Game 8: BYU vs. Wyoming

Game 8: BYU Cougars vs. Wyoming Cowboys

BYU will play against Wyoming on Saturday, Oct. 23, at 12 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live from LaVell Edwards Stadium on The Mtn. and KSL Radio 1160 AM and 102.7 FM.

BYU (2-5, 1-2 MWC) vs. Wyoming (2-5, 0-3)

Oct. 23, 2010

12 p.m. MT

LaVell Edwards Stadium

Provo, Utah

THE BYU-WYOMING SERIES

BYU has simply dominated its series with Wyoming in recent memory. The Cowboys have not scored against the Cougars in the last nine-straight quarters of play. Since 2006, BYU has defeated Wyoming by an average score of 46.5-4.3 and outgained the Pokes in total yardage by an average of 464.5-225.3. The two teams challenged each other every year from 1929-1992 (excluding the war years) and every year since 1999, with the Cougars leading the series, 43-30-3 overall.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR

- BYU has won six-straight games against Wyoming, including eight in a row dating back to the late 1980s at LaVell Edwards Stadium. BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall has never lost to the Cowboys, going 5-0. Since Mendenhall took over, BYU has outscored Wyoming 222-38, with 21 Wyoming points coming in 2005 alone. In those five wins, Wyoming has 17 turnovers to BYU’s zero.

- In the last two meetings between BYU and Wyoming, the Cougars have outscored the Cowboys 96-0, including a 52-0 win in 2009 and a 44-0 victory in 2008. BYU forced nine turnovers in the two games while giving up zero.

- All five of Wyoming’s losses have come against teams ranked in the Top 25 at some point this season (Texas, Boise State, Air Force, TCU and Utah). The Cowboys have played the fifth-toughest schedule in the nation, according to Sagarin computer ratings. To compare, four of BYU’s five losses (Florida State, Air Force, Nevada and TCU) have come to teams ranked this season. The Cougars have played the fourth-toughest schedule in the nation, also according to Sagarin.

- Freshman quarterback Jake Heaps will start his fourth game, tied for second-most among BYU freshman quarterbacks all-time. Heaps already owns BYU freshman records for most pass completions and pass attempts and is second for most wins and third for most passing yards.

MOVE FORWARD, NOT BACKWARD

As a team, the Cougars are one of the least penalized squads in the nation, averaging just 4.86 penalties per game, tied for 14th among all FBS schools and third in the MWC. BYU’s average of 35.0 penalty yards per game is 8th in the nation and the best in the conference. Against Nevada, BYU had one turnover for minus-five yards.

FIRST FRESHMAN RECORD FALLS

Freshman quarterback Jake Heaps broke the BYU freshman quarterback record for most pass completions, completing his 109th pass against TCU to pass Matt Berry’s previous record, finishing the game with 110 completions overall. Against Wyoming, Heaps will start his fourth game, tied for second-most among BYU freshman quarterbacks all-time. Heaps already owns BYU freshman records for most pass completions and pass attempts and is second for most wins and third for most passing yards.

SAME STARTERS

For the first time this season, the BYU defense started the same 11 players in back-to-back games versus San Diego State and TCU. Numerous injuries have been a key factor in the constant shakeup, with 13 players getting the first starts of their careers on the defensive side this year.

STEPHENSON KICKS CAREER HIGH

BYU sophomore Riley Stephenson averaged 48.0 yards while punting a career-most seven times during BYU’s game at TCU. He booted five of his seven punts more than 50 yards to help total a career-high 336 punting yards on the day. Two of his punts sailed a season-high 59 yards, one yard off his career mark, while he also had punts of 54, 53, and 50 yards.

CHAMBERS SETS BYU CAREER RECORD

Junior kick returner O’Neill Chambers became the Cougars’ all-time career leader in kickoff return yardage on Saturday against TCU, taking five returns a total of 112 yards to give him 1,612 on his career. Chambers passed Mike Rigell (1998-01) who had 1,545 career return yards.

For the complete BYU vs. Wyoming game notes, see the attached PDF file.