Wilson leads No. 18 BYU to 48-7 victory over Troy

PROVO, Utah – Led by quarterback Zach Wilson's career-high 392 passing yards, the No. 18 BYU football team flew by Troy 48-7 Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

The BYU offense racked up 664 yards in the game with 472 through the air and 192 on the ground. Wilson led the charge going 23 of 27 for 392 passing yards with two touchdowns and added two scores on the ground. 

Wideouts Dax Milne and Gunner Romney were the Cougars' leading receiving targets but eleven different players caught a pass. Milne had a career-best seven catches for 140 yards and one touchdown with a 70-yard reception while Romney caught five passes for 138 yards and a long reception of 52-yards. It was the first time BYU had two 100-yard receivers since 2015. 

On defense, Keenan Pili nabbed nine total tackles including six solo stops while Khyiris Tonga recorded a career-high two sacks. The defense held Troy to just 181 total yards, the Trojans worst output since 2014. 

Box Score
Photo Gallery
Postgame Notes

First Quarter Review

Despite two back-to-back Troy drives due to a BYU muffed punt return, the Cougars defense held the Trojans offense scoreless to open the game. The BYU offense gained momentum with two long passes to Lopini Katoa and Tyler Allegier to put BYU in the red zone for the first time. On fourth-and-one at the goal line, fullback Masen Wake pushed his way into the end zone to close out the first quarter as the Cougars went up 7-0.

Second Quarter Review

Zach Wilson showed his arm strength to open the second quarter sending a pass 41-yards downfield to Gunner Romney to Troy’s 1-yard line. It was quickly followed by a quarterback sneak from Wilson for a touchdown to put BYU ahead 14-0. A 52-yard pass to Gunner Romney, again put the BYU offense in the red zone and the Cougars capped the drive with a 10-yard pass to Isaac Rex for another six points and a PAT from Jake Oldroyd. With under two minutes left in the quarter the Cougars were up 21-0.

The Trojans responded with a two-yard rushing touchdown to bring the scoring margin to 21-7 with just over one minute remaining in the half. BYU had the final say of the quarter as Oldroyd boomed a kick through the uprights with a 54-yard field goal to make the score 24-7 going into halftime.

• With two sacks, Khyiris Tonga set a new career high in the second quarter.
• Gunner Romney’s grabbed two long passes in the second quarter, a 41-yarder followed by a career-best 52-yarder.
• Freshman Isaac Rex gave BYU six points on only his second career reception
• Jake Oldroyd tied his career-high field goal with a 54-yarder to close out the second quarter.  

Third Quarter Review

To open the second half, Wilson threw a 70-yard bomb downfield to an open Dax Milne on the second play of the half and Milne ran the ball into the end zone for a 31-7 lead. Wilson then tacked on his second rushing touchdown of the night on a two-yard play, pushing the Cougars lead to 38-7 with just under four minutes left in the half.

• Zach Wilson set a new career record in passing yards through the third quarter with 392 yards

Fourth Quarter Review

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Wake accounted for his second touchdown of the night running the ball 10-yards into the end zone for a 45-7 lead. Jake Oldroyd connected on his second field goal of the night, this time a 20-yarder, making the score 48-7. The Cougars finished out the game taking a knee to run out the clock and secure the win 48-7.

The Cougars return to Lavell Edwards Stadium on Oct. 2 against Louisiana Tech for a Friday night matchup. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. MDT and will be broadcast on ESPN2.