LAS VEGAS -- When he was splitting time with Drew Miller and enduring jeers from fans at Cougar Stadium earlier this season, BYU quarterback Kevin Feterik found comfort in watching game film from his playing days at Los Alamitos High School in Calfornia. He did so to remind himself where he came from. It also provided a much-needed confidence boost.
"It was real tough," said Feterik. "But I just kept working hard and tried to be the best I could be."His determination eventually paid off. After a shaky start, which found BYU at 2-3 following a 31-21 setback at Fresno State, Feterik wound up leading the Cougars to seven straight victories. His pass efficiency rating rose -- 145.63 -- to the top of the Western Athletic Conference as BYU earned a spot in Saturday's league championship game and a berth in the Liberty Bowl on New Year's Eve.
"I think as we got better Kevin stepped up and took charge like we thought he would," said BYU coach LaVell Edwards. "I like the way we're playing offense right now."
The Cougars face Air Force on a roll. They've topped 400 yards in total offense for three consecutive outings -- running and passing the ball with efficiency.
"We have a lot more confidence now than we did at the start of the season," said Feterik. "It's like night and day. Everyone's on the same page now."
Edwards said his offense has simply matured. With seven new starters and only two seniors, it took time to shake off inexperience.
"People are really learning their stuff and playing well together," notes All-WAC offensive tackle John Tait.
Feterik, a junior, completed 182 of 294 passes for 2,460 yards with 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Fifteen Cougars had receptions, including Feterik, who was once on the receiving end of a throw from Miller, as BYU's offense diversified itself.
"BYU's offense is playing extremely well," said Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry. "Feterik is growing into his role, and they have great support people."
Though BYU coaches promised a return to the passing emphasis of the past, the Cougars wound up running the ball 492 times while attempting 341 passes.
And why? Because they could. Sophomore Ronney Jenkins ran for 1,216 yards -- the second highest single-season total in school history. He earned WAC Pacific Division offensive player of the week honors three times while rushing his way into the BYU record books. By season's end, Jenkins had equaled marks for most touchdowns and points in a game -- five and 30 against San Jose State. He also cracked the top seven in several offensive categories including most touchdowns in a season (2nd, 15), most points scored in a season (5th, 90), most career touchdowns (4th, 29), most career points (6th, 174) and most career rushing yards (7th, 1,949).
Air Force safety Jason Sanderson said Jenkins makes BYU's offense unpredictable. If defenses focus on shutting him down, he added, the Cougars will exploit you with the pass.
"BYU is probably the best offense we'll face all season," Sanderson said.
"I think balance is their strength. That's what makes them so good."
The Cougars, it seems, have come of age offensively -- allowing Feterik to put that high school footage away -- perhaps for good.