The BYU football team hasn't been exactly playing the Green Bay Packers the past month or so. Still, six straight victories - regardless of the level of competition, or lack thereof - is nothing to sneeze at.
The AP voters continue to be impressed enough with the Cougars to move them up a couple of spots in the Top 25 per week. BYU (8-1 overall, 4-0 WAC) is 13th in the latest poll - which is one spot better than it was the week before the loss at Washington seven games ago.While some of the Cougars expressed concern about a lack of intensity Saturday despite a 45-21 victory at Texas Christian, BYU coach LaVell Edwards was pleased with his team's performance.
"When you go on the road and play like we did in a new environment, you have to be happy," said Edwards.
Edwards and the rest of the coaching staff has to be happy with the way the Cougars have jumped all over opponents early the past couple of outings. BYU led 20-0 after one quarter a week ago at Tulsa and had a 24-0 advantage mid-way through the second quarter against TCU.
BYU was able to capitalize on a couple of Horned Frog mistakes with quick TDs to put Saturday's game out of reach early. A Brad Martin fumble recovery at the TCU 15 set up a 12-yard scoring pass from Steve Sarkisian to Ben Cahoon early in the second quarter.
Less than two minutes later, the Frogs muffed up a fake punt attempt, giving BYU the ball at the TCU 13. BYU took advantage on the very next play with a 13-yardSarkisian to K.O. Kealaluhi pass.
The Frogs turned the ball over to the Cougars four times (two fumbles and two interceptions). But it was the blown fake punt - when the ball was snapped to the upback who didn't catch it - that had TCU coach Pat Sullivan the most livid.
"We had a fake punt called, and we worked on it since day one, day one," Sullivan repeated for emphasis. "We even walked through it (Friday and Saturday). We knew it was going to be called. That's just beyond my comprehension."
BYU had several mistakes of its own - including a fumble and an interception - but cut down on its penalties. The Cougars were flagged six times for 61 yards, about half of their total from the week before.
"We know we can play better," said Cougar running back Dustin Johnson. "We made some dumb mistakes. Against the big teams - like Utah - we aren't going to be able to do that."
The Cougars will next play their final two home games of the year - Saturday against UTEP and Nov. 9 versus New Mexico.