New Mexico Bowl - BYU vs. SMU Postgame Notes

The following notes are from BYU's 24-23 win over SMU in the 2022 New Mexico Bowl. 

ALUMNI FLAGS:

• Ifo Pili (DL, 1997-1998 | 2001-2003) - now Las Cruces City Manager, Kaipo McGuire (WR, 1992-96), Joseph Namingha (Equipment Staffer, who is from Albuquerque)

TEAM FLAGS:

• Brayden Cosper WR, Tyler Batty, DL

SERIES RESULTS: 4-0

Attendance: 22,209

TEAM NOTES

• Independence Era
  • BYU finished its last game as an independent with win, moving its record to 99-56 over the past 12 seasons.
  • The Cougars won 8 or more games 8 times during Independence
  • BYU will the 2023 season as a member of the Big 12 Conference
• Bowl games
  • The New Mexico Bowl was BYU’s 40th bowl game
  • BYU’s bowl record improved to 17-22-1
• BYU Defense
  • BYU allowed 389 total yards and 23 points to SMU. It was the second lowest output of the season for the Mustangs this season in both categories. SMU entered the game averaging 479.8 yards per game and 38.4 points per game, ranked No. 11 and 12 in each category.
  • In the first half, BYU set the tone and allowed 137 total yards, 64 passing, had one sack, two pass breakups and 10 points.
  • The Cougars finished with two sacks, four tackles for loss, two pass breakups, one quarterback hurry and one forced fumble.
• Rushing yards
  • BYU finished the game with 209 rushing yards, the fifth-most in a BYU bowl game. The Cougars also ran for 219 yards in the 2010 New Mexico Bowl

PLAYER NOTES

• QB Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters
  • In his first career start, Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters completed 7 of 12 passes for 47 yards and one INT He was most effective on the ground with 14 carries for 96 yards and 1 TD.
• K Jake Oldroyd
  • Oldroyd’s made FG moved him to No. 1 (336) passing Mitch Payne (334) for No. 1 in career points at BYU. He finished with 6 total points, giving 338 for his career
  • His field goal was also his 50th of his career, only Owen Pochman (61) and Matt Payne (54) had more.
• LB Ben Bywater
  • Bywater had a 75-yard pick-six that changed the game for the Cougars. It was his first career pick-six and the first in New Mexico Bowl history. It also set the record for the longest INT return in the New Mexico Bowl.
  • He tied a career high with 11 tackles
• P Ryan Rehkow
  • Rehkow finished the game with 4 punts for 235 yards, an average 58.75, setting a new career-best average for a single game (previous high 58.67 vs. ECU in 2022)
  • Rehkow also set the New Mexico Bowl record with a 67-yard punt, after he had a 65-yarder earlier in the game. He also had a 61-yarder for three over 60 yards, a career first.

NOTABLE CAREER HIGHS/CAREER FIRSTS

• First Start: Sol-Jay Maiava-Peters
• First Touchdown: Sol-Jay Maiava Peters (1st quarter, 1-yard run)
• First Pick-Six: Ben Bywater (75-yard INT return)
• Most tackles: Jakob Robinson (9), Pepe Tanuvasa (10), Ben Bywater (tied 11)