OXFORD, Miss — Throughout fall camp, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall put a special emphasis on improving the play of the special teams.
Let's just say the Cougars still have work to do in that area in the wake of their 14-13 victory over Ole Miss on Saturday.
The most costly mistake came late in the second quarter, when BYU allowed the Rebels' Jeff Scott to return a punt 44 yards that swung the momentum of the game in Ole Miss' favor and led to its first score. Bryson Rose nailed a 20-yard field goal that gave the Rebels a 3-0 lead.
"He made a fantastic play," Mendenhall said of Scott's impressive return. "We've put so much emphasis on special teams in fall camp, so it was frustrating to see a play like that happen. It was critical to drive home the point of how important field position is in a game like that."
BYU punter Riley Stephenson put the Cougar defense in a hole early when he shanked an 11-yard punt at the end of the first drive of the game. But two of his punts did pin Ole Miss inside its 20-yard line.
Meanwhile, placekicker Justin Sorensen missed a 31-yard field goal in the third quarter.
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY: Mendenhall expressed gratitude for the kindness showed to him and his family by the wife of Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt.
"There's one thing that has changed Holly and my life forever. Diana Nutt, Houston's wife, picked my wife and three boys up at the airport, hosted them, and took them all over town, and showed them their home," Mendenhall said. "We're acquaintances and friends. (She) had gifts for them and absolutely showed not only what it means to be a first-class person, but a great human being. That in this ultra-competitive world of college football, Holly learned a lot from coach Nutt and his wife on how to treat a visiting coach."
WHAT HEAT AND HUMIDITY?: Much was made in the days leading up to Saturday's game about the heat and humidity.
BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy said too much was made of that.
"It was supposed to be hot. It really wasn't," he said. "Our (indoor practice facility) was hotter than that when we didn't have air conditioning one of the days."
The temperature in Oxford was 89 degrees on Saturday.
APO SHINES: Redshirt freshman Ross Apo caught his first pass as a Cougar late in the first half. He ended up with four receptions for 46 yards and scored his first career touchdown — and his team's first offensive TD of the season — in the fourth quarter.
INJURY UPDATE: True freshman offensive lineman Ryker Mathews did not make the trip to Oxford due to a foot injury. If he undergoes surgery, he could be out for the season.
Running back Joshua Quezada suffered from a migraine headache during Saturday's game. Linebacker Brandon Ogletree sustained a concussion.
FLAG BEARERS: Former BYU tight end Dennis Pitta carried out the alumni flag prior to Saturday's game. The team flag was carried out by running back JJ Di Luigi and defensive back Carter Mees.
FASHION STATEMENT: BYU wore white jerseys and white pants with black socks.
EXTRA POINTS: Announced attendance at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was 55,124. … The Cougars have now won five consecutive season openers under Mendenhall. ... BYU entered the season having scored in each of its last 22 quarters, going back to last year's game against Wyoming. That streak ended abruptly in the first quarter against Ole Miss. … BYU was shut out in the first half for the first time since last year's game at TCU. ... Ole Miss punter Tyler Campbell booted a career-best 73-yard punt in the first quarter.
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