Prior to tallying four in the Cotton Bowl, BYU linebacker Shay Muirbrook hadn't registered a quarterback sack in four games.
"I was saving them all for today," the senior said after the Cougars' 19-15 victory over Kansas State Wednesday. "Opportunities were just presented."Muirbrook, named Defensive Player of the Game after finishing with 11 tackles (six for loss), also put BYU's first points on the board when the middle linebacker sacked K-State quarterback Brian Kavanagh for a safety in the first quarter.
"We stepped up and played tough," Muirbrook said of BYU's defense. The Cougars racked up eight tackles for loss, two interceptions and limited the Wildcats' scoring to a pair of big pass plays by Kavanagh - a 41-yard Hail Mary toss to Andre Anderson at the end of the first half and a 72-yard strike to Kevin Lockett in the third quarter.
"(The second one) was a mistake. A big, big mistake," said BYU defensive back Tim McTyer, who intercepted a pass in the first half. "We shut Kansas State down otherwise."
By doing so, BYU's defense also backed up a promise to the offense.
"Get some points on the board," McTyer told his teammates when BYU trailed 8-5 at halftime. "And we'll win the game."
Lockett's touchdown reception proved to be the lone deviation as Kansas State's final five series' ended in frustration. Four punts preceded a late interception by BYU's Omarr Morgan that sealed the outcome.
"Everyone contributed on offense and defense and made plays when they had to make plays," added Muirbrook. "There is no quit on this team."
Quarterback Steve Sarkisian threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns - to James Dye (32 yards) and K.O. Kealaluhi (28 yards) - as BYU came-from-behind.
"Our defense played terrific," said Sarkisian. "They kept us in the game." Not surprising, said KSU head coach Bill Snyder.
"All week long I've said that BYU is an excellent defensive football team," he said. "You don't win 13 games and not play good defense."
The Cougars, who also benefitted from a pair of sacks by Henry Bloomfield, overpowered the Wildcats with more first downs (24-14), net yards (350-274) and pass deflections (7-5).
"We had respect coming in for BYU's defense and we leave the same way," said Kavanagh. "Their corners made some great plays."
Good enough to overshadow Kansas State's highly touted secondary which featured All-American Chris Canty.
"Ours stepped up the last drive," concluded McTyer. "And theirs didn't."