Highlights, key plays and photos from BYU’s 50-21 season opening win over USF

Editor’s note: The Deseret News is providing live coverage from Saturday’s season opener between No. 25 BYU and South Florida. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Final: BYU 50, South Florida 21

Fourth quarter

10:29

A Cougar drive ended with Jake Oldroyd making a 37-yard field goal to get BYU to the 50-point mark for the game. 50-21.

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Third quarter

2:23

The Bulls culminated a drive in which they moved the ball very well with a 9-yard touchdown run from Brian Battie. BYU 47-21.

5:32

With BYU starting to get a good drive going, new running back Chris Brooks, the Cal transfer, got free for a rather uncontested 52-yard touchdown run. BYU 47-14.

7:39

BYU quarterback Jaren Hall had thrown an interception in the red zone, but then USF was forced to punt, and the snap went out of the end zone for a Cougar safety. BYU 40-14.

14:44

South Florida’s Jimmy Horn Jr. took the opening kickoff of the second half and returned it 89 yards for a touchdown, helping the Bulls pick up where they left off in the first half and helping them get off to a great start in the final two quarters. BYU 38-14.

Second quarter

0:14

South Florida gave itself some momentum by scoring on a fourth-down play — a 1-yard run by Jaren Mangham — to cap an impressive drive. BYU 38-7.

2:11

The Cougars turned the short field into more points, this time on a 39-yard Jake Oldroyd field goal. BYU 38-0.

4:49

South Florida can’t convert a fourth down in its own territory, and BYU will get the ball at the USF 41 to start another drive.

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7:19

The Cougars are rolling offensively. After a rare punt, BYU 65 yards in eight plays and scored on a 13-yard pass from Jaren Hall to Dallin Holker. Hall is getting several young receivers involved in this one. BYU 35-0.

First quarter

4:00

BYU rolled for another touchdown, as Keanu Hill capped an 82-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown catch. This could be the chance for guys like Hill and the other young receivers for the Cougars to show what they’ve got. BYU 28-0.

Here’s the backstory on Hill:

5:11

Puka Nacua left the field hobbling after getting rolled up on at the end of a play. If the BYU wide receiver is out, that leaves the Cougars without their top two receivers — Gunner Romney is out for the game agains the Bulls.

7:58

BYU’s defense got into the scoring category, as linebacker Max Tooley intercepted a Gerry Bohanon pass and returned it 33 yards for a touchdown. 21-0 BYU.

This is quite the start — minus that weather delay — for the Cougars.

8:44

Another Puka Nacua jet sweep, another touchdown. Nacua scored on a 5-yard run on BYU’s second drive to put the Cougars up two scores. 14-0 BYU.

The 10-play, 65-yard drive was nearly derailed by a Jaren Hall incomplete pass that initially ruled a backward pass and returned for a touchdown for USF, but it was overturned.

14:49

Well, that’s the way to start for BYU. Puka Nacua took a fly sweep off the left side and ran 75 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the game. 7-0 BYU.

Weather delay

Just before kickoff, the game was put on a weather delay due to “severe lightning” in the area.

The weather delay ended up being two and a half hours.

The game finally started at 4:35 p.m. MT. It was originally scheduled to kick off at 1 p.m.

With nothing to do but sit back and wait for the weather to cooperate before the game can kick off, BYU fans took to social media to bid their time. Click on the story below:

Pregame

BYU wide receiver Gunner Romney will not play for the Cougars against the Bulls. Here’s the story from Deseret News BYU beat writer Jay Drew.

Here are few other stories to get you ready for BYU’s season opener: