had two interceptions to start the second half that put BYU behind, 34-45, at the 10:45 mark of the third quarter. A 6-yard touchdown carry from Manase Tonga that cut the deficit to five points after the PAT was missed was followed by a Hall fumble that led to another Tulsa score. Hall responded to his miscues by hitting Reed with a 36-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. But BYU still could not find a way to stop the Golden Hurricane from scoring, as a field goal put Tulsa ahead 55-47 with 4:15 remaining.

For the 12th time in its last 13 games, BYU got on the scoreboard first. Unga scampered one yard into the end zone for a 7-0 lead. The touchdown capped an 8-play, 57-yard drive that featured two receptions for 34 yards from Reed.

The Golden Hurricane scored 14 unanswered points on two touchdown passes to take a 14-7 lead heading into the second quarter.

Hall and Collie evened things up when the two connected on a 45-yard touchdown reception. However, Tulsa would one-up the Cougars on its very next play. TU quarterback Paul Smith found junior wide receiver Brennan Marion for a 75-yard touchdown pass that once again gave the Golden Hurricane the lead at 21-14.

The play was the longest touchdown reception BYU had given up since the 2003 season against San Diego State.

The Cougars kept the back-and-forth game going by driving 57 yards up the field and scoring on a 13-yard strike to Pitta. The drive took just 1 minute and 59 seconds.

Just as it did after BYU's previous score, Tulsa went deep on its next play for a 51-yard connection that set them up for an 18-yard touchdown reception and a 28-21 lead.

The feverish pace would continue, as Collie returned the ensuing kickoff 53 yards. The excellent field position ? as well as a defensive pass interference on third-and-goal ? allowed the Cougars to tie up it up again at 28-all. This time it was Tonga who found paydirt on a 2-yard touchdown rush.

After a 42-yard Tulsa field goal with 5:17 left in the half, Hall found senior wide receiver Matt Allen at the corner of the end zone for a 34-31 BYU lead at the half.

BYU returns to LaVell Edwards Stadium for a Homecoming match up against undefeated Air Force Sat., Sept. 22. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. (MT).

Box Score (Final)

BYU Cougars vs Tulsa (Sep 15, 2007 at Tulsa, Okla.)

Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Score

----------------- -- -- -- -- -----

BYU Cougars......... 7 27 6 7 - 47 Record: (1-2)

Tulsa............... 14 17 14 10 - 55 Record: (2-0)

Scoring Summary:

1st 10:05 BY - UNGA, Harvey 1 yd run (SMITH, Brian kick), 8-57 3:48, BY 7 - TLS 0

04:28 TLS - HEINZ, Corey 43 yd pass from SMITH, Paul (TRACY, Jarod kick), 3-73 0:48, BY 7 - TLS 7

00:30 TLS - JOHNSON, Trae 17 yd pass from SMITH, Paul (TRACY, Jarod kick), 8-82 2:03, BY 7 - TLS 14

2nd 13:46 BY - COLLIE, Austin 45 yd pass from HALL, Max (SMITH, Brian kick), 6-70 1:41, BY 14 - TLS 14

13:36 TLS - MARION, Brennan 75 yd pass from SMITH, Paul (TRACY, Jarod kick), 1-75 0:10, BY 14 - TLS 21

11:30 BY - PITTA, Dennis 13 yd pass from HALL, Max (SMITH, Brian kick), 4-57 1:59, BY 21 - TLS 21

10:27 TLS - HEINZ, Corey 18 yd pass from SMITH, Paul (TRACY, Jarod kick), 4-71 0:57, BY 21 - TLS 28

07:51 BY - TONGA, Manase 2 yd run (SMITH, Brian kick), 7-36 2:25, BY 28 - TLS 28

05:17 TLS - TRACY, Jarod 45 yd field goal, 9-42 2:25, BY 28 - TLS 31

03:11 BY - ALLEN, Matt 15 yd pass from HALL, Max (SMITH, Brian kick failed), 4-45 1:54, BY 34 - TLS 31

3rd 14:00 TLS - ROBERTS, Roy 49 yd interception return (TRACY, Jarod kick), , BY 34 - TLS 38

10:45 TLS - ADAMS, Tarrion 10 yd run (TRACY, Jarod kick), 5-56 1:25, BY 34 - TLS 45

06:55 BY - TONGA, Manase 6 yd run (SMITH, Brian kick failed), 9-63 3:42, BY 40 - TLS 45

4th 11:51 TLS - HEINZ, Corey 37 yd pass from SMITH, Paul (TRACY, Jarod kick), 7-74 2:57, BY 40 - TLS 52

06:44 BY - REED, Michael 36 yd pass from HALL, Max (PAYNE, Mitch kick), 6-83 1:38, BY 47 - TLS 52

04:21 TLS - TRACY, Jarod 27 yd field goal, 5-56 2:23, BY 47 - TLS 55

BY TLS

FIRST DOWNS................... 36 23

RUSHES-YARDS (NET)............ 36-157 33-105

PASSING YDS (NET)............. 537 490

Passes Att-Comp-Int........... 58-34-2 37-22-1

TOTAL OFFENSE PLAYS-YARDS..... 94-694 70-595

Fumble Returns-Yards.......... 0-0 1-1

Punt Returns-Yards............ 3-16 1-11

Kickoff Returns-Yards......... 10-259 6-50

Interception Returns-Yards.... 1-13 2-49

Punts (Number-Avg)............ 4-48.2 6-38.5

Fumbles-Lost.................. 3-2 0-0

Penalties-Yards............... 14-138 4-31

Possession Time............... 35:04 24:56

Third-Down Conversions........ 7 of 15 3 of 13

Fourth-Down Conversions....... 2 of 3 1 of 1

Red-Zone Scores-Chances....... 5-6 4-4

Sacks By: Number-Yards........ 2-12 3-14

RUSHING: BYU Cougars-UNGA, Harvey 21-100; TONGA, Manase 7-32; VAKAPUNA, Fui

2-14; HALL, Max 6-11. Tulsa-ADAMS, Tarrion 18-79; WILLIAMS, Jamad 4-14;

CHAMBERLAIN, C. 1-8; WHITMORE, A.J. 2-7; SMITH, Paul 6-minus 1; TEAM 2-minus 2.

PASSING: BYU Cougars-HALL, Max 34-57-2-537; TEAM 0-1-0-0. Tulsa-SMITH, Paul

21-35-1-454; WHITMORE, A.J. 0-1-0-0; JOHNSON, David 1-1-0-36.

RECEIVING: BYU Cougars-REED, Michael 8-132; PITTA, Dennis 6-113; TONGA, Manase

5-30; COLLIE, Austin 4-121; ALLEN, Matt 4-54; UNGA, Harvey 2-35; SEMANOFF, Joe

2-20; MAHUIKA, Bryce 1-12; GEORGE, Andrew 1-11; SO'OTO, Vic 1-9. Tulsa-JOHNSON,

Trae 5-95; MARION, Brennan 3-171; HEINZ, Corey 3-98; TOLIVER, Dion 3-53;

CLEMONS, C. 3-24; ADAMS, Tarrion 2-12; FRANK, Jacob 1-14; GROOMS, Kyle 1-12;

MEYER, Jesse 1-11.

INTERCEPTIONS: BYU Cougars-CRIDDLE, Ben 1-13. Tulsa-ROBERTS, Roy 1-49;

CHAMBERLAIN, C. 1-0.

FUMBLES: BYU Cougars-HALL, Max 2-1; GEORGE, Andrew 1-1. Tulsa-None.

SACKS (UA-A): BYU Cougars-NIXON, David 1-0; JORGENSEN, Jan 1-0. Tulsa-DAVIS,

Charles 1-0; GARRISON, W. 1-0; KARATEPEYAN, A. 1-0.

TACKLES (UA-A): BYU Cougars-NIXON, David 7-1; GOOCH, Quinn 5-3; POPPINGA, Kelly

6-0; JORGENSEN, Jan 3-2; KEHL, Bryan 3-2; CRIDDLE, Ben 3-2; STAFFIERI, Mark 2-3;

DOMAN, Shaun 2-3; HODGKISS, Corby 2-1; MANUMALEUNA,Eth 2-0; BUCHANAN, Kayle 2-0;

HOWARD, Brandon 2-0; DULAN, Ian 1-1; SMITH, Brian 1-0; FOWLER, Kellen 1-0;

BAUMAN, Matt 0-1; JOHNSON, Scott 0-1; TAYLOR, Isaac 0-1; JORGENSEN, Aste 0-1.

Tulsa-COLEMAN, Nelson 10-7; CHAMBERLAIN, C. 7-3; DAVIS, Charles 7-2; DUNCAN,

Randy 5-4; CRAVER, Steve 4-5; KARATEPEYAN, A. 4-4; ANTLE, Tanner 3-2; ROBERTS,

Roy 1-2; GERMANY, A. 2-0; TRACY, Jarod 2-0; NEMONS, Terrel 2-0; BRYAN, Mike 1-1;

GARRISON, W. 1-1; HOPKINS, Moton 1-1; GROOMS, Kyle 1-0; DRAKE, Ricky 1-0;

LOCKETT, James 1-0; DESTIN, John 1-0; RAY, Odrick 1-0; ADAMS, Tarrion 1-0;

FLOYD, Popsie 0-1; BELL, Jon 0-1; JONES, Brandon 0-1; ALLEN, Eliot 0-1.

PROVO -- Coming off a tough loss at No. 13 UCLA, the Cougars will travel to the state of Oklahoma for a matchup against former WAC foe Tulsa. Game time is scheduled for 8 p.m. (CDT) from Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium and will be broadcast nationally on CSTV. The game will mark the second of two straight road games for BYU while Tulsa had last weekend off after a 35-17 win over Louisiana-Monroe to start the season. The Cougars are 6-0 all-time against the Golden Hurricane, including a 2-0 mark in Tulsa.

THE BYU-TULSA SERIES

For the second year in a row BYU will play Tulsa, an old WAC foe. The Cougars hold an all-time record of 6-0 against the Golden Hurricane, most recently taking a 49-24 victory at LaVell Edwards Stadium in 2006. Tulsa finished the 2006 season with an 8-5 overall record, including a trip to the Armed Forces Bowl. The bowl game marked Tulsa's third post-season appearance over the past four seasons. Saturday's game will mark the first time BYU has played i Tulsa since 1996. The Cougars won that game, 55-30, en route to a 14-1 season. BYU first played at Tulsa in 1971, beating the Golden Hurricane, 25-7. The Cougars also beat Tulsa in 1984, 38-15. The two teams played three straight years (1995, 1996 and 1997). The two team met last season in Provo for the first time since 1997. The Cougars prevailed, 49-24, in a game that was delayed in the second half due to hurricane-like conditions.

ON THE TUBE

Saturday's game will be broadcast live to a national television audience on College Sports Television (CSTV). Tom Hart will call the action and Trev Alberts will lend analysis. Hart graduated from the University of Missouri after playing a season of football at Quincy (Ill) University. His television play-by-play experience includes national coverage of the Conference USA Football Game of the Week, men's and women's basketball, and baseball for CSTV. Alberts is a former consensus All-American linebacker from the University of Nebraska. A 1993 Dick Butkus Award winner, Alberts was drafted with the fifth overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in 1994. Alberts went on to play three seasons in the NFL before retiring in 1997. After his retirement from the NFL, Alberts spent five years working for CNN/SI and Sports Illustrated as a college football analyst. From 2002-05, Alberts was a college football analyst for ESPN's College GameDay Scoreboard and College GameDay Final.

LAST GAME RECAP

Despite racking up 435 yards of total offense, including 391 yards passing, BYU saw its 11-game winning streak come to an end, as No. 11 UCLA beat the Cougars 27-17 in front of 72,986 fans at the Rose Bowl. The Cougars held the Bruins to just 236 total yards but fell short in their bid to upset UCLA on its home field. BYU sophomore quarterback Max Hall threw 30-of-53 attempts for 391 yards and two touchdowns, while a stifling defense held UCLA junior quarterback Ben Olson to just 126 passing yards.

SERIES INFORMATION

Saturday's game will mark the seventh meeting between BYU and Tulsa, dating back to the 1971 season. BYU owns a 6-0 advantge over its former WAC foe, including a 49-24 win last season in Provo. Following are brief highlights of each BYU/Tulsa game:

Oct. 23, 1971 -- BYU 25, Tulsa 7 at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa, Okla.

Trailing 6-7 at the half, BYU scored 19 second half points to secure the victory in the first matchup between the two teams.

Sept. 15, 1984 -- Tulsa 15, BYU 38 at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah

Robbie Bosco had 314 yards passing, as four different Cougars found the end zone.

Nov. 4, 1995 -- Tulsa 35, BYU 45 at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah

BYU senior FB Hema Heimuli gained 93 yards on 14 carries and scored two rushing touchdowns.

Oct. 19, 1996 -- BYU 55, UCLA 30 at Skelly Stadium in Tulsa, Okla.

Senior QB Steve Sarkisian threw five touchdown passes and junior RB Brian McKenzie rushed for 132 yards.

Nov. 8, 1997 -- Tulsa 39, BYU 49 at Cougar Stadium in Provo, Utah

Kevin Feterik tossed four touchdown passes and racked up 246 passing yards, while Brian McKenzie gained 187 yards on the ground and rushed for two touchdowns.

Sept. 9, 2006 -- Tulsa 24, BYU 49 at Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah

Senior RB Curtis Brown ran for 125 yards and had 82 yards receiving, including a 62-yard touchdown run.

SEASON TICKET HOLDERS ARE FULLY INVESTED

BYU has sold over 53,500 season tickets for the 2007 season -- that?s an increase of 7,900 over last year?s total of 45,600. Interestingly, nearly 84 percent of the Edwards Stadium capacity will be occupied by season-ticket holders.

TALE OF THE TAPE

BYU's starting five offensive linemen weigh in at an average 318.4 pounds and average 6-feet-5. The front five will be going up against a Tulsa defensive front that measures an average 6-feet-3, 299 pounds. Defensively, the Cougars' front three average 6-feet-2, 270 pounds, while the Tulsa offensive line tips the scales at an average 6-feet-2, 311 pounds per man.

FOOL ME ONCE ...

In the Bronco Mendenhall era, BYU is 5-1 in games following a loss during the regular season. The Cougars' only loss following a loss came on October 1 when BYU dropped a 31-10 decision at San Diego State following a 51-50 overtime loss against TCU.

DOUBLE JEOPARDY

Saturday's game at Tulsa will mark the fourth time in the Bronco Mendenhall era the Cougars have played back-to-back road games. Interestingly, regardless of the outcome of the first road game, BYU is a perfect 3-0 when playing the second of two straight road games.